2018 Geneva Motor Show: Flying cars eye takeoff

The 'Pop.up next' concept flying car, a hybrid vehicle that blends a self-driving car and passenger drone by Audi, Italdesign and Airbus. — AFP
GENEVA: After gracing our screens for decades, flying cars are about to shift gears from dream to reality, with the unveiling of a commercial model here this week.

From James Bond to The Jetsons, flying cars have long captured our imaginations, but now a Dutch company says they are almost ready to take to the streets, and the skies.

Pal-V unveiled its Liberty Flying Car — a sleek, red three-wheeled gyrocopter-type vehicle — at the Geneva Motor Show and vowed that client deliveries could start next year.

This kind of transportation, which allows drivers to both zip through traffic on the ground or simply fly above it, has never ceased to inspire engineers.

As a sign that this technology is not only being toyed with in the start-up realm, an alliance between Airbus, Audi and Italdesign also presented a concept flying vehicle, "Pop.Up Next", at the Geneva show.

That modular system, made up of an electric car with a huge quadcopter fastened to the roof, is expected to be commercialised starting in 2025, said the companies.

Inspired by 'frustration'

For Pal-V (Personal Air and Land Vehicle), it was "frustration" that sparked the idea for Liberty.

In a plane, "you start at a point where you don't want to start and you end up in a place where you don't want to be," company chief Robert Dingemanse told AFP.

"The Pal-V is the perfect product for city-to-city mobility," he said, pointing out that "outside the cities you fly, inside the city you drive."

The vehicle, which seats two, has retractable helicopter blades and is powered by a gasoline-fuelled engine.

It can fly for 500km, or can drive for nearly four times that distance without refuelling, reaching a maximum speed of 160kph.

Buyers are already lining up: For now the expected waiting time for delivery is around two years.

For take-off, "you can use the 10,000 strips available in Europe, and because you can drive, that's already enough," Dingemanse said, adding that "every German will have a small airport within 10 or 20km of his home".

But Pal-V's Liberty will not be a vehicle for everyman: Future drivers should expect to dish out between 10,000 and 20,000 euros (RM49,000-RM97,000) for pilot training, in addition to the anticipated 300,000-500,000-euro (up to RM2.4mil) cost for the machine itself, Dingemanse said.

That is the same price range as a small helicopter, he said, stressing though that Pal-V's flying car is "easier, maintenance costs are much lower, (and) it's much more useful than a normal plane or helicopter."

Public transport on the fly

While also falling into the flying vehicle category, the modular Pop.Up Next is based on a radically different design.

The passenger capsule looks like a futuristic gondola lift, with a giant quadcopter attached to the roof.

The motorised base of the vehicle, which drives, and the upper part, which flies, can be detached and can move autonomously.

The Pop.Up Next is fully electric and was conceived for mass transport in an urban setting.

"This vehicle was not conceived to be sold to individuals, (but) as a shared means of transport," Mark Cousin, the project chief at Airbus, which developed the flying portion of Pop.Up Next.

Volkswagen's Italdesign unit meanwhile developed the passenger capsule while the motorised underbelly of the vehicle is based on Audi technology.

"I don't know if you would use it every day," Cousin said, pointing out that the vehicle would be practical for instance "going to the airport (at a price) hardly more expensive than a taxi", without needing to worry about traffic jams.

Airbus wants to launch the first urban trials by 2022, and is also looking into other uses, including transferring patients between hospitals and goods transport at night.

"The convergence today of certain technologies, especially in batteries and electric engines, is making it possible to develop this kind of vehicle — something that was impossible five or 10 years ago," Cousin said.

Not everyone is convinced that flying cars will soon be darkening our skies.

"It's a beautiful idea," Ferdinand Dudenhoffer, who heads the Center for Automotive Research in Germany, said.

But in light of the current air traffic density, "it is difficult to imagine that there will be lots of additional flying saucers" filling the skies, he said.


Hyundai Ioniq 6 is World Car of the Year, wins two other awards

                NEW YORK/SEOUL: Hyundai Motor’s acclaimed Ioniq 6 Electrified Streamliner has won the prestigious World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle and World Car Design of the Year, lauded by an international jury for its unique aerodynamic design and outstanding all-electric range.

World Car Awards revealed the results at a ceremony held at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday.

A jury of 100 automotive journalists from 32 countries chose Ioniq 6 from the top three finalists, all launched in 2022. This is Hyundai’s second straight triple honours at the World Car Awards. Last year, the jury named Ioniq 5 the winner in the same categories.

“We are thrilled to receive this prestigious honour two years in a row, which recognises the tremendous talents and unrelenting efforts of everyone at Hyundai Motor Company to bring EVs like Ioniq 6 to market,” said Hyundai Motor president and CEO Jaehoon Chang.

“This honour reinforces our commitment to be a global leader in vehicle electrification and will serve to embolden our efforts as a smart mobility solutions provider.”

“We always want to connect with customers on an emotional level and with the design of the IONIQ 6 we have created truly one of a kind. The daring streamliner styling combines strong emotional appeal with aerodynamic efficiency to give exceptional range,” said Hyundai Global Design Centre head SangYup Lee.

“Inside, we set out to create a personal studio which offers the mindful space and calm functionality which, we believe, elevates EV design.”

Ioniq 6 is the second model in Hyundai’s dedicated all-electric lineup brand, Ioniq.

It takes advantage of a bespoke Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) architecture to offer 800-V, ultra-fast charging capabilities and a spacious interior.

With an ultra-low drag coefficient of just 0.21, Ioniq 6 is one of the most aerodynamic and energy efficient EVs on the market. The car’s WLTP rated range on a single charge is 543km.

Ioniq 6’s many features include Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, driver assistance systems and advanced connectivity with over-the-air (OTA) software updates that offer the ultimate in-car experience.

The spacious and ergonomic interior takes full advantage of the elongated 2,950 mm wheelbase to provide an array of features, such as Dual Colour Ambient Lighting, Speed Sync Lighting, EV Performance Tune-up and Electric Active Sound Design (e-ASD), to enhance the electric mobility experience.

This year, the World Car Awards jury also named SangYup Lee as the 2023 World Car Person of the Year for his contribution to the most stunning and innovative concept and production cars unveiled in 2022, including Ioniq 6, the new Kona and the N Vision 74 rolling lab.

As for other award categories, the World Performance Car award was won by Kia EV6 GT; World Urban Car Citroen C3; and World Luxury Car Lucid Air.


Kia Carnival: A friendly behemoth

THE race to provide a spacious and accommodating family mover is reaching fever pitch as more brands enter the market with mouth-watering products that are competitively priced.A recent example is the resurgent Kia registering its strong comeback here this year with a highly potent product in the latest Carnival that is bound to give all and sundry in this premium family mover sector a superb run for the money.If we were impressed by the concept-looking Staria from Hyundai, a sister company of Kia, we were equally blown away by the Carnival, for almost matching the expansive dimensions of the former.Unlike the more exclusive and pricier Staria, you could buy the Carnival immediately to serve as your family mover role in grand style at a far lower price.Currently, the imported Carnival is a steal at RM196,340 on-the-road without insurance, thanks to the partial exemption of taxes until mid-year.Kia has chosen a two-box styling for this premium multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), or what the Korean carmaker has dubbed the ‘Grand Utility Vehicle’ (GUV), forgoing the monobox design common to such vehicles.This is where the distinction between MPV and SUV (sports utility vehicle) or crossover is somewhat blurred in the desire to stand out from the others.From the side, the new Carnival looks like a tall station wagon (or estate in the preferred European speak) that the older folks would remember from the 1980s and earlier.Its modern status is established somewhat with a key fob that you could use to open both sliding doors on the side and the tailgate.You could also use it to start the engine to cool down the large interior before you get in; something useful during this current blistering hot season.The Carnival shares the same power unit as the Staria in the 2.2-litre turbodiesel but tuned differently by Kia to serve its GUV needs with higher outputs – 199hp and 440Nm of torque.Likewise, the transmission is also similar coming from the same family background, with this being the shift-by-wire (called E-Shift) eight-speed automatic.If we had any doubt about the improved 2.2-litre turbodiesel’s capacity to move a large people mover tipping the scales at slightly above two tonnes, our drive experience dispelled any misgivings.We had four on board the 11-seater (unlike the Staria that is only made available as a seven-seater) and there was no lack of oomph when we floored the accelerator to pull quickly from the traffic lights.On the highways, a slight dab on the accelerator saw to a rather seamless downshift to tap on the strong peak torque and power build-up to pick up the pace quickly for confident passing manoeuvres. There are steering wheel paddle shifts for those wanting to select the gears for a more physically engaging drive.And we like the quiet way in which the Carnival cruised at a quick canter on the highways; the road noise in particular was nicely subdued, likewise the wind noise, comparable to luxurious people movers.This comfortable travel for all board – and we gauged this from different seating perspectives during the Glenmarie-Ipoh drive – is definitely a strong plus factor.Kia attributes this appreciable ride comfort and improved noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) control to the enhanced body structure rigidity and additional sound insulation.Complementing this aspect fully is the Carnival’s good dynamic qualities with an improved suspension system – front MacPherson struts and rear multi-link – along with thick anti-roll bars.The ride quality is good, even when we were on the third-row seats, and this was best gauged on secondary roads from Tanjung Malim to Bidor. Rumble strips, road dips and minor potholes were all taken with a minor jarring note that hardly stirred some of our passengers from their siesta.We could also take the Carnival through sweepers and mild corners with minimal body roll, which is another positive note on its dynamic balance for a heavyweight!Being an 11-seater, the interior space quality couldn’t be compared to the seven-seater Staria but the Carnival could still accommodate comfortably with fewer people om board, which was our case during the drive experience.Tighter legroom might be a slight bane with a full load; besides the fourth-row seats are more suitable to children with the limited leg space.The positive note is that there is a USB charging point for almost everyone on board and the flexible centre seats on the second and third rows could be folded for walk-through convenience or to serve as a central console with cupholders.Many roof air vents ensured cool air being well circulated to keep passengers comfortable although the rear vent controls are accessible only from the second-row seats.In getting acquainted with the new Carnival, we found that if someone wanted to get in, he couldn’t open the sliding doors if the transmission was not in Park mode.Similarly, the sliding doors wouldn’t open either if we wanted to get out if the Carnival detected a vehicle approaching from the rear.To engage the transmission – Reverse, Neutral and Drive – you use a rotary knob on the centre console that one in our group wasn’t too fond of using, preferring the conventional gearshift.In performance, Kia says the new Carnival could do a top of 190kph and a mileage of 6.5 litres per 100km; for the latter, we arrived back at Glenmarie with slightly more than half tank and total mileage of above 450km.This was pretty good given the rather robust speeds that we took turns in driving the Carnival on the highway and secondary roads.The vehicle system indicated that we could still cover another 400km with the remaining fuel in the 72-litre tank and if that is not economical for a heavyweight, we don’t know what is.There are a lot more positives to this latest version of Carnival than we could cover and this should make for an endearing experience on first impression for most, if not all.


