BMW marks 100 years with BMW VISION NEXT 100

MUNICH: BMW celebrated its centenary with the rollout of the BMW VISION NEXT 100.

This vehicle combines coupé-type sportiness with the dynamic elegance of a sedan.

It is envisioned as a highly customised vehicle that is tailored to suit the driver’s changing needs.

Driver-vehicle interactions are managed by Alive Geometry; Boost and Ease modes offer a choice of driver-controlled or vehicle-controlled operations, and the interior of the vehicle changes to suit the mode of travel.

In Boost, the entire vehicle focuses on the driver, offering the support needed to maximise the driving experience – for instance by indicating the ideal driving line, steering point and speed. Ease mode sees the interior transform: the steering wheel and centre console retract; the headrests turn to the side, and the seats and door trim merge to form a single unit so that the driver and front-seat passenger can turn towards each other.

“If, as a designer, you are able to imagine something, there’s a good chance it could one day become reality,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design. “So our objective with the BMW VISION NEXT 100 was to develop a future scenario that people would engage with.”

The BMW Vision Vehicle made its world debut at the Centenary Event in the Munich Olympic Hall today.

About 2,000 guests from industry, politics, research, society and the media were present, as were selected dealers, suppliers and employees. A multi-media experience guided them through the history of the company to this latest interpretation of tomorrow’s premium mobility, culminating in the unveiling of the Vision Vehicle.

BMW Group has a global network, employing more than 122,000 employees in 140 countries.

After its world debut, the BMW VISION NEXT 100 will go on a symbolic World Tour entitled “Iconic Impulses.” stopping in China, the UK and the USA. After its Asian premiere in Beijing, it will travel to London, where the Vision Vehicles of the BMW Group’s British brands – MINI and Rolls-Royce – will be unveiled. Its last port of call will be Los Angeles, USA, where BMW Motorrad will add its Vision Vehicle to the collection to complete the quartet of brands.

Key content from “Iconic Impulses.” will also be on show in Munich as a permanent exhibition. The Future Exhibition in the ‘double cone’ structure of the BMW Welt will open to the public in spring. A further exhibition will be mounted by the BMW Museum, where a temporary centenary display entitled “100 Masterpieces” will present milestones in the history of the BMW Group. It will be open to the public from March 10.

From Sept 9-11, the BMW Festival – THE NEXT 100 YEARS will welcome fans from all over the world. It will take place in the Munich Olympic Park, including the Olympic Stadium and Hall. The BMW Museum and BMW Welt will also be involved, as will the entire area around the iconic ‘four-cylinder’ headquarters building.
To round off the centenary year, there will be a special publication consisting of 13 volumes. This will outline the history of the company and discuss key future topics. The books will contain a mix of essays, reports, studies and expert interviews. They will reflect the diversity of the BMW Group and its BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad brands.


McLaren 3-seat 'Hyper GT' to have top speed in excess of 391kph

                GENEVA: McLaren Automotive says the forthcoming "Hyper-GT" will be capable of exceeding 391kph – the peak speed of the iconic McLaren F1

The news followed the announcement by McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt at the Geneva Motor Show press conference that a public reveal of the car can be expected this year.

The next addition to the McLaren Ultimate Series will be both the fastest-ever and the most luxurious McLaren. Featuring a three-seat cockpit design with a central driving position – the same layout as the F1 – and a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, the ‘Hyper-GT ‘, codenamed BP23, will deliver a blend of extreme performance and sporting luxury.

The entire BP23 production of 106 examples was allocated before the car was officially announced in November 2016. Production is due to start at the end of next year, with every BP23 personalised to each owner’s taste by McLaren Special Operations (MSO).

BP23 will carry an as-yet unannounced name, rather than the alphanumerical nomenclatures used by the McLaren Sports Series and Super Series; this name, together with the maximum possible speed, will be disclosed nearer to the car’s reveal.


Get RM1 buys from Shell

                PETALING JAYA: Following the success of its “Win Free Fuel” contest, in which over 10,000 Shell customers won their share of over RM2mil worth of free fuel, Shell Malaysia is taking a step further to extend its rewards to everyday Malaysians with its next campaign – ‘Pump, Shop and Save’.

The new campaign, which is part of Shell’s ongoing commitment to provide value for its customers, aims to enrich customers’ retail experiences and complement their lifestyles with a diverse range of value offerings, quality products and good deals.

With ‘Pump, Shop and Save’, customers will be able to enjoy a host of valuable deals at Shell Select stores nationwide for over 10 weeks, beginning from 20th April 2015 to 30th June 2015.

This includes weekly product offerings at only RM1, special discounts and offerings on Shell lubricants and deli2go purchases; and additional BonusLink points for those who refuel with Shell V-Power.

“At Shell Malaysia, we believe that the customer is at the heart of our business. More than that, we also understand the challenges that our customers are facing with the rising costs of living. This is why, we are committed to providing value for Malaysians to enjoy quality products at just RM1, so that they can make smarter choices on the road, knowing that every ringgit they spend takes them further,” said  managing director of Shell Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd, Azman Ismail.

“Through ‘Pump, Shop and Save’, we are giving Malaysians more reason to smile by maximising the value of their ringgit, which they can immediately enjoy at our service stations. This is our way of saying thank you to the people who make us who we are,” he added.

For over 10 weeks, customers will be able to purchase a range of beverages for only RM1 with every purchase of fuels above RM10. Beverages are rotated on a weekly basis and includes a diverse range of brands including Wonda Coffee, Yeo’s, Coca-Cola, COCOLIFE, F&N Seasons, Oishi, Mountain Dew and 7 Up Revive.

More than that, customers can also enjoy discounts of up to RM30 on a range of Shell Helix lubricants, as well as purchase two deli2go pastries to receive one free bottle of water2go. Those who fuel-up with Shell V-Power can also enjoy two times the BonusLink points.


Boosting local content in car production

                KUALA LUMPUR: Auto makers and parts suppliers are open to the government push for even more local content in making cars.

Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) deputy CEO Arham Abdul Rahman said industry players were receptive to the plan.

"The Government has always considered localisation as one of the important elements to further develop the local automotive industry. We are pleased to gather a remarkable representation across the automotive industry including both the OEMs and vendors," he said at a Mida event on automotive localisation here today.

Malaysian Automotive Association president Datuk Aishah Ahmad said the association supported the move to raise local content in car production that would pave the way to more competitive and affordable products.


Parking woe returns to George Town

                GEORGE TOWN: With interstate travel and celebrations in full swing now, the parking problem in busy George Town, Penang’s capital, has resurfaced with a vengeance.

Adding to the issue are the many shop owners in the city area who ‘’reserve’’ public parking spaces for their customers or personal use by placing chairs, orange cones, carts and even the occasional sofa in the bays.

Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has been increasing the number of council parking lots every year but they are still not enough to cater to the fast-growing crowd entering Penang island.

The scarcity of parking space, mostly in George Town, has led to illegal parking and traffic congestion in the area.

Mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said that during peak time like long weekends and holidays, nearly three quarters of a million cars would enter the island.

“Adding in the cars belonging to Penang folk, that is more than a million vehicles on the streets.

“It is difficult to cope with this. I realise many other cities are experiencing the same problem because demand exceeds the supply of parking spots, especially in popular areas like George Town.

“However, the council does not condone illegal parking, especially when it creates a hindrance for others.

“We will take action by issuing summonses or towing away the vehicle,” he said.

Yew hoped the people would cooperate with the council.

“Plan your journey carefully and look for multi-level parking facilities, carpool or take public transport.

“Make use of the Penang Smart Parking (PSP) application that can tell you where the nearest available parking spots are,” he said.

He added that MBPP was planning to incorporate the multi-storey carparks owned by private shopping complexes, into the PSP system for the convenience of motorists.

When asked about shop owners who reserved parking bays with objects, Yew said they would be warned and told to remove the obstructions.

“Our traffic wardens and enforcement officers will not allow shop owners or tenants to block parking spaces with objects,” he reiterated.

He said motorists could remove the obstructions themselves but he did not encourage them to do so, in case it caused tension with the shop owners.

“Just inform us or a nearby traffic warden and we can remove the objects immediately,” he advised.

Yew said the city council would remain firm on illegal parking even during peak hours or festivals.

“It is best to find a designated parking spot even if it is further from your destination and you have to walk a bit.

“Don’t keep circling around until you find your desired parking spot. This causes unnecessary traffic jam,” he said.

MBPP councillor Wong Yuee Harng, who had highlighted the parking issue, said places like the Esplanade in Jalan Padang Kota Lama were always congested, especially during weekends and holidays.

“I suggest building an underground carpark in Padang Kota Lama (the Esplanade) and a multi-storey one behind Dewan Sri Pinang where there is limited parking space,” he said.

He noted that the local council had been increasing parking lots regularly.

“In 2019, we added 498 bays while in 2020, another 4,181 bays were created. Last year, we added 1,022 lots. This year as of June 30, we have added 619 parking spaces on Penang island.

“In George Town, we have maximised our available parking lots and exhausted the space.

“What we are doing right now is increasing lots in other places where there are new developments, such as in Bayan Baru and Bayan Lepas,” he added.

Wong said that in George Town, the city council planned to build multi-storey or automated carparks to help ease the parking woes.

In the past three months, he said 2.5 million vehicles monthly entered the island from the Penang Bridge and the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge (second Penang bridge).

He pointed out that motorists looping around blocks looking for public parking lots also held up traffic.

“Many are unaware that private parking lots are available and I hope the city council can encourage private parking operators to put up clearer signage to indicate their locations,” he said.

Wong realised that many did not want to park in private parking lots as the fees were higher than those charged by the city council.

“However, we must understand that they are operating on private land and need to pay their rent and make a profit,” he said, urging tourists to use private lots and follow the rules.

“I do hope that something is done soon because many more cars will be entering the state as tourism picks up over the next few months,” he added.


Introducing the new BMW X1 xDrive25e and X2 xDrive25e

                MUNICH: The introduction of the new BMW X1 xDrive25e and the new BMW X2 xDrive25e, which both take full advantage of the latest-generation lithium- ion battery technology, BMW customers now have even more choice in the premium compact segment.