Tesla teaches car rivals to love each other

                LONDON: Tesla and Google are forcing established carmakers to shift into a more cooperative gear.

Spurred on by Elon Musk's upstart, four of the industry's biggest rivals are teaming up to build charging infrastructure for electric cars in Europe. More collaborative deals are bound to follow.

The move, announced on Nov 29, is the second major example of cross-company partnership after BMW, Daimler and VW's Audi brand teamed up in 2015 to buy Nokia's digital maps division for €2.8bil (RM13.29bil), including debt. That deal was a response to Google, which owns digital maps and is investing in driverless cars.

As conventional engines struggle to meet ever-tighter emission rules and battery prices fall, established carmakers are gradually turning away from the internal combustion engine.

BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen all put electric cars at the centre of their new mid-term strategies in 2016. Daimler plans to spend €10bil (RM47.49bil) – 15% of its market value – in the field by 2025. Volkswagen reckons that, in 10 years' time, one in four of the vehicles it sells will be electric.

But drivers will only buy battery-powered cars if they can easily recharge them en-route. The associated infrastructure does not come cheap. A high-speed charging station currently costs up to €25,000 (RM118,734) and loses money on an operational basis. If the market share of battery cars rises to 20% of new sales within a decade, building the necessary charging infrastructure in Europe would add up to an investment of more than €2bil (RM9.49bil), a Breakingviews calculation suggests.

Counting on stretched governments or outside investors to build this crucial infrastructure would be a gamble for carmakers – particularly as Tesla already operates its own proprietary charging network. Sharing the bill eases some of the pressure on already-bloated research and development budgets.

Carmakers are likely to team up in other areas as well.

Joint production of battery cells is one obvious candidate for partnership. Shareholders will welcome collaboration that helps lower costs. But consumers may see a dark side. The risk is that old rivals form a cozy cartel, or use the new alliances to freeze out competitors. Trustbusters will need to keep their eyes on the road.


New McLaren Elva unveiled in Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: McLaren Kuala Lumper today previewed the Elva, a two-seat luxury roadster that is also offered without a windscreen

The car is making its rounds in a global tour that has taken it to, among others, Bangkok before winging its way to Malaysia.

The car is on display at McLaren Kuala Lumper's showroom and headquarters in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.  It will be in Malaysia for a week before leaving for Japan.

It is open for pre-booking.

The Elva was introduced to the world in 2020 and was inspired by the open top race cars built by Bruce McLaren in the 1960s.

A fixed windscreen version debuted in 2021 to meet customer demand and also to comply with legal requirements in countries where windshields are compulsory. This version as shown here will be made available for the Malaysian market.

The Elva mid-engined sports car is touted as the lightest McLaren ever made, with a dry weight of under 1,300kg, made possible from a bodywork built entirely out of carbon fibre.

The windscreen version adds around 20kg to the car's weight.

Both variants of the Elva share a mid-mounted, 804bhp/800Nm, twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine paired with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission.

The Elva can sprint from 0-100kph in 2.8 seconds and it takes only 6.8 seconds to double the speed. Top speed is capped at 326kph.

The screenless Elva relies on a new active-air-management system. It's a 15cm long front spoiler which raises a flap about 15cm into the air to reduce air blast onto driver and passenger; it pops up automatically at 50kph when things get windy.

McLaren recommends switching off the air management at high speed to reduce drag. Driver and passenger are required to wear a helmet for safety reasons, making the screenless Elva less practical compared to the other variant.

Note that the Elva with windscreen does not have the active air flap.

The Elva is the fifth addition in the McLaren Ultimate Series, joining the F1, the P1, Senna, and the Speedtail.

The model name was inspired by the French phrase "elle va", which means "she goes".

Production of both variants are limited to 149 examples and with a price tag of €1.7 million (RM8.2mil, base price before options) its appeal to all but the ultra rich, is also limited.

The final specification of the Elva is determined by customer choice, with infinite possibilities in terms of personalisation by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) to ensure each unit is unique.

Other than the Elva, McLaren Kuala Lumper is expected to bring in the Artura  hybrid supercar this year as well.

> McLAREN ELVA SPECIFICATIONSREAD MORE:  What it's like to drive the McLaren Elva — a supercar with no windshield or windows


April 18-24: Diesel drops 3 sen, petrol prices unchanged


May 6-12: RON97 petrol up 2 sen, rest unchanged

                PETALING JAYA: The price of RON97 petrol will increase by two sen from May 6 to 12, says the Finance Ministry.

The price for RON97 petrol will increase from RM2.58 to RM2.60 per litre.

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

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

The weekly fuel pricing mechanism was reintroduced on Jan 5, 2019, under the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM).


Facelifted Nissan Serena S-Hybrid with more features launched from RM149,000

                KUALA LUMPUR: Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM), distributor and importer of Nissan vehicles for over 60 years, has unveiled the new Nissan Serena S-Hybrid that comes with bolder styling and more smart safety features.

The vehicle is available in two variants of Highway Star and Premium Highway Star, with on-the-road without insurances prices but inclusive of sales tax for Peninsular Malaysia private registration from RM149,888 and RM162,888 respectively.

 (From left) Ho, Hoshino, Tan Chong group deputy president Datuk Dr Rosie Tan and Nissan Asia & Oceania vice-president (marketing) Nirmal Nair at the launch of the new Serena S-Hybrid.

The three-row seating multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) is now equipped with a new V-motion front grille with a majestic and sophisticated chrome pattern, redesigned Dual Projector LED headlamps, and a new front bumper with integrated fog lamps and Daytime Running Lights.

At the rear, the bumper gets Gloss Black Finishing for a classy touch as well as newly designed rear LED tail lights.

To add to the premium ambience within, soundproofing liners have been added to the rear wheel housing to control noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels to deliver a quieter, more serene experience.

Also retained are the the Dual Back Door and Hands-Free Dual Power Sliding Doors features.

The new 360 degree Safety Shield package features Intelligent Predictive Forward Collision Warning and Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Also helping the driver’s awareness of the surroundings is the Intelligent Around View Monitor with Intelligent Moving Object Detection.

Powering the new Serena is a 2.0-litre Twin CVTC (Continuously-variable Valve Timing Control) 4-cylinder unit that delivers 150PS and 200Nm of torque.

The drivetrain also incorporates an Energy Control (ECO) electric motor which controls the idle-stop system and provides torque assistance on moving off to increase fuel efficiency.

The S-Hybrid system gives some of the benefits of a full hybrid powertrain without the associated high costs.

Classified as an Energy Efficient Vehicle, the new Serena has a fuel consumption of 14.2km per litre and can travel up to 852km on a tankful, reducing the need to visit the station frequently.

Inside, the Serena is spacious and seats up to seven persons as well as having up to seven USB ports.

Extra comfortable Captain Seats are installed in the second row and these come with individual armrests and extra-long slide adjustment.

The front passengers and those in the second row also enjoy superior comfort in the Zero Gravity Seats that are proven to reduce fatigue due to their neutral posture position inspired by NASA studies.

The Premium Highway Star variant gets premium quilted nappa leather upholstery, an 11.6-inch LCD panel that folds down from the ceiling and a 9-inch Advanced Touchscreen Infortainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Tan Chong Motor Holdings group chief executive officer Daniel Ho said ETCM introduced the first family MPV in 1997.

“Since then, four generations of the Serena have served and met the needs of multiple generations of Malaysian families, providing wonderful moments together. More than 45,000 units have been sold nationwide to date, and in 2021, it was the best-selling Non-National Mid-size MPV in the country,” he said.

Nissan Motor Co Ltd executive vice-president Asako Hoshino said Malaysia has been an important part of Nissan's journey in Asean since 1957.

"Nissan will continue to strive to meet our customers' expectations by focusing on technological innovation and electrification, which will benefit both customers and society. The introduction of the new 2022 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid today demonstrates our commitment to Malaysia," she said.

For the ‘early bird’ customers who made bookings, ETCM will show its appreciation with five times alternate free Maintenance Services (inclusive of Parts & Labour) and the warranty period will also be up to five years with unlimited mileage (terms and conditions apply).

Via the GREEN Financing programme, customers are entitled to a 1.99% per annum interest rate.

Depending on the variants, there are up to four colour choices and for the Serena Premium Highway Star, there is a two-tone exterior colour scheme with the roof finished in black.

The body colour choices for this variant are Dark Metal Grey, Brilliant White, Radiant Red and Diamond Black.

For the Serena Highway Star, three exterior body colours are available for customers to choose from: Brilliant White, Tungsten Silver and Diamond Black.


Enjoy the electric vehicle lifestyle through Flux subscription

                KUALA LUMPUR: Vehicle subscription service provider Flux has now added electric vehicles (EVs) to its fleet in a move to broaden the appeal of its service.

The new additions include the BMW iX, iX3, i4, Hyundai Kona Electric e-Max, MINI Cooper SE, and Nissan LEAF.

Since 2019, Flux said its all-in-one subscription has provided customers with all the benefits of owning a car without the drawbacks that come with buying it through a loan.

There is no downpayment, no car loan, no interest, no debt. It’s a hassle-free, low commitment way of having a car.

With the arrival of these EVs, it has never been easier to subscribe and try long-term “ownership” of an electric car without being locked in.