The plug-in hybrid system of the new BMW X1 xDrive 25e and the new BMW X2 xDrive25e consists of a 1.5 litre 3-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and an electric drive specially developed for this model, derived from the BMW Group eDrive modular technology.

The petrol engine mobilises a peak output of 125hp and a maximum torque of 220Nm. It transfers its power to a 6-speed Steptronic transmission and drives the front wheels.

The electric motor generates an output of 95hp and delivers 165Nm of torque to the rear wheels via a single-speed transmission.

Together, the combustion engine and electric motor produce a system output of 220hp. The maximum system torque of both drive units is 385Nm.

 The new BMW X1 xDrive25e and the BMW X2 xDrive25e.

The new BMW X1 xDrive25e accelerates from 0 to 63mph in 6.9 seconds, whilst the BMW X2 xDrive25e does the same in 6.8 seconds.

The top speed of the new BMW X1 xDrive25e is 120mph, and 121mph for the BMW X2 xDrive25e.

The latest-generation lithium-ion battery has a gross energy content of 10kWh. This allows for an electrically powered range of between 33 and 35 miles in both the BMW X1 xDrive25e and BMW X2 xDrive25e.

The high-voltage battery can be charged at conventional household sockets using the standard-equipment charging cable. An empty battery can be fully charged in around five hours in this way.

It only takes 3.8 hours for the battery to reach 80 percent of its total capacity. Using a BMW i Wallbox, the relevant charging operation from 0 to 100 percent takes less than 3.2 hours.

Eighty percent of total capacity is already reached after 2.4 hours. The charging socket is located under a separate flap on the front left side wall of the car.


Bosch reveals new tech to drastically reduce diesel emissions

                STUTTGART: The recent demonising of diesel as a vehicle fuel has scientists and engineers working overtime to deal with diesel exhaust emissions and their effect on air quality. A new technology from Bosch claims it could cut nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 90 percent.

Only a month ago a team at Loughborough University in Britain reported that it had developed something called ammonia creation conversion technology (ACCT), which it claimed could almost eliminate NOx emissions altogether. The challenge was how to make viable for automotive applications.

But this new turbocharger and airflow-management technology from Bosch appears to be much closer to coming to fruition.

Current European standards state cars shouldn't emit more than 168 mg/km of NOx and by 2020, that will be further reduced to just 120 mg/km in real-world driving tests, and 80 mg/km under laboratory test conditions.

However, Bosch's new tech goes far beyond that. For example, a diesel-powered VW Golf would emit just 13 mg/km of NOx in mixed driving conditions, as measured using the latest RDE paradigms.

Even when driving in urban environments, where NOx emissions are often higher due to lower engine temperatures, the Bosch system in the diesel Golf emits just 26 mg/km.

Unfortunately, this isn't as simple as converting a production vehicle from a conventional engine to a 48-volt mild hybrid, as the system requires significant changes to the engine.

In fact, in the case of the Golf the changes were so significant the company refers to the vehicle as a "platform demonstrator."

Dr Volkmar Denner, the chief executive of Bosch, said of the breakthrough at the company's annual press conference: "There's a future for diesel. Today, we want to put a stop, once and for all, to the debate about the demise of diesel technology." He then went on to add that the company was "pushing the boundaries of what is technically feasible."

Although the system can't be retrofitted to old models, as it's based on already-existing components, the tech is available immediately, and could be relatively easily incorporated into carmakers' production projects.

Given how sales of diesel cars are declining across Europe, new tech solutions will have to be adopted pretty soon if the decline isn't to become terminal for diesel.

 Dr Denner.


Mazda CX-9: Big on the good stuff

                Large-sized sports utility vehicles (SUVs) from Japan are usually comfort-oriented as in the case of the Mazda CX-9 - but there also plenty of driving dynamism to boot.

For this review, we received the 2WD variant dressed in Machine Grey and costing RM290,610 (on-the-road without insurance).

The all-wheel-drive variant will set you back another RM17,000 at RM307,610. Don't doubt the CX-9's size, although large, it's also a capable runner with enough power to get things rolling and enough boost for a nice big grin.

 Exterior

Straight out of Japan as a fully-imported completely built-up unit, the CX-9 looks sharp at the front and haunched at the rear would best describe the CX-9 that's seeming at the ready to cut through the wind even when stationary.

The automatic headlights with integrated day time running "eyes" give it a human-like appearance and when switched on it really does bring this SUV to "life".

The rest of the CX-9's sheet metal seems to indicate a certain musculature that brings with it an expectation of effortless motion - and indeed it does.

With a 2.5-litre SkyActiv turbocharged engine, this SUV can get going with gusto if its owner pleases.

In terms of size, the flagship CX-9 is a long one at 5,075mm, although it is 30mm-shorter compared to its predecessor and has a longer wheelbase at 2,930mm (+55mm) for added stability.

With its 1,747mm-height, it's something that's worth standing back and admiring with all its intricately-formed curvaceous sheet-metal.

The only thing about its dimensions is that it doesn't have a wide stance at 1,969mm which is helpful when in more confined spaces.

Even though it rolls on 20-inch wheels wearing 255/50 series Bridgestone Ecopia tyres, they do close to nothing in trying to fill out those gaping wheel arches - especially so when its got a 220mm ride height.

Although it seems like its got plenty of height clearance for some off-roading the CX-9 is very much dedicated to the road.

 Interior

Inside, the driver-centric cabin is undoubtedly comfortable but does seem a little tight from its lack of width - particularly in the second row and depending on your passengers' size it will just manage to fit three in relative comfort but knee room is plentiful.

Right at the back, the collapsible dual third-row seats also do have a little more knee room than usual thanks to the forward and aft adjustability of the second-row bench.

Comfort from the front powered leather seats with driver-side memory function stems from its support in the lumbar and thigh section as well as a ventilation function that helps keep the body and thighs as well as emotions cool.

The level of ergonomics is high in here with everything in easy reach and the controls are simple as well as concise to a point that it doesn't clutter nor confuse.

Interior comfort is ultimately the name of the game with soft high-quality materials surrounding its driver and coupled with a commanding view as well as plenty of all-round visibility.

Wind noise intrusion at excessive highway speeds is minimal and the amount of noise, vibration and harshness have been mitigated by plenty of sound-deadening materials that provide a nice carpet of insulation from anything jarring.

In seven-seater mode, popping the powered tailgate reveals a boot that will accommodate just 230 litres of space but drop the third-row seats flush into the floor will provide a whopping 810 litres instead.

Dropping the second-row seats will provide an upward sloping flatbed. Positioned high-up, the boot has been positioned higher which makes accepting payloads a little difficult but it is easier when accessing them later without the need to bend over too much.
 The Drive

Via a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic mode, the front wheels will put down 228hp at 5,000rpm and 420Nm of torque from 2,000rpm onto the road.

Gear-shifts are perpetually smooth when in either Normal or Sport driving modes and there's no lack of power delivery thanks to the 420Nm of torque.

Takeoffs are smoothly effortless with the brunt of the grunt found somewhere between 2,500 and 5,000rpm-range.

Low speeds will have the steering feeling light, but punch the CX-9 into higher velocities and its heft increases for better feel and steering confidence.

At first, the comfort-oriented drive isn't going to convince many that this large SUV can and will hold its own when navigating through the twists.

Sure, things are quiet and serene on the inside, but flooring the pedal will have many rethinking their initial thoughts.

There's a nice carpet of softness present when rolling over roughly-patched roads and while some may seem like it could loosen teeth fillings, the CX-9 will smooth things out supremely.

For those who enjoy tightly twisting roads, the steering will feel sharp up to a point, but as drivers get faster around corners and dullness begins to rear its ugly head.

It really isn't the fault of this SUV, with the cause of it coming from the Bridgestone Ecopia tyres that are really more geared towards fuel economy and not performance.

Just thinking about replacing the 20-inch tyres brings about a painful afterthought. There's obviously more the CX-9 can offer in this department because seasoned drivers will be able to feel the tyres flexing at more dynamic speeds and will know to compensate for that.

Overall, this stately-looking SUV seems very befitting of its price point, with plenty of high-quality fixtures and fittings as well as practicality bundled into a chicer yet sporty SUV.

However, the unpainted black plastic cladding adds an element of ruggedness to it but also saps some elegance and from it.

The performance is more than adequate for something in the 2.0-tonne range and while it feels like a breeze to drive, fuel expenses could get on the high side from having too much driving-fun.

Too bad it doesn't come with paddle-shifters to match the level of fun. The brakes are decent in their performance but considering its weight and its ability to cruise at a top speed of 210kph, it could do with a little more bite since it does require some "planning in advance" when heading hot into corners or when needing to hurriedly come to a dead stop.

While the suspension will soak up everything, stiffer and stickier tyres will undoubtedly improve road feel and shouldn't necessarily degrade comfort levels extensively, but at least it will help to keep this SUV more securely on track if dynamism is of a higher priority.

And if that's the case, then perhaps forking out another RM17,000 for the AWD variant might be a more viable option but either way, this SUV gives big in space, style, practicality and fun.

SPECIFICATIONSMazda CX-9 2.5 SkyActiv 2WDEngine: 2,488cc turbocharged direct-injectionMaximum power: 228hp at 5,000rpm
Maximum torque: 420Nm from 2,000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed SkyActiv Drive automatic
Features: Six airbags, antilock braking system, dynamic stability control, electronic brake-force distribution, emergency brake assist, traction control, emergency stop signal, hill-launch assist, speed sensing auto lock, walk away lock, automatic adaptive LED headlights, rear LED combination lights, automatic wipers, keyless entry with push-start button, blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, land keep assist, driver attention alert, smart city brake support, front 10-way driver (with 2 position memory function) and six-way passenger heated and ventilated seats MZD Connect infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, full-colour touch screen display, multifunction Commander Control, radio, AUX-jack, USB port, Bluetooth, Bose 12-speaker sound system, GPS navigation, reverse camera with 360-degree view, Mazda G-vectoring control, sunroof, rear door sunshades, rear air-conditioning vents, multifunction steering wheel, auto-fold power mirrors, walk-away auto-locking doors, 20 x 8.5J alloys wheels with 255/50 series tyres and 17x5.5J spare wheel with 185/80 series tyres
Price (OTR without insurance): RM296,610


Herbert Diess takes over driving duty at VW in shakeup

Diess.
BERLIN: The recent rumours circulating that Volkswagen would get a new CEO has been substantiated with Herbert Diess being picked as the new boss in an overhaul that includes streamlining the company’s multiple car brands into just three groups while preparing its truck business for a potential listing.