Flux said one of the biggest deterrents for buying an EV is the price in Malaysia.

“The most affordable new EV model, the Nissan LEAF, starts at an estimated RM145,000 which is considerably more expensive in comparison to petrol or diesel cars”, the company said.

Subscribers can now have their own EVs without the high upfront costs.

“While EVs can save you money in the long run, the upfront costs can be too expensive for many people who cannot afford or justify paying this amount”, the company said.

The subscription also reduces the risks of EV ownership which is still a new phenomenon in Malaysia.

“As EV cars are relatively new to the Malaysian market, there is greater uncertainty on an EVs depreciation after five years of ownership.

“As a Flux subscriber, you do not have to bear the risks of traditional ownership. Instead, take advantage of the subscription model and skip the risk of depreciation altogether.

“With Flux, you can subscribe to an EV for as long or as short as you want.

“At the end of the subscription, just return your car. Pay for what you use. Gone are the days of being stuck with your car and getting low ball offers when you want to sell it”, the company said.

The Flux subscription also allows the option to switch to another EV if the current one does not fit the subscriber's needs.

“Or, if you are not ready for an EV yet, you can switch back to a conventional combustion engine vehicle. It's
your choice.

“When you subscribe to Flux, insurance, road tax, maintenance and wear & tear are already included in your monthly subscription”, Flux said.

Flux also provides the charger for the subscriber's under select subscription plans.

Installation will be done through Flux partner Kuro EV.

Flux founder and CEO Aziz Ayman said the company's mission is to eliminate the barriers towards accessing mobility.

“This is even more so when it comes to EV adoption. So many people are keen to try electric, but don’t want to take the leap because they don’t want to make an expensive mistake.

“Via a Flux electric car subscription, consumers have the opportunity to test ‘owning’ their first
EV”, said Aziz.

In addition, Flux provides a concierge that delivers a door-to-door service and handles all administrative and maintenance matters on the subscriber's behalf.

This way, subscribers can spend more time driving their dream EV and less time doing paperwork and mundane admin tasks.

Flux EVs can be subscribed for 12 months or up to three years for the most competitive subscription prices.


Check your tyre pressure so you don't use more fuel than necessary

                BERLIN: If your tyre pressure is too low, that is not only slowing down your braking speed but it is also likely to be raising your fuel consumption significantly.

Research shows that drivers whose tyres are 0.5 bar less than manufacturers' recommendations will use around 5% more fuel.

So check your tyre pressure at least every second time you stop to fill your tank - or at least once a month - and adjust it if necessary, says Auto Club Europa (ACE).

Some cars also display the air pressure automatically and the monitoring system will alert you if the value drops below the recommended level.

Car manufacturers usually make several specifications when it comes to air pressure. You can get away with a little less pressure, for example, if you don't have many passengers or not much luggage. But you will need more pressure if you have a maximum load, or are trying to drive economically.

The ACE says "economy" is the highest pressure that can be used as a guideline, and perhaps even 0.1 to 0.2 bar higher.

How much fuel you will wind up saving depends on the vehicle and tyres. All in all, we are talking about a few hundred millilitres saved per 100km.


Meet Waymo, Google's self-driving car company

 A Google self-driving car. - Relaxnews
SAN FRANCISCO: Alphabet Inc's Google self-driving car project recast itself as Waymo on Tuesday, an independent entity within the technology giant, as executives suggested the company is close to bringing its autonomous driving to the public.

Although no deals were announced, the move signals a desire to finally monetize the company's valuable research amid fierce competition from a score of rivals all vying to be the first to launch production-ready self-driving cars.

Google's high-profile program, now in its seventh year, has been at the forefront of self-driving technology, but is now challenged by companies from Uber Technologies Inc to Apple Inc and traditional car companies in the fast-growing industry.

"It's an indication of the maturity of our technology," John Krafcik, Waymo's chief executive, told reporters at a press conference in San Francisco.

"We can imagine our self-driving tech being used in all sorts of areas." The move shows "confidence that we are close to bringing this (technology) to a lot of people," Krafcik said. "We've sort of reached an inflection point." That came in October 2015, when one of the company's self-driving cars gave the first fully autonomous ride in Austin, Texas, to a blind man with no one else in the car.

 The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid MPV.

Normally during testing, an engineer sits in the passenger seat to monitor the technology. Until now, the program has been part of secretive research unit Google X. Waymo stands for "A new way forward in mobility," according to Krafcik.

Waymo would reveal when the technology will be production-ready "soon", he said.

Krafcik reiterated that Waymo has no interest in producing self-driving cars, but rather in developing the technology to drive them. Possible applications would be in ride-sharing, transportation, trucking, logistics, and personal use vehicles, he said.

Fiat Chrysler, Google's first partner, teamed up with the tech company in May to work together to integrate Google's self-driving system into 100 of the carmaker's Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid MPVs. The MPVs are outfitted with Waymo’s fully self-driving technology, including a purpose-built computer and a suite of sensors, telematics and other systems.

Google's goal to perfect an autonomous vehicle that requires zero human intervention stands in contrast to that of some other automakers developing partial autonomy, which requires some driver supervision. Google's self-driving cars have driven over 2 million miles and testing now focuses on the trickiest scenarios faced by cars on surface streets.

Google has expanded its program over the past year, hiring more engineers while doubling its testing centers from two US cities to four.

Although there have been some significant departures over the past year - chief technical officer Chris Urmson left in August after leading the project from its inception - some new hires have pointed to the program's readiness to move past its experimental stage.

In July, the project appointed its first general counsel and a month later it hired former Airbnb executive Shaun Stewart as director of the project, with a mandate to commercialise the company's self-driving technology.


Pininfarina teases Emerson Fittipaldi supercar

                TURIN: Legendary Italian design studio, Pininfarina is set to unveil what could be the first in a series of new supercars at this year's Geneva Motorshow

After success in Formula 1 and the Indy 500, Emerson Fittipaldi turned his attention to designing rather than racing cars.

The Fittipaldi EF7 Vision Gran Turismo by Pininfarina EF7, which will be formally presented to the world's motoring press on March 7 is set to be the first in a series of cars that will "elevate the driving ability of all super car enthusiasts from around the world".

Developed in collaboration with both Pininfarina and German race engineering company HWA, this first show car will also be coming to gaming consoles and is set to make an appearance in the Sony PlayStation Gran Turismo series racing franchise.

Expect more teaser images and snippets of information about the car over the coming weeks.


Automakers press Malaysian govt to extend tax holiday

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) is appealing to the government to extend the vehicle sales tax exemption, which effectively ends on June 30.

MAA president Datuk Aishah Ahmad said the tax holiday had helped to spur and sustain car sales during the course of the pandemic.

“The MAA has appealed to the Finance Ministry to extend the sales tax exemption. But so far, we have not received any feedback,” she told StarBiz.

The MAA is hopeful that the sales tax exemption will be extended until the end of the year, which, on top of being a sales-booster, would also allow automakers to complete their backlog of orders.

With less than two months left for the sales tax exemption, Aishah said the local automotive industry could see a jump in sales for May and June.

“Sales numbers will hopefully surge in May and June, as the sales tax exemption is ending on June 30,” she said.

RHB Investment Bank research analyst Jim Lim said vehicle sales in the current (second) quarter of 2022 is expected to be strong, as customers will want to take advantage of the last remaining weeks of the tax holiday.

“Demand for cars remains strong across the board, as customers rush to take advantage of the sales tax exemption.

“From the latest March production figures, we can see that car makers are ramping up production to the best of their abilities, even amidst chips and parts shortages, to help customers take advantage of the sales tax exemption before it ends.”

UOB Kay Hian in a recent report also maintains that vehicle sales will remain strong in the second quarter of 2022.

“We expect the second quarter to deliver better sales numbers year-on-year as automakers rush to deliver back-logged bookings before the ending of the sales tax exemption in June to avoid cancellation by consumers.

In an interview with StarBizWeek last month, UMW Toyota Motor president K Ravindran said the company is targeting to sell 73,000 vehicles.

“Additionally, we believe that with the reopening of economic activities and the continuation of the sales tax exemption, this could lend strength to a recovery in auto sales, as seen by the growing number of backlogged bookings for popular models and the steady stream of new model launches in 2022.”

According to MAA data, vehicle sales in March 2022 rose 12.75% to 73,222 units from 64,938 units in the previous corresponding period.

Passenger vehicles accounted for 65,902 units, while commercial vehicles comprised 7,320 units.

For the first quarter of 2022, sales volume was higher by 7.8% at 159,752 units compared with 148,155 units in the same period last year.

The vehicle sales tax exemption was announced in June 2020 under the short-term economic recovery plan or Penjana.

Under the exemption, locally-assembled cars are fully exempted from the sales tax while for imported cars, the sales tax has been reduced from 10% to 5%.

The tax holiday was initially supposed to last until the end of 2020. However, it was extended to June 30, 2021; and then again until the end of the year.

During the tabling of Budget 2022 in October last year, the government announced that the sales tax exemption would be extended one more time until June 30, 2022.

The multiple extensions were mainly due to the repeated lockdowns over the past two years, which disrupted business operations and prevented car buyers from being able to fully enjoy the benefits of the tax holiday.

The reopening of economic activities and sales tax exemption has seen several automakers projecting stellar sales for this year.

Among them is national carmaker Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua), which is targeting record sales of 247,800 units for 2022.

During a press conference in January, Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the sales target would be underpinned by the ongoing tax holiday and brighter economic prospects this year.

Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the sales target would be underpinned by the ongoing tax holiday and brighter economic prospects this year.

“Our target is also premised on the assumption that there are no movement restrictions and business disruptions like last year,” he was quoted as saying.

Last month, Perodua announced that its sales had increased to 26,759 units in March, which was 54% higher than the 17,421 units registered in the previous month.

In the first quarter of this year, the company sold 61,624 units, 6% higher than the 57,909 units registered in the same period of 2021.

The strong sales performance has already resulted in Perodua achieving 25% of its sales target for the year of 247,800 units.

Meanwhile, UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, which is the assembler, marketer and exclusive distributor of the Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Malaysia, announced last month that its sales had surged 32% to 8,487 units in March, compared with the 6,432 units registered in the preceding month.