The plans were announced after Volkswagen board of directors ousted Matthias Mueller as CEO and discussed ways to overhaul the company, which spans motorcycles, buses, trucks and passenger car brands including Ducati, Bentley, Porsche, Audi, Scania and Skoda.

Mueller’s replacement with VW brand chief Diess follows slow progress in reorganising the group’s car brands, a key pillar of “Strategy 2025” to transform the Germany’s biggest car company into a leader in cleaner cars and to move on from its diesel emissions scandal of 2015.

For Volkswagen, it's the biggest overhaul since it became a multi-brand conglomerate under former chief executive Ferdinand Piech, a grandson of VW Beetle designer Ferdinand Porsche.

Under the plans, announced on Thursday, Volkswagen will divide itself into six new business areas, plus a portfolio for China, as part of an effort to decentralise responsibility and improve efficiency.

The carmaker will prepare its truck and bus division for “capital market readiness” by making it a public limited company as a prelude to a potential listing, confirming a Reuters report from last month.

The new car brands will be Volume, Premium and Super Premium. Earlier on Thursday, sources had said VW would reorganise its brands into these groups.

Analysts welcomed the appointment of Diess, a former BMW executive who has more than doubled profitability at the VW brand since taking charge in 2015.
 Mueller.
“Diess is a man of action, he is the most plausible choice at VW to lead the group into the next phase of its transformation,” said Nord LB analyst Frank Schwope, who has a “buy” rating on Volkswagen.

Separately, VW said works council executive Gunnar Kilian, a close aide to labour boss Bernd Osterloh, will replace group human resources chief Karlheinz Blessing who will stay at VW as an adviser. Earlier this week, sources told Reuters that Kilian would replace Blessing.

Purchasing chief Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, the longest-serving top executive at VW, will leave the company, the carmaker said.

VW will tighten leadership duties within the group and empower the heads of the three vehicle categories to take on company-wide responsibilities.

With VW’s core namesake brand shouldering the bulk of development spending within the group, Diess will also become responsible for R&D activities across the group. Rupert Stadler, CEO of luxury division Audi will take charge of group sales.

Oliver Blume, head of sports car brand Porsche and newly appointed to the group executive board, will oversee production at the multi-brand organisation, VW said, confirming a Reuters report.

Diess, Stadler and Blume will also take charge of the new groups Volume, Premium and Super Premium respectively, VW said, without giving more details.

The German carmaker’s deliberations come as rival carmakers and suppliers including Fiat and Daimler work on ways to slim down and divest non-core assets.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs say there is 160 billion euros worth of “hidden value” in the European autos sector that could be unlocked through portfolio simplifications.


Tesla to roll out China-made Model 3 cars with cobalt-free LFP batteries, say sources

                BEIJING: Tesla Inc is poised to start selling some Model 3 vehicles made in China equipped with cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, two people familiar with the matter said.

Currently the Model 3 electric sedans made at the carmaker’s Chinese plant use nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries.

The starting price for the vehicles is currently 249,900 yuan (RM153,000) after receiving Chinese subsidies for electric vehicles.

Tesla will announce the product change as early as Thursday, the two sources said. They declined to be named as the matter is confidential.

Tesla was not immediately available for comment.

LFP batteries are cheaper to make and contain no cobalt, one of the most expensive metals used in electric vehicle batteries. Tesla will use LFP batteries in all Model 3 vehicles made in China with standard driving ranges, according to the sources.

In China, the world’s biggest car market, Tesla sold over 11,000 vehicles, mostly Model 3s, in August. It is also building a new car manufacturing capacity for Model Y sport-utility vehicles in Shanghai and expects to start delivery of them from next year.

Reuters has previously reported that Tesla would use LFP batteries made by China's CATL, which declined to comment at the time.


Proton and Malaysia Automotive Institute to improve parts suppliers' standards

                CYBERJAYA: The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) and Proton today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further optimise shared resources to be used in developing Proton’s parts and components suppliers to ensure they are able to meet global standards.

The collaboration will pool resources between the two parties to maximise the utilisation of existing automotive development infrastructures; particularly in the areas of advanced design applications, digital process simulation and improved validation technology.

MAI’s supplier excellence programmes include:

ASEP – Automotive Supplier Excellence Programme (ASEP) is an automotive supplier improvement programme aimed at promoting a competitive and sustainable domestic automotive industry and to develop world-class automotive suppliers. ASEP is implemented for a period of 10 months, with detailed supervision, coaching, assessments and reporting exercises undertaken by experts relevant to the areas of improvements needed by participating companies.

DEP – MAI’s Design Engineering and Prototyping (DEP) programme aims to accelerate the enhancement of design and engineering capability within the automotive industry, especially the component automotive suppliers, through digital engineering application. Participating companies are provided a common platform through shared facilities, software and prototyping hardware in Design, Simulation and Analysis that enable them to conduct and perform digital engineering processes for automotive parts.

LPS – The MAI Lean Production System (LPS) programme, conducted in collaboration with Proton and Perodua involves MAI’s LPS Experts, coaching several automotive suppliers, focusing on the enhancement of productivity within manufacturing operations of automotive suppliers. LPS is a 9-month programme where participating companies will go through one-on-on coaching from industry experts.

AICE – The Automotive Industry Certification Engineering (AICE) programme is a programme catered for engineering graduates to jump start their careers in the industry through a syllabus that tailors them to be immediately employable into the automotive industry upon graduation. AICE programme comprises 8 months of intensive exposure to the various skill and knowledge sets within the automotive industry such as product and process design, as well as manufacturing processes and quality management systems.

IPC – Industry-Led Professional Certificate (IPC) programme aims to produce skilled operators and technicians through industry specific modules and on-job training. During this 6-month programme, trainees are exposed to industry knowledge, hands-on skills and the working culture of the automotive industry.

DEEP – The Dealers Entrepreneurship Enhancement Programme (DEEP) is a programme specifically catered towards automotive dealers that aims to enhance their competency and capabilities. Participating dealers will be exposed to areas that enable them to increase business revenue and profitability of their business.

Apprenticeship – The MAI Industry-Led Graduate Apprenticeship Programme is developed for engineering undergraduates, during their studies in their respective universities. The program is designed to inculcate industry-based habits and practices into the academic syllabus from moment the undergraduates enter the university life.

WTP – The Workshop Transformation Programme (WTP) aims to enhance the capability and competency of workshop owners and entrepreneurs in their business ventures. Participating workshop owners of are trained in fundamentals of entrepreneurship and are exposed to techniques in stabilizing their business through a ‘1-to-1 Intensive Coaching Session’.

“Upstream automotive activities – the design thinking, engineering applications and validation technology are key towards any meaningful participation within the automotive industry, especially as we are moving fast towards the fourth industrial revolution”, said MAI chief executive officer Datuk Madani Sahari.

“The MoU today has a significance beyond capacity building, it is the new way forward towards a change of culture and mind-set for the entire automotive value chain. Businesses must re-invent strategies to keep themselves competitive and relevant”, he added.

According to Proton CEO Dr Li Chunrong, the MoU singing is significant for the national car company, as the success of its suppliers is crucial for the future growth of Proton.


Mercedes finally launches US subscription service

Drive the C 300 Convertible at Signature level.
ATLANTA: It's not the only program of its type and it has taken a while to get under way, but Mercedes-Benz has finally launched its new monthly subscription service. The brand has provided significant detail about the costs and what vehicles are available to subscribers under the various levels of the program, but for the moment, it's only being offered in the US cities of Nashville and Philadelphia.

The upmarket brand offers three levels for consumers to subscribe to — named Signature, Reserve and Premier. The higher the subscription level, the fancier the vehicles that are offered.

The most affordable subscription is Signature, but affordable is a relative term as it will set consumers back from US$1,095 (RM4,353) per month. Go for the mid-level Reserve and the price goes up to US$1,595 (RM6,340) per month, and the top-level Premier subscription is an eye-watering US$2,995 (RM11,904) per month. On top of the monthly subscription fee, all three levels require the subscriber to pay a one-off US$495 (RM1,968) membership fee too.

 The G 550 is only available at Premier level.

Signature subscribers can choose from all body styles of the C300, the CLA45, both SUV and "coupe" forms of the GLC300 crossover, and the SLC300 roadster. Those choosing to pay the extra for the Reserve package can then choose between the E300 sedan, E400 wagon and coupe, C43 sedan and coupe, GLE350, GLC43, and the SLC43 roadster. As should be expected for the big jump in cost, the Premier subscription offers some really impressive models. These include the E63, C63 and S560 sedans, the C63 S coupe, GLE63 S SUV, GLE S "coupe" SUV, GLS550, G550, and the SL550 roadster.

Subscribers can swap between different models at their level, but if they want something from a higher band that's allowed as long as they pay the extra daily fees until they return to something within their subscription level.

As well as the vehicles themselves, the subscription fee also includes insurance, maintenance and roadside assistance. A feature that's different from some other manufacturers' similar schemes is a lack of mileage restrictions.

It's not clear when or if Mercedes is planning to roll out the service to other areas and other markets, but if it proves popular enough in Nashville and Philadelphia, expect to see it coming to a Mercedes dealership near you before too long.dealership near you before too long.


As breakthrough EV battery pursuit falters, Quantumscape seeks hedges

                DETROIT: QuantumScape has long talked a big game about its potential, and rightfully so - it’s pursuing a holy grail in the field of battery-materials science that’s eluded researchers for decades.

The solid-state battery technology the startup has been working on for electric vehicles promises much greater range and 15-minute charge times.

After its spinoff from Stanford University in 2010 and as it was going public a decade later, automakers lined up and investors salivated.

But in the years since its merger with a blank-check firm, QuantumScape’s lofty ambitions of scaling a big battery breakthrough have run into some grounding manufacturing realities.

The company is now planning to find customers in the consumer-electronics sector as it takes longer to commercialise automotive-grade cells.

It’s a well-worn path for battery startups struggling to meet the rigorous, years-long qualification process required to become an auto supplier.

But don’t call it a pivot - electric vehicles are still the top priority, Chief Executive Officer Jagdeep Singh told Bloomberg this week.

"We’re not pivoting to anything. We remain focused on automotive as the primary market,” Jagdeep said in an interview.

"From an investor standpoint, why wouldn’t you? If your product can serve additional markets, why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of that?”

QuantumScape is the fifth startup for Jagdeep, who became fascinated with energy storage while thinking about the batteries in his Tesla Roadster.

Bill Gates and venture capitalists Vinod Khosla and John Doerr were early investors.

Tesla co-founder JB Straubel sits on the board. And Volkswagen, the company’s biggest shareholder, signed an agreement to build a battery plant with QuantumScape technology if it proves viable.

All that star-studded backing contributed to QuantumScape briefly being valued as a US$50 billion company in December of 2020, and the startup raised about US$1.3 billion in two trips to the equity market.

Why the hype in the first place?

All lithium-ion batteries have the same basic components: two electrodes (a cathode and an anode), an electrolyte that helps shuttle the charge between them, and a permeable membrane called a separator that keeps the anode and cathode from touching.

Solid-state batteries replace the conventional liquid electrolyte and the separator, which are both flammable, with a solid separator made of ceramic, glass or polymers.

This innovation, if proven to work beyond the lab and reproduced flawlessly hundreds of thousands of times in a factory, could make electric-vehicle batteries safer, smaller and faster-charging.

The flawless manufacturing bit is where QuantumScape has run into some trouble. And it’s far from alone.

Incumbents including Panasonic and LG Energy Solution spend months churning out useless scrap from their machinery before making a cell good enough to be placed in an automobile.

That’s absolutely normal and is part of why battery manufacturing has historically been a low-margin business with high barriers to entry.

Unlike other solid-state startups who stuck to "drop-in” tech that could easily slide into existing production lines, QuantumScape is trying to build a new mousetrap.

It invented a proprietary cell format, which means it also has to design custom tooling to make that cell, then wait months to have the equipment delivered, then begin the grueling process of testing the equipment and working out the kinks.

This is the Silicon Valley moonshot approach Jagdeep is a deep believer in - if it’s not really risky and really hard, it’s not worth your time.

That plan seemed to be working until July of last year, when executives disclosed in their second-quarter earnings report that there were contamination problems in the separator films the company was producing at its manufacturing site in California.

A month prior, Celina Mikolajczak, a Panasonic veteran who was leading QuantumScape’s manufacturing efforts, abruptly resigned after little more than a year. The company cited "differing management styles.”

In its third-quarter report, QuantumScape said it signed a new agreement with Volkswagen that removed the time constraint for site selection of their joint venture pilot facility planned for the US or Germany.

While the companies said they remain committed to bringing vehicles equipped with solid-state lithium-metal battery technology to market as early as practicable, QuantumScape also started putting more emphasis on the consumer electronics market in its investor letters.

Volkswagen said it continues to work with QuantumScape to scale production of solid-state batteries and acknowledges that it’s a "challenging step.”

Jagdeep spent nearly an hour with Bloomberg reporters last week discussing QuantumScape’s strategy and manufacturing challenges.

Here are some highlights of the conversation, edited for length and clarity.

You’re adding these new market segments. Now that you’ve done the cell testing, is anybody buying?

The consumer industry has received cells and the testing has gone well. We would not be talking about consumer if we didn’t believe there was a strong demand from consumer.

Your original timeline for putting your batteries in an EV was as early as 2026. Now you’re saying the target for a B sample - a test cell for automakers - is end of 2025. It typically takes about 24 months to qualify a B sample, so that would be end of 2027. Is that a fair read?

I don’t have that visibility. Every automaker that you talk to has their own timeline. We want to get away from making precise predictions on things that we don’t control precisely.

What does matter is, when can we get high enough volume B samples - meaning it has the functionality and a certain level of maturity - into the hands of customers so they can start the qualification process?

Our goal is to get that sample at the end of 2025 with high-volume equipment.

In most investor communication, you spend a great deal of time talking about battery performance. The question was always, can you manufacture it? We haven’t heard you talk about the yields on the separator film production. Why aren’t you telling investors about that?

What we have said is, we know we need to improve quality, we need to improve consistency, those things get into reliability, and reliability is a key goal for any battery.

It’s not something that happens overnight. Manufacturing takes a long time in large part because the tooling takes time.

When you order the equipment, it can take a year to two years to qualify it and turn it on. As you get into more automated tooling for higher volumes, not only do you get higher throughput, but quality gets better and your yields get better.

We’ve already seen the impact of improving quality on our yields. But we don’t disclose those types of details about our system. Some of our customers who are close to us have a good view of the process and what we’re doing.

You said on the last call you have US$1 billion in liquidity, and you filed a US$400 million at-the-market shelf in late February that you’ve yet to tap. Is that enough cash to get to the B sample by the end of 2025?

The current cash balance without the ATM gets us into the second half of 2025.

If you add ATM on top of that, US$400 million, and using the guidance we’ve provided on cash burn for this year, that’s another year on top of that.

That will get us well into 2026. In that scenario, we have enough buffer to get these B samples into the market.


April 22-28: RON97 petrol up 4 sen

                PETALING JAYA: The price of RON97 petrol will increase by four sen from April 22 to April 28, says the Finance Ministry.

It said that the retail price for RON97 petrol will increase from RM2.54 to RM2.58 per litre.

The price of RON95 petrol and diesel will remain unchanged at RM2.05 and RM2.15 per litre, respectively.

The ministry also said that to protect consumers from global oil price increases, the government would maintain its ceiling price of RON95 petrol at RM2.05 per litre and diesel at RM2.15 per litre, despite increases in market prices.


LEVC celebrates 10,000 TX electric taxis

                LONDON: LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) is celebrating the significant milestone of producing its 10,000th vehicle at its factory in Ansty, Coventry.

LEVC has manufactured the TX – the world’s most advanced electric taxi – at its groundbreaking facility since 2017.

Since the first TX taxi was delivered in January 2018 here, 10,000 vehicles have now been built and sold throughout multiple global markets, from Paris to Madrid, Cairo to Tokyo.

The milestone follows LEVC’s recent announcement of a new strategy that will see it grow beyond manufacturing the TX, to become a leading zero-carbon mobility technology company.

It also continues the momentum of a record-breaking year in 2022, with 2,508 TX vehicles sold, making it LEVC’s best annual sales performance to date.

Growing demand for the company’s smart, green, safe and accessible mobility solutions, means that the TX electric taxi has now overtaken the diesel-powered TX4, as the most common black cab operating in London.

Representing more than 40% of all black cabs in London, there are over 6,000 TXs on the streets of the capital.

As well as reaching the significant milestone of 10,000 vehicles, this year also marks the 200th anniversary since the first Hackney carriage was licenced in London, and 75 years since the first "black cab" as we know it, was born – in the form of the FX3.

Over the decades, the TX has transformed into the vehicle it is today, providing sustainable transport to both drivers and passengers in more than 20 countries. To date the TX has travelled more than 534 million miles globally and prevented 162,000 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere.

As well as producing its 10,000th vehicle, LEVC will celebrate 10 years of being part of the Geely Holding Group family.


McLaren 650S Spider - Blast off

                It's not everyday a supercar gets to land in our laps at CarSifu and only a lucky few (myself included) actually get a chance to man-handle something like the McLaren 650S Spider.

But first lets get the nitty-gritty out of the way. First and foremost, many familiar to the British brand known for its Formula 1 endeavours would already know that the 650S uses a resurrected 90-degree (M838T) flat-plane V8 race engine that was based on Nissan’s VRH-range of engines.

The 8,500rpm red-lining engine was originally developed to go racing in the US-based Indy Racing League IndyCar championship, but never did see the light of day.

However, McLaren bought the rights to the engine, replaced almost all of its innards, slapped on two turbo chargers, made it produce 592hp and 600Nm of torque and dumped it into the bowels, mid-mounted of course, of the venerable MP4-12C.

Fast forward to today and the engine has undergone a few tweaks and now its been “weaponized” to provide 650PS (hence the nomenclature) at 7,250rpm and 678Nm of torque at 6,000rpm with 95% of it being available from 3,000 to 7,000rpm.

In terms of performance, it’ll go from 0-100kph in 3.0 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 329kph around the 9.0-second mark.

Thanks to McLaren Malaysia, we were invited to have a go in the 650S Spider that’s practically an MP4-12C underneath with only a quarter of it being absolutely brand new.

Regardless, as with all supercars, it’s going to be a head turner, especially when it’s been draped in bright Mantis Green and comes with an absolutely evocative, throaty, exhaust note to boot.

The front-end shares similar styling cues inherited from the McLaren’s alpha and omega P1 hybrid just to denote the 650S’ lineage that can be seen particularly around the headlights depicting the brand’s logo while the rear-half pays homage to the MP4-12C.

Being wedge-shaped and low-slung, a certain finesse is required when getting in and out, but once inside – and the top down, the dark and heavily Alcantara-clad cabin with carbon-fibre accents bring a certain air of seriousness to it.

Games aside, the interior is minimal yet simplistically refined with only one intention – to go super-fast, and that leads to the next question – can it be managed without having to tame it?

After strapping in to the body-hugging, stiff and lacking in bolster seat, firing up the engine melts away all such concerns for comfort and automatically begins to prime the mind to get knee, if not, neck-deep into the 650S’ performance.

The suspension was somewhat harsh, picking up every little note and nuance the road has to offer while rolling on 19-inch wheels with 235/35 series tyres at the front and fat 305/30 series tyres for the 20-inch wheels at the rear.