In the first quarter of 2022, the company sold 22,447 units, 31% higher than the 17,151 units sold in the corresponding period of 2021.

In an interview with StarBizWeek last month, UMW Toyota president K Ravindran said the company is targeting to sell 73,000 vehicles.

Ravindran said sales for the year would be spurred by improved economic conditions and the vehicle sales tax exemption, adding that the company would likely be able to sell more cars if the tax holiday is extended.

It is still uncertain whether the sales tax exemption will be extended beyond next month.

Some industry observers believe that multiple extensions of the tax holiday could be detrimental to the local automotive sector.

“When the government zero-rated the goods and services tax or GST for three months in 2018, the temporary tax holiday created a huge surge in demand for cars,” said an industry observer.

He added that many people were rushing to buy cars “not because they really needed them”.

“Many just wanted to capitalise on the lower prices. But when the tax holiday ended, vehicle sales immediately plunged, not just because prices were now higher, but because nobody wanted to buy a car anymore.

“For months after the tax holiday ended, many auto companies were struggling to sell new cars.”

Analysts are projecting vehicle sales to be slower in the second half of 2022 if the sales tax exemption is not extended.

In light of this possibility, Lim said auto distributors may provide discounts at the expense of margins to support sales volumes.

“Costlier car parts may further pressure margins, with different distributors having varying abilities to pass on the higher costs.”

In the event of the sales tax exemption not being extended, Lim said more affordable brands such as national marques like Proton and Perodua would likely face a larger impact, as their customers are more price-sensitive.

“The more premium brands such as Porsche, Mercedes Benz, BMW and to a certain extent, Mazda, are likely to face a relatively smaller impact as their customers are less price-sensitive.

“They have less of a need to absorb the sales tax post-exemption and thus are less prone to margin pressures from potential discounts.”


News on the go: Motorists get quick snippets of Star's top news on billboards

                PETALING JAYA: Millions of motorists plying certain routes in the Klang Valley will literally read news on the go as The Star has introduced important and breaking news to digital billboards.

Located at Jalan Maarof in Bangsar, The Pinnacle along the Federal Highway and KL South on the Old Klang Road, these digital billboards measure 1,157 sq m in combined size.

Commuters in the Klang Valley will get to read the flashing news headlines as they head to work or on their return journey home.

This will give them a chance to catch the most important stories during the peak traffic hours. The news headings will be broadcast on the three digital billboards, in 15-minute bursts from 8am to 8.15am and from 6pm to 6.15pm.

The first-of-its-kind offering, which started on Monday, was made possible through a collaboration between Star Media Group (SMG) and Visual Retale

This innovative service covers important and breaking news from The Star’s key sections like Nation, Asean+, StarBiz and Bizweek.

SMG chief executive officer Andreas Vogiatzakis said the extension of SMG’s presence in these locations is a natural addition to the group’s omni-channel presence.

“We are leveraging on our strengths as Malaysia’s leading English daily and prominent media group, ” he said, adding that this new, innovative platform also provides added value to Star Media Group’s clients and partners in allowing their brands to reach a wider audience while displaying Star Media Group’s evolution in the digital age.

The billboards are an additional digital platform that complements The Star’s numerous existing digital platforms.

“This is an exciting time for all of us. With the new year and a new decade, our team at Star Media Group is only getting stronger, as we innovate on more creative ways to bring value to our loyal audiences and to our partners, ” said Vogiatzakis.

Visual Retale CEO Sailendra Kanagasundram said that “Star Media Group is key in being able to make this magic happen”.

“The effort is testament of this. An idea that transforms the OOH (out-of-home) landscape and bring print and digital in one place, for the advantage of our audiences.

“We are pleased to be able to bring real dynamism to OOH through our partnership with Star Media Group, ” he said.


Mercedes to continue EV investments despite Ukraine war disruptions

                TUSCALOOSA (USA): Mercedes-Benz AG won't cut spending on future electric vehicles even as it copes with supply-chain cost pressures exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the German automaker's chief executive said on Tuesday.

Ola Kaellenius, speaking during the company's opening of its first US electric vehicle (EV) battery factory, also affirmed the company's 2022 financial outlook remained in place despite the conflict.

"We always protect the investment into future technology and future products," Kaellenius told Reuters. "That is the seed which we will harvest. Not even in Covid year of 2020 did we cut back on R&D for crucial projects."

Mercedes is working with suppliers in Ukraine whose operations have been disrupted, he added, but it was "too early to tell what the wider ramifications will be."

Rocketing gasoline prices since Russia's invasion of Ukraine has amplified the challenges for established automakers that still rely on fossil fuel-powered vehicles for profits. And soaring prices for materials used in EV batteries like nickel, heavily mined in Russia, have also hurt the industry.

Kaellenius is trying to accelerate the shift by Mercedes from combustion technology company to a firm whose products do not emit carbon and rely on software and computing power.

Mercedes and other established automakers trail Tesla in EV sales and in developing computer and software systems to compete with the U.S. firm's stream of new features and updates.

Daimler Truck split from Mercedes in December and Kaellenius said Tuesday he saw no reason for Mercedes to further separate EVs from the combustion-engine operations. Some investors have pushed established automakers to create pure EV units.

“There is only one Mercedes-Benz and that one company sooner than many people think will be an all-electric company,” Kaellenius said in an interview.

Mercedes also said on Tuesday that Japanese battery maker Envision AESC would supply battery modules for US-made Mercedes EVs from a new US plant by the middle of the decade.

Alongside the launch of its Bibb County, Alabama, battery plant, Mercedes also previewed a large electric SUV to be built at the nearby Tuscaloosa, Alabama, assembly facility this year.

The EQS SUV and a smaller EQE electric SUV, also to be made in Alabama, join a growing lineup of electric SUVs seeking to challenge Tesla in the United States, China and Europe.

The battery plant, which will employ 600 workers, and the assembly facility are part of a 40 billion euro drive by Mercedes to go all electric by 2030, where markets allow.

Mercedes, which plans to produce EV batteries in Europe, North America and Asia, aims to have eight cell factories with partners around the world with capacity to produce 200 gigawatt hours a year by the end of the decade.

The Mercedes Alabama assembly plant, which turns 25 this year, can build both electric and combustion vehicles, and is one of the largest Mercedes vehicle-making plants in the world.


BMW invests in California-based carpooling app Scoop

                DETROIT: BMW AG on Wednesday said its BMW iVentures venture capital arm has invested an undisclosed amount in California-based Scoop Technologies, which offers a smartphone-powered carpooling service called Scoop.

BMW's move is the latest in a flurry of investments by automakers in technology industry startups that appear to be aimed at convincing consumers to do without owning their own cars, or driving vehicles as often.

After several years of uncertainty over how to respond to challenges from the startups, global automakers are racing to buy into the would-be disruptors, deploying cash generated from years of strong vehicle sales.

The Scoop application connects people who live in the same neighbourhoods and work near each other to arrange carpools. The company currently operates in the San Francisco Bay area.

Scoop is one of several investments BMW has made in ride-hailing, connected-vehicle technology, transportation services and other ventures related to "mobility," the umbrella term auto makers and technology companies use for services designed to allow people to move around without necessarily relying on a vehicle they own.

On Tuesday, Toyota, the world's No. 1 automaker by vehicle sales, said it was investing an undisclosed amount of money in ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc. Germany's Volkswagen AG said on the same day it would invest US$300 million in Gett, a smaller ride-hailing company.

Earlier this year, General Motors Co acquired a stake in Uber rival Lyft, and is launching its own car-sharing and mobility ventures under the Maven brand. Ford, Daimler AG and other major automakers have unveiled various efforts to embrace ride hailing, car sharing and related services.

BMW has been an active deal maker in the mobility universe. The German automaker, whose motto is that it creates "ultimate driving machines," has invested in a ride-hailing service called Summon, which recently moved to San Francisco from India.

BMW has also invested in a fleet management software company called RideCell; a parking spot locator service called Zirx; Moovit, a service that simplifies the chore of connecting with public transit, and Zendrive, a company that harvests data from smartphones to coach motorists on how to drive safely.


BMW and MINI service online for Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Group Malaysia today introduced BMW and MINI Service Online, the newest after sales care offering from the premium automaker which enables its customers to schedule the service needs for their vehicles directly at their preferred authorised dealership via the BMW Malaysia and MINI Malaysia website.

Han Sang Yun, managing director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia said, “Digitalisation is a strategic direction for the BMW Group worldwide and we have been moving in tandem here in Malaysia to introduce products and service offerings that push the envelope for digitalisation for further convenience and peace of mind in the premium automotive industry.”

Han added that BMW Group Malaysia have already demonstrated this with the introduction and roll out of BMW Connected extensively in all their vehicles since 2015.

“The new online service program for our BMW and MINI customers here complements the entire 360-degree ownership experience of a vehicle from the BMW Group which provides to our customers not only the most enjoyable but also the most rewarding ownership experience,” said Han.

The BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience includes:

- BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Program.
- MINI 4 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service.
- BMW 2-Year/ 24 Month Tyre Warranty Program for its Run Flat Tyre offering and services.
- Ultimate Protection Program+ (UPP+) courtesy of BMW Credit Malaysia and underwritten by Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Bhd.
- BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline.
- BMW WhiteCard, MINI BlackCard and BMW Excellence Club membership program.
- BMW and MINI Service Online.


Daimler Truck expects gradual ramp-up of electric trucks due to cost

                BERLIN: Daimler Truck, the world's largest truck and bus maker, expects only a moderate market ramp-up of its first electric truck model, eActros, due to its high price, the sales head of Daimler's brand Mercedes-Benz Trucks said.

The cost of an electric truck is three times as much as one with a combustion engine, Andreas von Wallfeld, told an event to present the model today, mainly due to battery costs.

Wallfeld declined to say how many units the company expects to sell, adding that the gradual ramp-up is also due to quality checks of the eActros.

Parity in total cost of ownership of Daimler's electric trucks to its conventional ones will be reached by 2025, depending on energy prices and subsidies, Wallfeld said.