Out and about within stop-go traffic, the 1,370kg (kerb) Spider was and would be practically putty in anyone’s hands, which will be a relief to many who’d like to own a supercar.Pedal to the metal, the Spider will create an impression, not just in the minds of many, but in their respective seats too, as the rear axle receives the full brunt of what the engine has to offer for the Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres to put down on to the road.

Furthermore, the engine’s hiss starts to get louder as both turbochargers spool faster while the revs climb blindingly quick towards the 8,500rpm red-line and requiring a quick tug at the paddle shifter to cycle up the through the seven-speed seamless shift dual clutch gearbox - or SSG in McLaren-speak.

The steering wheel has a racecar-like heft to it and will make your comfort-oriented ride’s steering feel rather overly boosted in comparison.

Getting the Spider up to speed may be an experience all by itself, and everything seems dandy for the moment till its time to bleed some speed.

It was unexpected to find the brake pedal requiring a stiff foot to push down on just to get the six-piston front and four-piston rear callipers to really bite down on the cross-drilled carbon ceramic brakes – or perhaps we didn’t really have the opportunity to really “warm” them up just yet?

With the top down, its surprising that a conversation could still be had and if the hair-do is a concern, the rear windscreen can be wound-down just to allow the senses to be submerged in the engine’s intoxicating notes.

After having driven the Spider for a few short hours, it may dawn upon some that this particular drop-top supercar commands plenty of street-cred and truly belongs in the upper echelons of performance cars of today.

And although it’s been awhile after having driven the Spider, which comes priced from RM2.6mil, the hiss and roar from the engine seems to have left a deeply rooted impression with calls to revisit such an experience sometimes heard echoing in the back the mind.


Infiniti rethinks QX80 design with new concept

                HONG KONG: Infiniti will be going to the New York Auto Show to showcase a concept of the next QX80.

It released a teaser image with minimal info but indicated on its Twitter account that a set of straight-spoke, two-tone 24-inch wheels finished in chromium black with brushed copper elements will be shown at the show. Such a huge size is a signal it would be matched with the SUV concept.

READ MORE: Thomas Huong drives Infiniti QX80 The 24-inch wheels being teased on Twitter.

From what we can glean from the teaser photo, the front looks more aggressive than before with the headlights positioned along the top part of the grille. The lower part of the headlights feature prominent LED lighting, helping to underscore the entire headlight assembly.

The front spoiler and lower vents also look sportier.

The concept vehicle will be unveiled on April 11 ahead of the April 14-23 show.

 The current QX80.


Global manufacturers see chip shortage easing

                ZURICH/STOCKHOLM: Hyundai Motor Co, factory robot builder ABB and Swedish fridge maker Electrolux see the semi-conductor chip shortage easing, executives said Thursday, in a boost for manufacturers after a long struggle for components.

An increased supply of chips will reduce one burden facing an industry that is also battling raw material price inflation, a tight energy market and rising interest rates that are throwing a dampener on consumer demand.

Hyundai turned in its best quarterly profit in eight years on Thursday as a weak won currency lifted the value of its earnings abroad and demand stayed strong for the South Korean automaker's high-margin sport utility vehicles (SUVs).

The carmaker was also boosted by the easing of a global chip shortage, which helped it resume overtime and weekend shifts at domestic plants. It now plans to step up vehicle production in the second half to meet consumer demand.

ABB, a big supplier to the automotive industry, said semiconductor chip bottlenecks were now easing as it reported its second quarter earnings.

The Switzerland-based company, which competes with Germany's Siemens and France's Schneider Electric, is seen as a barometer of the global economy with its control systems and motors used in the transport industry and factories.

It anticipates double digit-comparable revenue growth in the next three months as the increased supply of chips means it can deliver factory robots, motors and drives ordered by customers.

"The good thing to know, it is easing up," chief executive Bjorn Rosengren said about the semiconductor shortages which he said were "severe" at the start of the year.

"Commitments from our suppliers are significantly better," he told reporters.

Production capacity at chip manufacturers was increasing, Rosengren said, while demand from other sectors, such as consumer electronics, seemed to be lower, allowing more chips to be allocated to industrial customers like ABB.

"I would not say the problems are over yet, but we have commitments for the second half which look quite good," he said.

Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia said it expected the global semiconductor shortage to ease later this year, as it reported quarterly operating profit that beat market expectations. read more

"The overall direction in the semiconductor industry is positive at the moment, but we did continue to have constraints in the second quarter," chief executive Pekka Lundmark said.

Volkswagen last month forecast a strong second half of 2022 and progress in catching up with rival Tesla as easing chip shortages start to offset supply chain bottlenecks and rising costs.

ABB's Rosengren said he expected a slowdown in inflation, with commodities prices going down and interest rate hikes by central banks taking effect.

A resumption of gas supplies from Russia to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline after a maintenance outage also sent "good signals into the market," he said — although gas flows remain at levels below the pipeline's capacity. read more

But it was not all good news for companies who have already faced disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine and pandemic-related shutdowns in parts of China earlier this year.

Sweden's Electrolux missed second-quarter profit expectations on Thursday hit by supply chain problems and a loss in its North American business. read more

Europe's biggest home appliances maker said it expected those supply chain constraints to ease in the second half but warned of continued disruption risks ahead related to Covid-19 and the Ukraine crisis.

Still, chief executive Jonas Samuelson said the supply situation, including for semiconductors, looked better for the third and fourth quarters versus the preceding quarters.

"Step by step we are coming back to a more normalised supply environment," he told analysts and journalists during a webcast.


Toyota bZ4X electric SUV to launch in Japan on May 12 as a subscription model

                TOKYO: Toyota will launch the all-new bZ4X battery electric vehicle (BEV) in Japan on May 12 and will only offer it to domestic customers under a subscription model.

It will be followed by sales of the model globally as part of the car maker's contribution to carbon neutrality. Toyota's first all-electric model is also expected to launch in Malaysia next year.

In Japan, all vehicles will be leased to eliminate customer concerns regarding BEVs, while implementing battery management for all vehicles to promote the 3Rs (Rebuild, Reuse, Recycle) of batteries.

The bZ4X will be made available to individual customers through Kinto subscription services.

The plan is for a maximum 10-year term with guaranteed battery performance. Monthly payments decrease in stages starting from the fifth year with no early cancellation fees. Connected service use and various other fees are included in the monthly fees.

For corporate customers, the vehicles will be leased from Toyota Rent-a-Lease Dealers nationwide and the Toyota Mobility Services Corporation (Tokyo region).

In Japan, Toyota will start the first phase by accepting applications for the first 3,000 units on May 12 and anticipates a second phase of applications in early autumn. A total of 5,000 units for production and sales are planned for the first year.

In addition, Toyota will respond to developments in charging infrastructure. Toyota plans to install rapid chargers at all dealers in Japan by 2025, with initial plans to install rapid chargers mainly in urban areas where demand is high for BEVs.

A BEV-dedicated platform, a first for Toyota, was developed with Subaru based on the e-TNGA philosophy to achieve attractive, smooth, intuitive driving performance, not just for a BEV, but for any car, as well as the off-road performance of an authentic SUV.

Toyota said the bZ4X offers a power efficiency performance of 128 Wh/km and cruising range of up to 559km. The battery is rated to have a world-leading battery capacity retention ratio of 90% after 10 years. A front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions are available.

The bZ4X will be built at Toyota's Motomachi plant.


Brabus takes off with Rocket 900

                PETALING JAYA: Tuning house Brabus has turned the Mercedes-AMG GT63 S into the Rocket 900 and heavily modified the twin-turbo V8 engine to increase displacement from 4.0 to 4.5 litres.

It also installed a pair of custom turbochargers with a larger compressor unit and a higher maximum boost pressure to create an output of 888hp and 1,250Nm of torque.

There is an electronic limiter to protect the drivetrain by capping the torque to 1,050Nm.

The Rocket 900 has bumped up the output of the GT63 S to an extra 258hp and 150Nm.

It does 0 to 100kph in 2.8 seconds and Brabus has limited the top speed to 330kph due to the car’s weight and to protect the tyres.

Besides the aggressive body kit,  the Rocket 900 has custom 21-inch wheels in the front and 22-inch in the rear with built-in aero discs from exposed carbon.

It's also 25mm less ground clearance than the GT63 S and also adds an air suspension developed by Brabus with Comfort and Sport modes.

Featuring a Stealth Gray paint, the inside has black leather and Alcantara and will cost US$515,000 (RM2.14mil).


Ferrari reveals BR20 One-Off based on GTC4Lusso

                MARANELLO: The Ferrari BR20, the latest addition to the Prancing Horse’s One-Off series, was unveiled Thursday.

The BR20 is a two-seater V12 coupé developed on the GTC4Lusso platform.

Its two rear seats have been removed to add extra dynamism to the BR20’s ultra-sleek fastback line.

The new car is 7.6cm longer than the original, thanks to a specific rear overhang treatment designed to create a silhouette that emphasises its proportions.

One of the cornerstones of the design process for this one-off was the radical modification made to the cabin volume.

The new cabin design solution creates the impression of a pair of arches running lengthwise from A-pillar to rear spoiler.

The rear volume of the arch has been hollowed out to create an aerodynamic channel with the air outlet concealed by the black rear fascia under the spoiler.

This modern take on Ferrari’s “flying buttress” theme firmly connects the car to signature Prancing Horse styling cues not just from Ferrari’s GT tradition, but also sports cars such as the 599 GTB Fiorano.

To visually lighten the cabin, the black paint of the roof visually connects the windscreen to the rear screen, which stands above the surface of the rear tailgate as if to channel the air flow.

A muscular rear bumper melds with the aggressive look of the rest of the car: twin taillights create a visual dialogue with the tailpipes, which are lower and set into a prominent aerodynamic diffuser with active flaps on the underbody.

Even the BR20’s twin round exhaust tips were designed especially for this bespoke model.

The BR20’s many carbon-fibre details highlight the edgy dynamic characteristics and powerful performance of this four-wheel drive car.

High sills add an extra hint of dynamism to the lower section of the flanks as well as emphasising the front air vents on the wheel arches.

The wide front grille sports an upper carbon-fibre element, a note of stylistic consistency with other recent Ferrari one-offs, while unusual chrome side inserts help underline the car’s front stance.