Daimler will offer the eActros in 12 European countries at first, he added. Other markets such as China, Russia and South Africa are also of interest, he added.

The company in May said it aimed to cut costs and boost profit across all regions by 2025 as it goes "all in" for electric and hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles.


Ban drivers from using smart watches, British govt urged

                LONDON: A British car safety company has  called for an immediate ban on the use of smart watches by drivers.

This week saw the launch of the Apple Watch and Croydon-based company SmartWitness, which manufactures in-car CCTV and safety cameras, are concerned that driver distraction will be significantly increased by drivers using the new smart watch.

SmartWitness claims recent research has shown that using a smart watch whilst driving makes response times nearly three times longer – and is even worse than using a hand-held mobile phone.

In Britain, use of mobile phones whilst driving was banned in 2003 but there is currently no such legislation in place for smart watches.

The Apple smart watch was unveiled this week and is a wearable piece of technology that enables the user to send and receive emails and texts, and connect to your iPhone. The launch has created a huge demand for smart watches which are now likely to become much more commonplace in Britain.

SmartWitness international sales head Mark Berry Mark said: “We need to have a Driver Mode added to the smart watches, much in the same way there’s an Airplane Mode button which switches off messaging and calls during flights – and we need legislation to enforce it otherwise there could be a significant increase in serious road accidents and even fatalities caused by smart watches. ”


Daimler proposes ex-BMW and VW executive Pischetsrieder as chairman

Pischetsrieder. — AFP
FRANKFURT: Daimler said today it would propose that Bernd Pischetsrieder be elected chairman of the car and trucks maker, after former chief executive Dieter Zetsche withdrew his candidacy for the job.

Pischetsrieder is a former chief executive of Volkswagen Group and a former board member of rival BMW.

Daimler also said that Elizabeth Centoni, Ben van Beurden and Martin Brudermueller will be put forward for election to the supervisory board at the company’s 2021 annual general meeting.

At the end of the annual general meeting on March 31, 2021, long-term chairman Manfred Bischoff will step down, Daimler said.


2016 Geneva Motor Show: Rolls-Royce goes back to black

                GENEVA: To attract a younger clientele, British luxury car brand Rolls-Royce is launching a permanent bespoke range of Wraiths and Ghosts called ‘Black Badge'.

The existing Wraith, launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2013 was aimed directly at the next generation of car buyer, hence its marriage of performance - via a 6.6-litre, 624bhp turbocharged V12 - with premium levels of comfort.

And according to the company, its introduction has led to clients passing through the company's doors that would have otherwise been sizing up a Ferrari.

However, now the company is taking things to a new level by making a number of bespoke features favoured by younger owners on both the Wraith and its four-door brother, the Ghost.

Visually Black Badge series dilutes much of the brightwork synonymous with Rolls-Royce cars. Even the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine that adorns the hood is finished in a black gloss. But that's just the start.

"Today, I am announcing that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will create a permanent Bespoke series of motor cars for a group of young, driven, self-made people that will make a bold and edgy lifestyle statement about their lives," said company CEO Torsten Müller-Otvos at their reveal on Tuesday.

The cars have been designed in partnership with this new wave of owners to create something that Müller-Otvos describes as "The alter ego of Rolls-Royce Wraith and Ghost: darker, more assertive, more confident and powerful, and more demanding."

So there is a huge focus on black and on darker palettes and on more modern materials. Gone is the sensuous wooden interior trim for carbon fiber, while the handcrafted metal switchgear has also been given a darker hue.

Under the hood both cars have been seriously tweaked too. The Ghost gets an extra 39bhp while its more sporting relation, the Wraith coupé gets increased torque and a new suspension and transmission set up to make it even more of a driver's car.

And of course, just like the Ford Model T, the two cars will be available in any colour as long as it's black.

According to Müller-Otvos, Rolls-Royce customers are getting younger.

"In 2009, the average age of our drivers was 55, now it is 45," he said.

Reuters reported that the luxury carmaker is embracing YouTube and Instagram as it prepares to replace its ageing flagship, the Phantom.

The company is moving to all-aluminium architecture in every vehicle sold from early 2018.


New Jaguar Land Rover showroom opens in Penang

                GEORGE TOWN: Sisma Auto (Utara) Sdn Bhd, which has been appointed by Jaguar Land Rover (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd as the exclusive dealer for the two luxury automotive brands in the Northern region, has officially opened a brand new showroom at Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah to cater to the growing market.

The strategically located new showroom supplements Sisma Auto Utara’s full-fledged Jaguar Land Rover service centre at Sungai Pinang that has been in operation since last year.

The Penang branch is Sisma Auto’s third after its flagship 3S centre in Glenmarie, Shah Alam and its city showcase showroom in Bukit Bintang in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s business and tourist district.

Sisma Auto’s new Penang showroom, which occupies 28,000 square feet of land with ample parking space, will showcase the latest range of Jaguar and Land Rover models available in Malaysia.

Sisma Auto Utara sales manager Eric Ooi said that the new Penang Island showcase showroom would help enhance market awareness and reach of Jaguar and Land Rover through better brand and product visibility at a high traffic and premium location.

“The current range of products from both Jaguar and Land Rover are some of the best and most exciting ever in the history of these two iconic British automotive brands. We are delighted to be able to showcase the all-new F-Pace, the first-ever performance SUV produced by Jaguar, in conjunction with our opening,” he said.

 From left: Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia managing director Datuk Aishah Ahmad, Sisma Auto Group of Companies chairman Syed Hussain Syed Mohamed, Sisma Auto Group of Companies managing director Syed Khalil Syed Ibrahim and Sisma Auto Utara director Datuk Sri Tan Hui Jing with a Jaguar F-Pace at the new showroom.

Ooi added that the new showcase, showroom and service (3S) centre would serve a large pool of existing Jaguar and Land Rover owners not only in Penang but also the surrounding Northern region.

“We are also pleased to announce that all valid service vouchers issued by the previous authorised dealer would be honoured by Sisma Auto Utara,” he said.

In conjunction with the new showroom opening, Sisma Auto Utara will be organising a Jaguar and Land Rover Weekend Carnival on Dec 3 and 4, from 10am to 5pm.

There is no better time to buy your dream Jaguar or Land Rover as there will be amazing cash rebates for selected models.

These include the all-new Jaguar XE compact sports sedan (up to RM25,000 rebate) and XF sports sedan (up to RM60,000 cash rebate), the stylish Range Rover Evoque (up to RM80,000 cash rebate) and the seven-seater Land Rover Discovery Sport SUV (up to RM100,000 cash rebate).

In the past few years, Jaguar and Land Rover have been introducing a succession of new models that marry exquisite design, breakthrough technologies, breath-taking performance, unmatched capability and total practicality that have helped broaden the appeal and reach of the two brands.

The entire Jaguar range, for example, has now been renewed and recently joined by the all-new F-Pace.

For product enquiries, test-drives and aftersales service, contact Sisma Auto Utara at +604-226 2279 (Sales) and +604-288 1155 (Service).


Royal Enfield opens flagship store and unveiled two models

                PETALING JAYA: Royal Enfield's flagship store is here with two models launched - Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Meteor 350 models.

Didi Automotive Sdn Bhd is the exclusive distributor of Royal Enfield motorcycles in Malaysia.

The Classic 350 is powered by a 349cc, fuel-injected, air/oil cooled engine that generates 20.2hp at 6,1500rpm and 27Nm of torque at 4,000rpm.

 (From left) Didi Group chairman Rewi Hamid Bugo, general manager Juan Chow Wee, Royal Enfield group manager (international business) P. Gandhikumar and Didi managing director Goh Kian Sin.

The engine also comes with a primary balancer shaft to reduce vibrations for smooth ride while maintaining the unmistakable Royal Enfield exhaust note thump.

Transmission is a five-speed type and the bike gets a 13-litre fuel tank.

The Classic 350 is available in three new exciting variants and seven colours, beginning with the Halcyon series, the Dark series, and the Classic Chrome.

The prices start from RM23,500 (excluding road tax, insurance, and registration).

 Classic 350.

Meanwhile, the Meteor 350 is a cruiser with a 349cc engine with similar performance to the Classic 350.

Its five-speed transmission has an overdrive top gear to deliver fuel economy on highway cruising.

Features include alloy wheels, tubeless tyres, a 15-litre fuel tank and a Royal Enfield first-ever Tripper™ navigation system that is powered by Google Maps.

Also included is a Royal Enfield App that connects smartphones with the motorcycle through Bluetooth.

 Meteor 350.

The Meteor 350 is available in three variants of Fireball, Stellar, and Supernova starting from RM24,300 (excluding road tax, insurance, and registration).


Triumph aims to break 605+ kph land speed record

                LONDON: Triumph Motorcycles has confirmed that it will return to the legendary salt flats of Bonneville in the United States this month to break the motorcycle world land speed record.

Triumph’s aim is to exceed the current record that stands at 605.698kph, using its purpose built 1,000bhp Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner.

Riding the purpose-built Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner over the measured mile will be Isle of Man TT racer and multiple speed record holder Guy Martin. Title partner for Triumph’s 2016 record attempt will be global cloud applications provider Infor with further support from clothing brand Belstaff.

The Triumph Infor Rocket features a carbon Kevlar monocoque construction with two turbocharged Triumph Rocket III engines producing a combined 1,000bhp at 9,000rpm. The motorcycle is 25.5 feet long, 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall. Powered by methanol fuel, the bike is competing in the Division C (streamlined motorcycle) category.

Triumph has a history of breaking the land speed record, holding the title of ‘World's Fastest Motorcycle’ between 1955 to 1970. The record-breaking Triumph Streamliners included: Devil's Arrow, Texas Cee-gar, Dudek Streamliner and Gyronaut X1, the former achieving a top speed of 395.28kph. Today's record, held by Rocky Robinson since 2010 riding the Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner, sits at 605.697kph.

The iconic Bonneville name was conceived following Johnny Allen’s land-speed record runs at the Salt Flats in September 1956, when he reached the record breaking speed of 193.72 mph. The first T120 Bonneville model was unveiled at the Earls Court Bike Show and went on sale in 1959.


Carsome launches its largest experience centre to-date in Petaling Jaya

                PETALING JAYA: Carsome has launched the Carsome PJ Automall along the Federal Highway, the company's largest experience centre to-date.

The automall, which occupies 100,000sq ft in Naza Automall, has more than 200 cars under one roof with 55 more outdoors.

Customers can also browse Carsome's growing online inventory of over 1,600 cars ranging from sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, MPVs and 4X4s to luxury models.

The centre also allows prospective buyers to view, select, test drive and complete their purchase with on-site financial facilities that can process and secure loan approvals in one day.

In addition to electric car charging bays, the PJ Automall hosts banking partners such as Maybank and Public Bank as well as detailing and tinting partners such as EcoTint and Glass Auto.

Carsome co-founder and group CEO Eric Cheng said the PJ Automall would strengthen the company's online-to-offline hybrid offering and raise the bar on its customers' buying experience.

 Cheng (left) showing Amirudin and Ng a certified pre-owned vehicle.

"Our motivation is to make this experience centre a lifestyle-centric one, where customers can walk into and enjoy the shopping process, and more importantly, leave the worry and hassle to our dedicated teams," he said.

Launching the centre, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari praised Carsome for elevating the pre-owned car buying experience with transparency and professionalism.

"Previously, buyers had to bring their mechanics along if they wanted to buy used cars," he said.

Also present at the launch were Selangor state local government, public transport and new village development committee chairman Ng Sze Han and other VIPs.

Carsome Experience Centres were first introduced in 2020 and the company has more than 10 such centres nationwide.

In conjunction with the PJ Automall's launch, Carsome is holding a two-day Shop and Dine CARnival event from 12noon to 8.30pm on June 11 and 12.

Visitors can sample a range of food, enjoy music performance and participate in activities while browsing through Carsome's listing of pre-owned cars.

Customers can also join lucky draws and stand a chance to win up to RM12,000 worth of prizes which include a Nintendo Switch OLED and Garmin Venu SQ smart watches among others.

Those who bought a Carsome Certified car from the PJ Automall during the event will get free Platinum Warranty Upgrade worth up to RM1,500, free window tinting worth RM900 and free RM100 Touch'n Go eWallet credits.

For details, visit https://www.carsome.my/news/item/carsome-pj-automall-launch-promo


Porsche chief Mueller is new VW CEO

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen has named Matthias Mueller, head of its luxury sports car brand Porsche, as its new CEO tasked with steering it out of the wreckage of a pollution test rigging scandal.

Mueller, 62, will take over immediately, replacing Martin Winterkorn who stepped down two days earlier, said the head of the supervisory board, Berthold Huber, at the car maker's headquarters in Wolfsburg, northern Germany.

"My most pressing task will be to restore confidence in the Volkswagen Group - through an unsparing investigation and maximum transparency, but also by drawing the right lessons from the current situation," Mueller vowed.

"Volkswagen under my leadership will make every effort to develop the most rigorous compliance and governance standards in the entire industry and to implement them."

Huber praised Mueller as "a figure with great strategic, entrepreneurial and social skills".

"He knows the company and its brands, will tackle his new position immediately and with full force. We explicitly appreciate his critical and constructive views."


Carmakers race to China auto show despite market slowdown

                SHANGHAI: China is crucial to foreign carmakers as the world’s biggest auto market, but slowing economic growth and a corruption crackdown are denting its appeal as they gather for the country’s premier industry show.

The Shanghai auto show - the location alternates with Beijing - opens on Monday and is a chance for global automobile manufacturers to show off their latest offerings to the massive market.

Vehicle sales in China reached 23.49 million last year, well ahead of the United States, which it overtook in 2009.

But annual sales growth halved to 6.9 percent last year from 13.9 percent in 2013, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). The slowdown continued in the first three months of this year, when sales rose just 3.9 percent.

“The reality is, despite lower growth rates... the numbers in China are still the largest in the world,” said London-based principal analyst for IHS Automotive, Namrita Chow.

“It’s still a big market for automakers to fight for market share.”

The downturn comes as growth in China, the world’s number two economy, is faltering. It expanded by an annual rate of 7.0 percent in the first quarter, the lowest level since 2009 at the height of the global financial crisis.

At the same time, Chinese cities are slapping limits on the number of vehicles as heavy pollution and traffic-choked roads spark calls for change.

The southern boomtown of Shenzhen became the latest to impose such measures in December, bringing the total number of cities to at least seven, but carmakers expect more to follow.

A prolonged corruption crackdown and government austerity drive are also hurting the “premium” market -defined by analysts as vehicles costing from US$33,000 to US$197,000 -- as well as rarefied luxury brands with even higher prices.

“The whole corruption crackdown is affecting premium products,” said Chow of IHS. “We’re seeing a greater proportion of local brand vehicles being favoured by government and government-affiliated institutions.”

The anti-graft drive has also snared auto industry officials including the former top executive of China’s third-biggest car company, FAW Group, which has a joint venture with Germany’s Volkswagen.

But foreign companies cannot afford to ignore China’s market, particularly as Europe is still struggling to recover from a six-year slump brought on by the global financial crisis.

Rising incomes and a low percentage of car ownership also point to the potential for further sales growth in the world’s most populous country.

Chinese consumers are evolving, embracing auto financing instead of cash deals and fostering a growing market for second-hand vehicles instead of buying the newest models.

The auto show is evolving too. This year, for the first time, it will not include scantily-clad models, which organisers have reportedly banned in favour of more wholesome promotion.

On show instead will be a range of SUVs (sport utility vehicles), whose image in China as a roomy family car rather than a fuel-guzzling giant helped drive a 48.8 percent surge year-on-year in the first quarter, according to industry group CAAM.

Just ahead of the show, US auto giant General Motors launched a new SUV in the China market, the Buick Envision 20T.

Rival Ford Motor Co. will give two luxury SUVs their China market debuts at the show - the mid-size Lincoln MKX and the full-size Lincoln Navigator -- and launch a flagship sedan for China, the Taurus.

The US carmaker boosted its Chinese footprint last month by opening a US$760 million assembly plant in the eastern city of Hangzhou, adding annual production capacity of 250,000 vehicles.

Japan’s Nissan Motor Co. will also introduce a mid-size sedan at the show, the Lannia, which it is marketing to appeal to young buyers.

Meanwhile, a government push for “new energy” vehicles is encouraging sales of both fully electric and hybrid cars, which have an electric motor along with a conventional combustion engine.

Jochem Heizmann, Volkswagen Group China’s president and CEO, said of electric vehicles: “I’m convinced things will develop faster in China than in Europe.”


First drive of Hyundai Ioniq

                There is a new hybrid kid in town which is poised to give the reigning hybrid favourite from Japan a run for its money ... or at the very least, eat in to its market share.

The Ioniq Hybrid from South Korean marque Hyundai was launched at the end of November 2016 and comes in two variants - HEV and HEV Plus - with prices starting from RM103,390 and RM114,165 (on-the-road with GST and insurance) respectively.

Under the hood of the locally assembled Ioniq Hybrid is the Kappa 1.6-litre Atkinson Cycle GDi direct injection engine and a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) mated to a 6-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT).

The engine produces 105PS at 5,700rpm and 147Nm of torque at 5,000rpm while the electric motor pushes out 43hp and 170Nm of torque.

Powering the electric motor is a lithium-ion polymer battery with a capacity of 1.56kWh. Range in full electric mode is 5km to 15km.

Standard features for both variants include keyless entry, smart key with stop start button, LED daytime running lights, dual zone climate control with single zone operation mode, seven airbags, anti-lock brake system (ABS), brake assist system (BAS), hill-start assist control (HAC), electronic stability control (ESC), vehicle stability management, auto cruise control, auto light control, tyres pressure monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors and rear view camera.

That’s already an impressive list of standard features.

The high-spec HEV Plus variant comes with additional features such as HID Bi-Xenon head lamps and LED type rear combination lamps, 7-inch high definition TFT-LCD digital cluster, wireless charging for smartphones, blind spot detection (BSD), lane keeping assist system (LKAS), autonomous emergency braking system (AEB), smart cruise control system and rain sensor.

Members of the media were recently invited to try out the top specced Ioniq Hybrid HEV Plus for a day and we drove through highways and windy B-roads as well as the slalom course and the autonomous emergency braking system.

 Testing out the Ioniq's autonomous emergency braking system.

It's important to note that the autonomous emergency braking system is usually found on higher end cars but for this price (below RM120K), its inclusion has taken the safety features of the Ioniq to the next level.

We were privy to how the autonomous emergency braking system works where a mannequin was placed in front of the car and we travelled towards it at speeds around 30kph.

The system responds when impact is imminent, meaning really, really close like you’re about to hit an actual pedestrian, and then hard braking is automatically applied bringing the car to a stop.

Looks-wise, the Ioniq Hybrid HEV Plus is an elegantly designed car with clean and fluid lines with a drag co-efficient if 0.24.

The design also offers functionality as it lowers drag coefficient and thus, improves fuel efficiency.

The wide semi-gloss chrome grille houses the smart cruise control sensor and also has an active airflap again to reduce drag.

The sloping roofline gives it a sporty look which ends with an integrated rear spoiler to minimise air resistance and increases downforce.

The exterior also has dark blue accents and the front and rear which is sparse but conveys the message that this is a hybrid car.

The dark blue accents can also be found in the interior such as the stitching on the seats, the circumference of the push start button, around the air con vents and the 7in LCD audio system.

The cabin has a quality feel to it with its leather seats and steering wheel with looks and feel of more upmarket cars.

The steering wheel in particular, has a very sporty look and feel with its flat bottom D-cut design.

The car itself offers a lot of comfort for its occupants and driver although head-and-leg room in the rear is a little tight for tall people.

Besides that, the car is very quiet with very minimal noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels.

It’s also a great car to drive around in as it offers quite a lot of torque when pushed and engaging it in sport mode makes it quite a lot of fun to drive as well.

Driving through the B-roads and the slalom course, the Ioniq is planted and handles itself well through turns and bends.

Gear changes are fast, smooth and quiet and the brakes respond well with just the right amount of brake bite.