The front grille’s new horizontal slats lend a sense of three-dimensionality.

A virtually endless list of elements was designed specifically for the BR20, not least its modified headlights. They are lower in height compared to those of the GTC4Lusso with slimmer DRLs, which makes the bonnet seem even longer and sleeker. The 20” tone-on-tone diamond-finish wheels were also created especially for this unique car.

The BR20’s interior is trimmed in two shades of brown leather and carbon-fibre as specified by the customer.

The seats are trimmed in dark brown Heritage Testa di Moro leather and sport an exclusive pattern at the front as well as silver cross-stitching.

The cabin volume runs uninterrupted from the windscreen to the luggage compartment at the rear, creating a sense of lightness and airiness for occupants.

Oak trim with carbon-fibre inserts adorns the rear bench and luggage deck, which conceals a deeper loading area when folded flat, as well as the door handles.

The BR20 was made under Ferrari's Special Projects programme.

Each project comes from an idea put forward by the customer and developed with a team of designers from Ferrari’s Styling Centre.

After having defined the car’s proportion and forms, detailed design blueprints and a styling buck are produced before starting the manufacturing process of the new One-Off.

The entire process lasts on average more than one year, during which the customer is involved in assessing the design and verification phases.


Auto Shanghai 2019: Lotus Evora GT4 Concept racer

                SHANGHAI: Lotus launches its brand new Evora GT4 Concept at the Shanghai Auto Show 2019.

Built with 70-plus years of engineering innovation on road and track, the iconic company unveils its latest, British-built motorsport entry which used the lessons learnt from the previous championship/race winning generation Evora GT car.

Using the same anodised, lightweight aluminium, extruded, epoxy bonded and rivetted high-stiffness chassis architecture as the road car, the Evora GT4 Concept incorporates the latest motorsport safety systems and technology.

Appointed factory drivers, Mr. Cui Yue and Mr. Gaoxiang Fan bring new Chinese racing pedigree to Lotus motorsport.

Both are graduates of the Geely University and have gone through their motorsport apprenticeships with the company’s sponsorship.

The factory drivers will demonstrate the car’s potential through the newly established Lotus Driving Academy in China, with events to be held for the team and members of the public as high-octane driving days, driver training sessions and hot lap experiences, starting later this year.

The Evora GT4 Concept racer has a 3.5-litre V6, 24-valve, water-cooled, all aluminium, charge-cooled engine with Harrop supercharger mated to a sequential 6-speed motorsport transmission, and coupled to Numatics paddle shift system and Torsen type limited slip differential.

Power output is 450hp at 7,000rpm and there's also 510Nm of torque from 4,000rpm.

This Lotus racer will weigh 1200 kg (subject to ballast), while reaching a top speed of 273kph.

It employs the same front clam layout as the Evora GT430 road car, but with a different configuration to allow for the cooling requirements of a race car. This includes removable canards and in-mouth brake ducts, as well as louvers positioned on top of each front wheel arch to reduce pressure above the wheel.

The car’s rear also uses the same set up as the road car, with sculpted ducts behind each wheel to vent airflow as quickly as possible from the wheel arches, but adds a composite, four-vein diffuser and an adjustable, carbon-fibre, flat-plan motorsport wing.

For driver protection, there are an eight-point T45 roll cage, a six-point FIA HANS approved harnesses and HANS compliant seat, FIA compliant electrical kill switch and fire extinguisher.

The car’s instrumentation has also been uprated to including a six-inch TFT colour screen, incorporating data logging and critical issue text alert.

The racer will continue to be developed by Lotus Cars in the UK. Responsible for the development of the company’s competition cars, renowned Lotus test driver and the company’s director of attributes, Gavan Kershaw and his team will spend hundreds of hours on the famous Hethel test track, which has shaped countless racers over six decades.

Further details on the Evora GT4 Concept and Lotus motorsport in China will be confirmed later this year.


Xpeng unveils plan to go beyond cars with AI, flying car, robot

                GUANGZHOU: Chinese electric vehicle startup Xpeng Inc. unveiled details of new products and features including an assisted driving system, a faster charging infrastructure and a flying car as it signaled its intent to expand from its auto-manufacturing roots.

The Guangzhou-based company also launched the prototype of a ridable robot horse at its so-called “Tech Day.” Xpeng said 60% of its users have paid for the assisted-driving feature, called the navigation-guided-pilot function, which can be used on highways now.

That contributed to the company’s total revenue and boosted optimism it can make profit from the intelligent system, Xpeng said.

“Our exploration of more efficient, safer, carbon-neutral mobility solutions goes far beyond just smart EVs, and is the cornerstone of our long-term competitive advantages,” chairman He Xiaopeng said today.

He added that new energy vehicle penetration rate will reach 50% by 2025.

An upgraded version of Xpeng’s assisted-driving feature known as XPILOT 3.5 will navigate drivers in cities as early as mid-2022, said Wu Xinzhou, vice president of Xpeng’s autonomous driving unit, though an actual rollout will depend on the product development and local regulations.

The company will also partner with others to explore robo-taxi operations starting from the second half of next year.

An advanced point-to-point driver assistance program known as XPILOT 4.0 is planned for rollout in the first half of 2023, and will be equipped on Xpeng’s next product - an electric sports utility vehicle.
Assisted Driving

The intelligent driving system isn’t fully autonomous but an assisted one, where human intervention is needed, the company said.

Drivers will also be required to learn and conduct safety tests that “set clear boundaries” before activating the driver assistance functions, and be put under constant monitoring of their behavior.

Li Xiang, chief executive officer of Chinese EV startup Li Auto, earlier urged the industry to be more careful when using terms such as autonomous or self-driving amid rising cases of accidents suspected to be caused by the confusion.

“The drivers are still ultimately responsible for their own safety even when using assisted-driving functions,” Li said.

Xpeng also presented a road map for its comprehensive charging network, which includes a mass-produced silicon carbide high-voltage fast charging platform, 480 kW super charger piles, a geographically-expanded charging facility deployment and technology boost for in-house charging and power storage.

The company also showed designs for a low-altitude flying car developed by its affiliate HT Aero, which just raised more than US$500 million from investors and expected to mass produce the vehicles in 2024.

The prototype of a robot horse, equipped with bionic senses and multi-mode recognition technologies, is also part of Xpeng’s product lineup.

In August, Tesla Inc.’s Elon Musk unveiled plans to launch a robot prototype sometime next year.


Perodua deliveries up by 102% in September

                RAWANG: Perodua has continued its delivery momentum for the third consecutive month by 102% to 14,160 units in September from 6,988 units in August with the improvement in supply chain.

Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the automotive supply chain had yet to reach its full potential although it had shown improvements.

“We are continuously working with our suppliers and dealers to further improve productivity and safety,” he said.

He said the gradual growth in both production and sales were in keeping with the strict quality control measures throughout Perodua’s operations to ensure customer satisfaction.

“We thank our customers that have continued to be patient with us as we further improve production,” he said.

On a year-to-date perspective, Perodua sold 119,093 vehicles between January and September 2021 compared with 145,012 in the same period of 2020.

In comparing the second quarter of the year to the third quarter, sales plummeted by 44.6% to 21,803 units between July and September from 39,381 vehicles registered between April and June this year.

Zainal Abidin said the fourth quarter of 2021 offered a better outlook than the previous two quarters, especially the marked improvement in the reduction of Covid-19 cases nationwide as well as the nearly 90% vaccination rate of the Malaysian adult population.


VW has paid US$9.5bil to US drivers over 'dieselgate'

                WASHINGTON: Volkswagen has paid some US$9.5 billion (RM40.4bil) since 2016 to US motorists misled by devices installed by the German automaker to cheat emission standards, the US federal consumer protection authority said Monday.

The international scandal -- known as "dieselgate" -- has tarnished Volkswagen's image ever since.

The auto giant admitted in 2015 to cheating emissions tests on 11 million vehicles worldwide. Software built into motors made the cars appear to spew fewer harmful pollutants in the lab than on the road.

Owners of vehicles from VW or Porsche, a subsidiary of the Wolfsburg-based manufacturer, were given a choice between returning their car for compensation or having it modified to comply with clean-air rules.

"More than 86 percent of those who concluded the claims process chose to return their car through a buyback or early lease termination," the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said in a statement summarising its final report on what it calls the "largest consumer redress programme in US history."

The most important thing, the statement added, is that the redress provided was "sufficient to compensate consumers fully."

Since the scandal broke, Volkswagen has had to deal with numerous legal actions, both criminal and civil.

One of the last major lawsuits expected in Germany is that of former Audi boss Rupert Stadler, who is due to appear in court from Sept 30.

The total bill for the Volkswagen scandal is expected to exceed €30 billion (RM150bil), including the US$9.5 billion already paid out in the United States to compensate customers.


Infiniti develops Project Black S prototype with world's first dual-hybrid powertrain

                LONDON: Based on the Infiniti Q60 sports coupe, Project Black S is an engineering testbed exploring how Renault Sport Formula One Team-inspired dual-hybrid powertrain technology could be deployed in a road car.

The world's first dual-hybrid technology is derived from Formula One, and a testbed based on the  Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 and its 400hp VR30 twin-turbo V6 engine, the Formula One-inspired dual-hybrid system combines supersport performance with smart energy management.

Adapted over the standard Q60 by Infiniti Design London, based in Paddington, the prototype proposed a stronger, more aggressive presence, commensurate with its performance focus.

The ruthless, Formula One-inspired functionality hints at the more assertive, performance-enhanced design that could characterize future high-performance models from the brand.

The prototype's powertrain employs three motor generator units (MGU).

A single MGU-K ('K' stands for 'kinetic') unit harvests kinetic energy from braking. Uniquely, the engine's twin turbochargers are fitted with two MGU-H ('H' for 'heat') units, to harvest heat energy from exhaust gases.

This enables the powertrain to generate electrical power under both braking and acceleration.

Electrical energy harvested by the three MGUs is stored in a high-rate discharge 4.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, located in the rear compartment.