The only thing you are not going to get is a sporty exhaust sound but that’s not an issue really considering the amount of fun we had driving it.


Duckhams announces rebranding in Malaysia and Singapore

                KUALA LUMPUR: Engine oil brand Duckhams has announced its rebranding and repackaging of products in Malaysia and Singapore to align its regional presence with the overall global positioning to atttract younger customers.

It said its distributors and partners have been updated about the shift on July 23.

As a brand, Duckhams has had a long history in Malaysia and Singapore since the 1980s. Having undergone a significant change, Duckhams announced a global rebranding in 2017 with an eye on expanding internationally.

"Duckhams has a legacy of over 100 years. We believe this will make the brand more contemporary and relevant for today's times. The new modernised look will enable the brand to speak to a wider age spectrum of the population from the age of 20 years onwards," said Duckhams global CEO K.R. Venkataraman.

First established in 1899 by British chemist Alexander Duckham, the brand has made a name in lubricants technology.


Public transport services can now operate at full capacity, says Ismail Sabri

                PUTRAJAYA: Public transport services can now operate at full capacity, says Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said buses, ferries and trains, as well as LRT and MRT, that allow standing passengers could now ply routes at full load.

“Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are in place and operators must ensure it is followed by the passengers.

“This includes wearing face masks at all times while on public transport, downloading the MySejahtera application and providing hand sanitisers, ” he said on Thursday (June 11).

Ismail also said flights were also now allowed to operate at full capacity, as with express buses and e-hailing services.

For those travelling on flights, airlines must practise the SOP, including to take passengers’ temperature and make it compulsory to put on face masks.

The minister said express buses could also operate at full capacity and with no time limit, compared to during the movement control order (MCO) when night travel was not allowed and buses could only accommodate passengers at half capacity,

“Express bus companies must get their passengers to register, either via MySejahtera or manually. This is important for contact tracing in case there is a passenger travelling with them who has Covid-19.

“Throughout the journey, passengers and drivers must put on face masks. Temperature checks must be done before they board the bus. At the end of each trip, the vehicle must be sanitised and cleaned, ” he said.

Ismail also said there would be no time limit on e-hailing services and drivers could take passengers according to vehicle capacity.

During the MCO, e-hailing services could only operate until 10pm with a limit of two people in the car.

“Apart from ensuring the driver, as well as passengers, download the MySejahtera application for contact tracing purposes, payment transactions must also be cashless.

“Face masks must be used by the driver and the passengers, and the vehicle should be sanitised when a passenger is dropped off before taking another passenger, ” he said,

The recovery MCO which is enforced until Aug 31 sees the relaxation of more social and economic sectors to alleviate the worst economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.


Rawang Bypass opens, cutting Serendah-KL travel time to 30 mins

The RM628mil Rawang Bypass took 12 years to build, — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: The Rawang Bypass, featuring the highest bridge in Malaysia, has opened to traffic from today.

The toll-free road was opened at 6am and is expected to benefit about 30,000 motorists daily.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the new 9km stretch will reduce traffic jams by 50% and shorten the travel time from Serendah to Selayang, especially during peak hours.

"Before this, motorists could take up to two hours during peak times, but now they just need 30 minutes for the same destination," he said this when launching the opening of the Rawang ByPass here on Tuesday.

 A closer view of the Rawang Bypass. - Bernama

He said the construction of the RM628mil Rawang Bypass began on July 16, 2005 and was completed on Nov 21, this year.

He also explained the uniqueness of the bypass, which is said to be the highest infrastructure pillar in Malaysia with a height of 58.2m from the ground.

"This bridge will also provide an attractive experience for road users as it will be 'among the clouds' in the morning especially after it rains," he said.

Meanwhile, Public Works Department director-general Datuk Seri Dr Roslan Md Taha said the project involved a new two-way stretch, a 2.7km elevated structure, and a 12.5km upgraded federal road.

"A new method of construction was also introduced in this project such as geogrid usage, hand dug cassio, and a pre-cast interlocking slab for protection from the river as well as a silt-trap to control sand silt from entering the river that could help maintain the environment.

"With the usage of new construction technology, the Kanching tropical forest would be preserved and it will also encourage the tourism industry," he said.


Audi stops production of manual transmissions for US market

The 2018 A5 is one of the last US Audi models to feature a manual transmission.
INGOLSTADT: The motor industry has all but given up on three-door cars, and it looks like manual gearboxes are starting to go the same way, especially in the United States. With the arrival of the new 2019 Audi A4 sedan and A5 coupe models in the United States, Audi's entire US line-up will be automatic, with not a single stick-shift option left.

It's mainly high-end vehicles that are going automatic-only for now, but it's not hard to imagine a time in the not-too-distant future when manual gearboxes will be almost unheard of. Land Rover, for example, dropped the manual versions of the Discovery and Range Rover some years ago, and there has never been a manual version of the Range Rover Sport.

Audi has been offering a six-speed manual transmission as a no-cost option for the current 2018 versions of the A4 and A5 in the US, but the replacement 2019 models will be exclusively automatic.

Car and Driver recently reported that only 5 percent of A4 customers in the US chose a manual over an automatic transmission, so the move to drop manual gear boxes appears to be based on economics. Although there's no suggestion at the moment that Audi will do the same in markets like Europe, where the American market goes today, the rest of the world follows.

There are still some luxury brands offering manual gearboxes in the US, such as BMW, Genesis, Cadillac and Porsche, though Porsche limits the availability of manual gearboxes to its sports cars only.

Until some years ago, choosing an automatic meant forgoing at least a gear or two compared to the manual option, and manuals were also generally better for fuel economy. But with modern automatics now regularly featuring eight, nine and even 10 speeds, and usually being more fuel-efficient than their manual counterparts, it's increasingly hard to make a case for manual.

Of course, there will always be some demand for manual boxes from driving enthusiasts, especially in all-out sports cars. But with the likes of even Ferrari, Bugatti and Lamborghini increasingly adopting automatics in their most powerful models, the manual could soon be an endangered species.


Mercedes-Benz E 200 Avantgarde: A classy act

By JAY WONG

ONE of the most popular vehicles to own that’s able to properly portray a high-powered executive is, without any doubt, a Mercedes-Benz saloon.

While many may assume that any model will do from the German carmaker that calls Stuttgart home, only the discerning executive views the E Class as the golden apple of their eye.

Whether the E Class is static or in motion, its combination of poise and opulence is often regarded as perpetual to make it a worthy representation of an executive’s title, successes and accomplishments.

With an asking price of RM326,943 (on-the-road without insurance) for the E 200 Avantgarde and RM375,432 for the more potent E 300 AMG Line, the locally assembled and newly facelifted fifth-generation E Class (W213) brings with it key accoutrements that will suit executives and the like.

Starting with the newly-designed full-LED headlights with daytime running lights, integrated signals and adaptive Highbeam Assist system, long-lasting durability has been paired with reliability in illuminating poorly lit areas.

For a dash of visual athletism, the E 200 now has a newly-designed front hood that comes with a pair of “power domes” as well as sporty lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels (E 300 - 19-inch).

Additionally, the suspension provides ample amounts of compliance to accommodate constant changes in road surfaces and yet is able to keep the ride stable during spirited drives.

Inside, the overall opulence stands resolute by combining a driver-centric design with a neo-classical theme that stems from its previous four predecessors.

Translated, this is where plush comfort meets high levels of practicality and ergonomics for a well-insulated cabin against noise, vibrations and harshness.

Accenting the cabin is the cool feel of satin-finished aluminium that’s contrasted against the heart-warming feel of black open-pore ash wood reserved for the centre console while naturally soft Nappa leather engulfs the multifunction steering wheel.

Plush comfort is omnipresent at the front and rear of the cabin by way of the 10-way powered front seats with three memory functions.

At the rear of the cabin, passengers will enjoy plenty of space along with sunshades that will help keep the glare at bay while access to two Type-C charging ports (two more at the front) keep gadgets and smartphones topped up with power.

The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is housed within one of the two 12.3-inch widescreen displays while the other dedicates itself to being a digital instrument cluster for the driver.

Both screens provide crisp details and vibrant colours to attain high amounts of visibility and legibility.

At the heart of the E Class, the 2.0-litre (1,991cc) turbocharged M274 engine is able to twist out a highly respectable 197PS and 320Nm of torque for the E 200.

For those who opted for the E 300, the same powerplant will punch out a more potent 258PS and 370Nm.

Managing power delivery to the rear wheels is a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shifters that will help to keep the drive buttery smooth and the engine frugal on fuel.

The E 200 can swiftly sprint from 0 to 100kph in 7.4 seconds (E 300 in 6.2 seconds) before reaching a top speed of 240kph (E 300 at 250kph).

Keeping safety in mind, the E Class has capable brakes that adds a generous amount of confidence while at speed as do the standard inclusions of advanced safety equipment in the form of Blind Spot Assist, Active Brake Assist, Adaptive Brake Lights and Pre-Safe system among others in helping to alert drivers to unseen potential dangers by preventing or mitigating a collision.

Aside from the usual four-year unlimited mileage warranty that accompanies all Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Malaysia, Cycle & Carriage Mutiara Damansara Autohaus also provides an Extended Limited Warranty Programme for customers.

In addition, the 3S (sales, service and spare parts) centre also provides a workaround for those strapped for time with its Drop & Go service and Cycle & Carriage Door-To-Door Service (30km-limit) before adding peace of mind with its Emergency Car Maintenance and Care service - manned by its Service 24hr Roadside Assistance task force.

The 3S centre’s dedicated Star Assistants will be more than willing to welcome customers to its 40,181sq ft facility that showcases the latest Mercedes-Benz Brand Identity and up to 12 vehicles on its showroom floor.

Last but not least, the centre’s Vehicle Handover rooms are available upon request to hold special occasions.