The prototype is also the first INFINITI vehicle with full by-wire driver controls. Alongside drive-by-wire acceleration and gear shifts, as well as Infiniti's steer-by-wire Direct Adaptive Steering system, the Project Black S features a new brake-by-wire (BBW) regenerative braking system.


What to look out for when you're buying a motorcycle helmet

                BERLIN: Motorcyclists live dangerously, with only a helmet and a handful of other gear protecting them from the elements and the traffic.

Helmets have been compulsory for motorcyclists and their passengers travelling at speeds of more than 20kph since the seventies in many places.

The range of models, brands, colours and systems has expanded rapidly in recent years.

"Especially in terms of safety, aerodynamics, aeroacoustics and quality, modern helmets can no longer be compared with very old ones," says Jörg Lohse, who works for a trade magazine.

The basic principle is still the same, with helmets made up of cushioning foam on the inside and a hard shell on the outside. But the materials have changed considerably.

"Modern helmets absorb shocks better, from high and low speeds. They are also quieter and more comfortable to wear," Lohse says.

Different manufacturers also now offer many more fits so motorcyclists can usually consider a broad selection to find a suitable model.

"The fit is crucial. A good helmet must fit properly and comfortably, like a trainer," says Lohse. He suggests prospective buyers should try on a helmet and head out for a test ride. Many dealers offer test helmets to allow people to do so.

There are standards but helmets do come in different sizes, says Lohse, because the interior padding comes shaped differently.

Also, you can only really check the aeroacoustics when riding. As every bike creates different wind turbulence on the helmet, potential buyers should try out helmets and consider how the vibrations and noise feel. "The helmet must not flap or vibrate and the visor must close well," the expert says.

Other key things to watch for are a fog-free double visor and sun visors so you can see well even in tougher light.

Key safety features involve the rider having clear visibility, good ventilation for a comfortable fit and that the helmet should not be too heavy so you can wear it comfortably without getting tired or achey.

Well-known brands include Arai, Shoei, Bell, Nolan, Levior, HJC, X-Lite, Shark and Schuberth. Ducati and Harley-Davidson make helmets, with Harley-Davidson offering the protective headgear since 1958.

BMW Motorrad initially started cooperating with helmet manufacturer Römer in 1975.

The eye-catching helmet in orange then became part pf the BMW range. "Along the way, BMW developed new rider training courses and, from 1978, protective clothing and accessories. In addition, a new type of helmet was introduced in 1981: the flip-up helmet," says BMW archive manager Fred Jakobs.

The basic idea of the System Helmet I, now developed in-house, was to combine the comfort of an open-face jet helmet with the safety of a full-face helmet. That means the helmet's chin section can be moved upwards.

People who wear glasses particularly liked the helmet, as do smokers. Compared to full-face helmets, glasses-wearers don't have to squeeze the frames between the ears and the helmet.

Also, there is a special lock to fix the chin section of the flip-up helmet at the top to enable you to ride with the helmet open, or remove the chin section in two easy steps.

The downside is that these helmets were heavier and larger than full-face helmets.

BMW patented the system and was the exclusive manufacturer for 20 years. The seventh generation of the flip-up helmet is still part of the Bavarian helmet range, and a new one is to follow next year.

Of this variety, from jet, flip-up or full-face helmets, Lohse says flip-up or full-face helmets are the safest options.

The advantage of the flip-up helmet is that depending on the situation, your field of vision is extended and it is easier to put the helmet on and take it off.

On the other hand, when closed, it can provide the face protection of a full-face helmet.

Meanwhile the simplest and safest fastening on the chin is the double D-ring, because the helmet is fixed just right every time you put it on, he says.

Riders pull a strap through two eyelets so it's taut.

Lohse says frequent riders should buy a new helmet after three to five years, or after five to seven years if you bike less often.

Replace the helmet after any fall - even if the helmet only hits the ground from the seat, he says.


Omologato founder sheds light on passion - VIDEO

                LONDON: If you are a watch buff, you will have heard of Omologato. And its founder Shami Kalra wants to spread the word about the British brand with a video

Founded just 14 months ago, Omologato creates motorsport-inspired watches that are based on iconic cars, figures or locations, while still being a fashionable wearable.

The young watch company has produced watches that pay tribute to the Mille Miglia and Sir Stirling Moss and also one for Richard Attwood’s 1970 Le Mans 24 Hours victory behind the wheel of the Porsche Salzburg 917.

In the video directed by former Petrolicious videographer Jeremy Heslup of Praemio, Kalra tells the story of how he gave up 25 years of corporate experience to follow a passion.

Kalra has more than 25 years’ experience in the watchmaking industry. Each watch is hand assembled using a Chronograph movement, housed in British-designed cases, with bespoke faces and straps.

Omologato claims its timepieces offer the broadest and most accessible range of watches designed specifically for car lovers, with the range consisting of more than 30 designs, with several limited editions. Prices start from £249 (RM1,353).


Dr M: Asean Car to be revived under Proton-Indonesia joint venture

                JAKARTA: A joint effort between Proton and Indonesia to produce an Asean car will be revived following bilateral talks between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Friday (June 29).

Dr Mahathir said the effort was agreed on in 2015 but did not take off due to unforeseen circumstances.

Proton and PT Adiperkasa Citra Lestari signed an MOU which stated the two companies will conduct a feasibility study and explore areas of cooperation.

Dr Mahathir, who was Proton chairman then, said the joint venture could be expanded into an Asean car.

Addressing the media after their bilateral talk at Istana Bogor near here, Dr Mahathir recalled taking Jokowi for a test drive in a Proton car in Shah Alam during the latter's official visit in 2015.

"I was a test driver for Proton and it was a fast undulating track. I was afraid to drive the President," he said, to which Jokowi responded with spontaneous, hearty laughter.

Jokowi responded by saying that he was not worried although Dr Mahathir drove at 180km per hour.

"It was very fast but I had no fear because Bapak Tun Mahathir was behind the wheel," he added.


The US$3.7mil CC850 is best-looking car ever made by Koenigsegg

                SAN FRANCISCO:  The latest hypercar from the record-breaking Swedish speed demons is designed for pleasure, not breaking records.

Christian von Koenigsegg has unveiled a hypercar birthday present he made for himself.

The Swedish automaker turned 50 on July 2, and debuted the Koenigsegg CC850 on Aug 19 in Carmel, Calif.

A 1,385-horsepower coupe with a detachable hardtop and doors that open upward, the US$3.65 million (RM16.3mil) CC850 is a modern take on the first production car von Koenigsegg ever made, the CC8S from 2002.

“Back then, no one knew who we were, but the CC8S still had quite amazing performance, and hopefully, people liked the looks,” von Koenigsegg said via telephone from a boat in the North Sea on Aug 12.

“By now, maybe we’re not a household name, but we are definitely an established player in our arena. Celebrating 20 years of production felt like the right time to appreciate our roots.”

Powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine that can run on E85 fuel, the CC850 has a low, sleek design, a roof slightly rounded to optimise aerodynamics, and wheels styled like telephone dials.

It looks futuristic and fast enough to launch a brigade to Mars, but its clean lines and simplified body feel more civilised and elegant than did previous Koenigsegg cars, which focused on extreme speed at the expense of other ways to appeal.

“The CC850 is up there, performance-wise, with our most extreme cars, but it's kind of this middle ground,” Koenigsegg said.

“It is an extreme machine with close to record-breaking performance in many, many ways, but with a focus of pure enjoyment, celebration, and the analog aspect of the hypercars of the past.”

Other Koenigsegg cars have certainly set near-extraterrestrial precedents.

When it debuted two decades ago, the 665hp CC8S boasted the most power of any production car at the time.

In 2017, the Koenigsegg Agera RS set the world land speed record when it hit 445kph.

A spokesman would not confirm performance numbers but said the CC850 is “similar to the (Koenigsegg) Jesko,” which has a zero to 100kph time of less than three seconds and a top speed of more than 480kph.

Von Koenigsegg said the CC850 is intended for diversions other than hitting rocket speed.

It is made for the pure joy of driving, offering a special “light speed transmission” that comes with a gated shifter and clutch pedal as an adaptable six-speed manual transmission.

A Swedish flag crowns the top of the manual shifter.

Alternatively, the car can be operated using a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The CC850 offers such creature comforts as leather interior, climate control, birds eye-view parking assistance, Apple CarPlay, USB connections, and a front/rear lift system to help it avoid scratching the underbody.

It follows another Koenigsegg offering with personal importance for the company founder: The Koenigsegg Jesko, named in honour of von Koenigsegg’s father, debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in 2019.

That car, a limited production mid-engine sports car with a twin-turbo V8, boasts 1,280hp to 1,600hp, depending on the fuel you use. Deliveries of the Jesko are scheduled to begin next year.

Only 50 CC850s will be made, including the one that von Koenigsegg intends to keep for himself.

A few remain available for purchase, said a spokesman. Deliveries will start in 2024.


Shouting CEO, changing rules: inside Tesla's Model 3-building sprint

A  trailer carrying Model 3 electric sedans, is seen outside the Tesla factory in Fremont, California, last month. - Reuters
SAN FRANCISCO: Chief executive Elon Musk barked at engineers on the Fremont, California assembly line. Tesla Inc tapped workers from other departments to keep pumping out the Model 3 electric sedans, disrupting production of the Model S and X lines. And weekend shifts were mandatory.

Tesla pulled out all the stops in the final week of June to meet its goal of making 5,000 Model 3s in a week, according to employees who spoke to Reuters. The sedan is essential to put money-losing Tesla on a path to profitability and prove that the electric car company can master mass production.

Whether Tesla can do it week in and week out - and without relying on overtime and extra hands - is another question, and one that weighed on investors.

Leading up to Sunday morning’s production milestone, Musk paced the Model 3 line, snapping at his engineers when the around-the-clock production slowed or stopped due to problems with robots, one worker said.

Tesla built a new line in just two weeks in a huge tent outside the main factory, an unprecedented move in an industry that takes years to plan out its assembly lines, and said the tented production area accounted for 20 percent of the Model 3s produced last week.

“They were borrowing people from our line all day to cover their (Model 3) breaks so the line would continue to move,” said a Model S worker on Sunday.

“They’ve been throwing Model 3s ahead of the S to get painted to try to assure that they make their goal of 5,000,” the worker said. “The paint department can’t handle the volume.”

Because of the focus on the Model 3, the S line was about 800 cars behind schedule to enter the paint shop, the worker said.

Any potential disruption of the Model S and X lines could threaten Tesla’s target of building 100,000 of those vehicles in 2018. Tesla built 49,489 of those cars in the first half of this year.

Tesla said there had been no disruption to S and X productivity and noted it also built 1,913 of those vehicles during the last week of the quarter along with its Model 3s. A spokesman also said workers from the S and X line had volunteered to help out on the 3 line.

Tesla built a total of 28,578 Model 3s in the second quarter, and 40,989 since production began last July, the company said.

Last week’s big push also brought a rewrite of the employee attendance policy. After mandatory weekend shifts were assigned, two workers said, Tesla rescinded a policy promising workers at least one week’s notice before weekend work.

“The manager and supervisor are verbally going around and saying: ‘If you don’t come in, you’ll be written up’,” one of the workers said last week.

Some employees are worried the frenetic pace plus long hours could burn out workers. One employee said they were told to keep working until they met their daily production mark, not when their shifts ended.

“They said starting tomorrow be prepared to work up to 12 hours,” said the Model S employee on Monday. “It’s going to be basically 12 hours from now on and I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be six days a week.”

To make its number, Tesla was willing to “spend any kind of money,” a Gigafactory worker said, pointing to the new battery assembly-line flown in from Europe via cargo planes to the Gigafactory in May.

In the morning of Sunday, July 1, about five hours after the self-imposed second-quarter deadline had passed, the number 5,000 flashed on a countdown screen viewed by Tesla’s Model 3 assembly-line workers. The Model 3 itself bore a “5,000” sign in its front window.

Tesla said on Monday that some of its Model 3 production would be on break as part of the July 4 holiday, with production to resume on Thursday. Tesla plans to build 6,000 Model 3s per week by August.

But the worker told to expect longer shifts warned that pushing assembly-line workers too hard could backfire.

“He (Musk) is going to go through an awful lot of people because people are going to start getting hurt left and right,” by the fast-moving assembly line, the worker said.

“There’s only so fast a person can move.”


Ferrari sues German fashion designer over racy Instagram posts

Plein is not backing down despite Ferrari's demand. — Image source: instagram/philippplein
MARANELLO: Ferrari and Philipp Plein should get on just beautifully. After all, few companies spell money and life in the fast lane quite like the Italian manufacturer. And few people personify the ostentatious display of wealth quite like the German fashion designer known for leopard-print gowns, crystal-studded sneakers, and skimpy swimwear. But that’s where the trouble started.

Plein has posted photos on Instagram featuring a pair of bikini-clad women suggestively gyrating atop an acid-green Ferrari while the designer douses the proceedings with a garden hose. Another series showed Plein’s sparkly footwear arrayed on the hood of his 12-cylinder Ferrari 812 Superfast.

A law firm representing the Italian company quickly dispatched a letter demanding Plein take the pictures down within 48 hours, calling them “distasteful” and incompatible with its image. Ferrari also pointed out that displaying Plein’s sneakers on its cars would hurt shoe labels already affiliated with the carmaker. “This behaviour tarnishes the reputation of Ferrari’s brands,” the letter said.

Plein went on the counterattack, posting the letter online and decrying Ferrari’s treatment of a loyal client and longstanding fan. He then put up a photo-montage depicting Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri as a clown and asked his 1.8 million Instagram followers to send him photos of shoes on their cars.

 A screen grab of a video clip on Plein's Instagram's account showing sneakers on an 812 Superfast.

“Can’t even put in words how disappointed and disgusted I am about this unfair and totally inappropriate claim against me personally,” Plein wrote in an Instagram post accompanying the lawyer’s letter. “Obviously I love cars and ESPECIALLY FERRARI !!!!”

The spat between Ferrari and Plein highlights the awkward co-existence of brands whose clienteles overlap, but where one side starts to have second thoughts about being associated with the other’s risqué image. It’s similar to the dilemma faced by Cristal champagne, which a decade ago tried to rid itself of an affiliation with the street style of rap stars, and fashion label Burberry, which for years was stigmatized as the sartorial choice of blue-collar British hooligans.

Since Plein owns the car and says the sneakers in question are his own shoes, the case raises questions of what constitutes personal communication and what is promotional activity by celebrities and business people.

“The lines between what is private and what is public and what is commercial are increasingly blurred,” said Karin Sandberg, a lawyer at Hamburg law firm Harmsen Utescher who specializes in trademark cases. “This is an issue that will gain prominence in coming years as companies try to determine how influencers associate themselves with brands.”

Carmine Rotondaro, an independent legal adviser to Plein, called Ferrari’s accusations “totally baseless.” He said the designer never sought to promote his brand via any affiliation with Ferrari and that he has no intention of taking down the posts.

“The images are consistent with the aesthetics that car brands have built over a very long time,” Rotondaro said. “When I think of Ferrari, I think Magnum P.I.--and there were lots of bikinis in that show.” Ferrari declined to comment.

Plein has used Instagram as a powerful marketing tool, mixing his brand, company and personal adventures on the photo platform, typically featuring fast cars and private jets against lavish backdrops as he criss-crosses the globe to build his empire. Plein has burst onto the international stage in recent years, opening luxury shops at a record pace and upending the rules of high fashion by putting cash before cachet with a pop-culture sensibility that fetishises the new and flashy and downplays old-style craftsmanship.

And while Plein professes his love for Ferrari, the brand isn’t his only automotive crush. His driveway—and the Instagram photos--also feature a sedan from Rolls-Royce and an SUV made by Lamborghini (neither of which has complained about the posts, attorney Rotondaro said).

Ferrari, incidentally, boasts more than eight times as many followers as Plein on Instagram, where it features images of shiny sports cars cruising coastal byways, close-ups of chrome-plated exhaust systems, sculpted leather seats—with nary a bikini, garden hose or sparkly sneaker in sight.


50 BMW M cars come together for 50 years of M

                KUALA LUMPUR: What's BMW Malaysia up to lately?

Well, it's still steeped in the revelry over the 50th anniversary of BMW M.

To remind Malaysians of the milestone moment in BMW history, it organised 34 M cars and arranged them to form the number "50" at Sentul Depot here today. However, a total of 50 M cars were present at the event.

The formation is also part of a BMW M fascination programme that saw over 100 BMW M enthusiasts gather for a convoy drive to the One&Only resort in, Desaru, Johor, where a range of activities have been arranged for the weekend.

As part of the programme, limited-edition BMW M 50 Years merchandise will also be sold on-site, with proceeds going to support the efforts of local social enterprise, Epic Society, which is working to provide underprivileged indigenous children access to quality education via its "Digital Learning Hubs".

READ MORE:  Mercedes-AMG gets in formation of its own as well


Ghosn cedes Nissan CEO role, to focus on alliance with Renault, Mitsubishi

Saikawa is the new Nissan CEO. Like Ghosn, he is also a veteran cost-cutter.
TOKYO: Nissan Motor Co said Carlos Ghosn will step aside as CEO after leading the firm for 16 years, allowing him to concentrate on deploying his cost-cutting expertise across its alliance with Renault SA and newly added Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

In handing over the helm to Hiroto Saikawa, a company veteran of 40 years, Ghosn ends years of speculation over when he would relinquish the top job at Japan's No. 2 automaker amid investor concerns that he was stretching himself too thin.

The change in leadership is aimed at making the best use of the greater scale that Mitsubishi brings to lower costs at a time when automakers are under pressure to expand and compete in new technologies such as self-driving cars.

Known as "Le Cost Killer" from his earlier career at Renault, Ghosn burnished his reputation by engineering Nissan's comeback from years of losses and debt. Unafraid to trample over long-standing business customs, he became a hero in Japan and one of the auto industry's best known executives.

 File pic of Ghosn at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.

Ghosn, 62, will continue to be chairman at Nissan, a position he also holds at Renault and Mitsubishi. He also leaves in his place a man cut from very similar cloth.

Saikawa is a veteran cost-cutter with much of his career spent in managing purchasing and supply chains. The 63-year old was named the company's chief competitive officer in 2013, became co-CEO last November and also currently heads Japan's auto industry lobby.

"The timing is a bit surprising," said Takeshi Miyao, Asia managing director at consultancy Carnorama. "It appears Ghosn has decided very quickly that Saikawa is the right person to lead the company."

Brazilian-born, of Lebanese descent and a French citizen, Ghosn began his career at Michelin in France, moving on to Renault, where he oversaw a turnaround of the automaker.

He joined Nissan in 1999 after Renault bought a controlling stake and became its CEO in 2001.

Nissan is the strongest of automakers in the alliance, long outperforming Renault in terms of vehicle sales and profits, while Mitsubishi still needs an overhaul after a mileage cheating scandal last year.

Bringing Mitsubishi into the fold has put the three-way alliance on par with Toyota Motor Corp and Volkswagen AG - all producing around 10 million vehicles annually.

That has brought an opportunity to benefit from scale but also the challenge of balancing the interests of all three automakers.

"Ghosn is likely to focus on strengthening and raising profitability at all the alliance members so that they are not overly dependent on Nissan," said Miyao.

"Even if the alliance as a whole produces 10 million cars, if 3 million of those cars are not profitable it will be difficult for the alliance to continue."


No heavy vehicles allowed on roads during CNY

                KUALA LUMPUR: Heavy vehicles (7,500kg and above) including container and timber lorries will be banned from using all roads during the Chinese New Year celebration early next month.

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) in a statement here said the total ban will take effect on Feb 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10.

Other heavy vehicles in the category are lorries carrying construction materials such as cement, steel, gravel, sand as well as soil and other heavy vehicles such as crane, low loaders, heavy mobile machinery including bulldozers and steamrollers.

According to the statement, the ban for second category vehicles will be imposed from midnight until 6am in the same period.

Meanwhile, the third category, involved mobile cranes and cement mixer trucks, would be prohibited from using the roads from 6pm to 6am with travel distance not more than 25km from the construction sites during the period, it said.