Mercedes-Benz E 200 AvantgardeEngine: 1,991cc, 4-cylinder, turbocharged
Maximum power: 197hp from 5,500 to 6,100rpm
Maximum torque: 320Nm from 1,650 to 4,000rpm
Transmission: 9G-Tronic automatic
Acceleration (0-100kph): 7.4 seconds
Top speed: 240kph
Fuel consumption: 6.9–6.5 l/100km
Features: Airbags, Agility Control suspension, Dynamic Select, LED High Performance headlamps, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Electrically folding and adjustable exterior mirrors, centre console in black open-pored ash wood, multifunction sports steering wheel in nappa leather, electric sunblind for rear window, reverse camera, Active Parking Assist with Parktronic, Blind Spot Assist, Active Brake Assist, Adaptive Brake Lights, Keyless-Go, Pre-Safe system, Multimedia System Communications module (LTE) for the use of Mercedes me connect services, Mercedes-Benz emergency call system, MBUX multimedia system, Widescreen cockpit, Touchpad without controller, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, USB ports in rear with charging function, runflat tyres, tyre pressure monitoring system, 18-inch 5-twin spoke light-alloy wheels
Price: RM326,943 (on-the-road without insurance)


Check out the Fast 8 rides - VIDEO

                LOS ANGELES: Any car junkie out there would know of the Fast & Furious movie franchise that's managed to evolve its cast members from being mere rag-tag street racers into a group that somewhat resembles "The Expendables", only the action starts when they pick up the car keys instead of a weapon.

It's been fifteen years since the first installment and the movies have come a long way, starting from the humble beginnings of down-town Los Angeles, before travelling to Japan, Brazil and even the United Arab Emirates.

This time around, for the upcoming eighth installment (with two more in queue due out in 2019 and 2021) of the movie, it will be taking place in a more colder and exotic location - Iceland.

Due for release on April 14, 2017, filming has obviously begun and the movie's Facebook page has revealed a gallery of images to give us all a first look at some of the vehicles that will be featured, most of which have been customised to take on snow and ice.

For Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his love for American muscle cars, he will be driving a bullet-riddled Dodge "Ice Charger", while Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) gets an off-road Rally Fighter with studded tyres and Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) will helm an aggressive looking "Ice Ram" to name a few.

As for Tej Parker (Chris "Ludacris" Bridges) he'll be piloting the mean-looking Ripsaw, while Roman Pierce (Tyrese Gibson) gets what seems to be a standard Lamborghini - lets hope its got all-wheel-drive at the very least and it survives till the end of the show.

The movie is being directed by Straight Outta Compton's F. Gary Gray, with Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez and Jason Statham returning from the earlier films, while new to the cast and crew are Charlize Theron, Kurt Russell, Helen Mirren and Scott Eastwood (son of Clint Eastwood).

"We've written out story lines for various characters. We've been playing with it for a long time. It's a very rich property and we're committed to treating it with a lot of class," said Diesel.


Auto parts makers shine spotlight on aluminium's role in electric vehicles

                LONDON: A faster paced energy transition through a speedier shift to electric vehicles has created a new, substantial demand stream for aluminium and major opportunities for auto supply chain firms flying under investors’ radar.

Previously shunned in favour of cheaper steel, aluminium consumption in electric vehicles is expected to accelerate over coming years as Covid-19 hastens the move to a green economic recovery.

Significantly lighter than steel, aluminium is now the metal of choice in a range of parts - from the chassis, structural components such as the shock tower and internal panels to housing for motors and the batteries that power electric cars.

Aluminium producers such as Rusal, Rio Tinto and Glencore with access to large amounts of metal are set to benefit.

Not as well known, but also in pole position are firms making the components. They include Mexico’s Nemak, Canada’s Linamar and France-based Constellium.

Sitting on both sides is Norsk Hydro, which produces aluminium metal and parts for autos.

“The electric vehicle segment is the bright spot in the automotive segment, currently 20% of sales volume is going to e-mobility and the tendency is increasing,” said Egil Hogna, head of Extruded Solutions at Norsk Hydro.

Hydro delivers more than 350,000 tonnes of aluminium products to the auto industry every year, with rough estimates showing around 15% of that going to electric vehicles.

It allocated 30% of its auto investment budget within its Extruded Solutions division to products for electric vehicle customers this year and expects annual growth of 20% in some parts of its aluminium product business between 2020 and 2024.

Many of these customers are in Europe and China, which recently announced measures favouring electric vehicles.

Just change the bumper

Aluminium’s popularity is coming at the expense of steel.

Steel firms that supply the auto industry include Tata Steel, ArceloMittal, Nippon Steel, Posco and Nucor.

Access to the opportunities created by aluminium does, however, come at a cost.

Aluminium prices are typically about three times that of steel. But the industry is prepared to accept the price difference due to the sheer scale of potential sales, an executive involved in the auto supply chain said.

“It’s been a long incubation period, but electric vehicles are swinging the pendulum. Aluminium is a higher performing material than steel.”

Aluminium weighs about one-third of steel per cubic foot, enabling “lightweighting” of electric vehicles and superior performance in terms of the distance travelled before batteries need to be recharged.

“Aluminium better protects passengers and the structure of the car in a crash situation, the Crash Management System absorbs the energy created,” said Paul Warton, president of Constellium’s Automotive Structures and Industry Business.

“When you have an impact you don’t destroy the car, you just change the bumper.”

Constellium cited the example of a contract with a European firm to provide aluminium door sills and crash management systems for electric vehicles, worth 175 million euros (US$206 million), from the second quarter of next year as an example of the changing trend.

CRU analyst James Wren estimates the average amount of aluminium used in electric vehicles is 30% higher than internal combustion engine cars.

“Aluminium battery housing is what many companies want to capitalise on, it’s going to be a big market,” Wren said.

One of these companies is Nemak, which started to produce battery housing five years ago and now counts German and North American auto makers among its customers.

“To-date Nemak has been awarded contracts to produce aluminum structural and e-mobility components worth about $830 million annually – in turn, this segment could represent around 20% of the company’s total revenue by 2023, once this business is ramped up,” said Nemak’s chief executive Armando Tamez.

Many of the companies that make aluminium products for autos still focus on ICE vehicles, but their plant and equipment can easily be reconfigured for electric vehicle components.

“Light weight cast structural components and housings for the electric motor are really interesting growth areas for Linamar as is the battery tray; quite a complex part with very intricate passageways to help cool the battery pack,” said Linamar chief executive Linda Hasenfratz.

Linamar estimates the global market for aluminum products for the auto industry could total more than US$250 billion a year assuming production of 80 million vehicles.

Numbers for how much aluminium metal will be needed overall to feed the electric vehicle industry vary.

Wood Mackenzie’s base case estimate for aluminium demand for electric vehicles is for 2.4 million tonnes in 2025, 3.3% of total primary demand and nearly double the number for this year.

For 2040, its analysts expect demand at 9.4 million tonnes or 12% percent of the total.

“The big game is automotive sheet used for body panels and structures,” said Wood Mackenzie analyst Julian Kettle. “The problem with automotive sheet is it mostly uses primary aluminium as every car manufacturer has his own specification.”


Skoda’s upcoming Kodiaq to get plug-in hybrid tech and safety upgrade

                LONDON: Skoda has stated that its new Kodiaq seven-seater will be available with a plug-in hybrid for the first time while bringing advances in onboard safety and equipment.

The popular SUV, which debuted in 2016, has proven to be a real hit with buyers and over 800,000 examples have been produced since.

Now entering into its second generation, it’s set to be fitted with a new plug-in hybrid setup alongside traditional petrol and diesel engines. A mild-hybrid engine will also be available.

Expected to enter production next year, the new Kodiaq will be built at Skoda’s Kvasiny plant in the Czech Republic, where it will use the same line as the Karoq.

This plant used to produce the Superb, too, but the next generation of this model will be built in Bratislava from early 2024, instead, freeing up additional capacity to build the Kodiaq in Kvasiny.

Skoda has stated that it is investing €12 million (RM59mil) into the production line, which will help it to achieve a target of producing up to 410 Kodiaq models each day.

Michael Oeljeklaus, Skoda Auto board member for production and logistics, said: “The preparations for the production of our upcoming second-generation Kodiaq are already in full swing. As is typical for Škoda, we are once again using existing infrastructure while cleverly integrating new technologies.”

As well as a new range of engines, the Kodiaq will have a ‘new level’ safety, technology and versatility, which Skoda hopes will allow it to eclipse the popularity of its predecessor.

The new generation of Kodiaq is due to be revealed this autumn, with first deliveries expected the following year. — PA Media


Tesla launches wireless smartphone charging pad for the Model 3

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla recently launched its second brand-official wireless smartphone charger that fits snugly into the centre console of the Model 3 sedan.

As first spotted by Electrek, Tesla this week began selling a wireless smartphone charger for the Model 3 sedan, a car accessory that's as chic as it is expensive.

This device is the second wireless phone charger launched by the company after the standard portable charging pad that was originally launched during the first half of 2018.

Like its predecessor, the new version - which fits nicely into the centre console of the Model 3 - charges Qi-enabled phones like the iPhone 8 and newer, the Samsung S9 lineup and newer and the Google Pixel 3 and 3XL.

Unlike the portable version, however, the Model 3 Wireless Phone Charger is large enough to charge two handsets at once no matter the device size. Installation can be done at home.

The charger is available now for US$125 (RM522) with shipping taking between two to three weeks.


McLaren wants new powertrains

                LONDON: McLaren Automotive has announced a strategic project to design and develop technology for the next generation of powertrains.

Working with a number of partners including BMW Group, the project will develop new combustion technology that will deliver a higher output per capacity than currently possible.

It also aims to further facilitate carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions while simultaneously increasing engine output.

The technology is destined for application in future McLaren engines.

The project, supported and part-funded by UK Government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), will also improve the UK’s development and production capabilities of low-CO2 internal combustion engine technology.

The project will be led by McLaren Automotive but involves a total of six partners.

McLaren Automotive will work with its existing engine manufacturing partner, Ricardo, and BMW Group while Grainger and Worrall will deliver complex, lightweight casting technology.

Lentus Composites will contribute knowledge in specialist composite structures.

Completing the syndicate is the University of Bath who bring their advanced research and development capabilities in internal combustion engine systems efficiency.

"We will continue to independently design and build our own engines, and the benefits of this project will help us accelerate the development of our next generation of powertrain, as confirmed in our recently-announced Track22 business plan," said of McLaren Automotive chief executive officer Mike Flewitt.