Toyota works to develop advanced electric-car battery

                TOKYO: Toyota said it aims to develop a more advanced electric-car battery "in a few years" that will allow the Japanese automaker to build vehicles with up to 15 percent greater range and battery life than they have currently.

“Lithium-ion battery is a key technology for electrifying cars, and there is a clear need, going forward, for improving this technology and its performance even more,” Hisao Yamashige, a battery technology researcher at Toyota, told a media briefing here today.

Improving the performance of lithium-ion battery technology is a pressing issue for traditional automakers such as Toyota and new entrants such as Tesla Motors Inc because of its limiting characteristics.

Producers of all-electric battery cars, plug-in electric hybrids, as well as conventional gas-electric hybrids are all striving to source or develop more advanced battery technologies to improve range, battery life and safety.

Toyota, Japan’s biggest automaker by volume, has pioneered gasoline-electric hybrid technology and is gearing up to launch a new, near-all-electric plug-in hybrid called the Prius Prime. It is also aiming to come up with an all-electric battery car by about 2020.

Using techniques developed in collaboration with a Japanese publicly-financed laboratory and four universities in Japan, Toyota engineers were able to better see in "real time" how lithium ions moved inside electrodes, Yamashige said.

This should lead to new designs that prevent lithium ions from moving unevenly and bunching up in the electrodes, something that currently limits battery life and vehicle range and can be a factor in causing overheating, he said.


Latest bonkers Brabus G-wagon comes with matching boat and watch

                BERLIN: Does anyone actually need a beefy off-roader with a matching boat and wristwatch, all finished in a military hue?

No, but here comes the latest Brabus SUV, boat and watch package anyway. The SUV is based on the Mercedes-AMG G63 4×4² which detractors might say is a decadent solution looking for a problem to solve.

Tuner Brabus seems confident of finding customers for it and has slapped a price tag of €855,015 (RM4.3mil) on the SUV - oh yes, if you want the boat and the watch as well that will be a cool €1.7 million (RM8.6mil) please.

To give the G-wagon more urge, Brabus boosts the standard 4.0-litre V8 lump to 800hp and gives it a stump-pulling 1,000Nm of torque.

This allows the brawny off-roader to sprint to 100kph in 4.6 seconds. Owing to the off-road tyres, however, the company has limited top speed to 210kph.

The matching Brabus Shadow 900 Stealth Green Signature Edition sports boat should churn some excitement on the water too.

Powered by two Mercury Marine 450R 4.6-litre V8 engines producing 900 hp, it can manage more than 60 knots (or 111kph). The boat was built in cooperation with the Axopar Shipyard in Finland.

Meanwhile the Panerai Submersible S Brabus Verde Military Edition timepiece has an oversized 47-millimetre case made of a carbon fibre composite that is said to be lighter than titanium. The watch is water-resistant to a depth of 300 metres and limited to 200 pieces.

For years, menacing-looking tuned G-wagons, mostly in black, have been a preferred means of transport for celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger and the late German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.


Michelin unveils four new motorcycle tyres

                KUALA LUMPUR: Michelin has unveiled four new motorcycle Power tyre models, namely the 5, GP, Cup and Slick - priced from RM423 to RM706.

“All four new products are targeted at speed lovers, which serve as a core segment of our two-wheel customers. Looking for a sporty look, tread design, stability, and superior performance at high speed, this target group is sure to be satisfied with the Michelin Power range,” said Ross Shields, Michelin 2-Wheel commercial director for Asia.

“Since Michelin’s return as the official sole tyre supplier for MotoGP in 2016, the company has continued to use the technical advancements developed from fitting the world’s most exclusive and premier motorcycle racing championship, to advance the performance of tyres sold to riders around the world," he added.

The Power 5 and Power GP are road-oriented, using an innovative rubber compound that incorporates silica and carbon black.

The Power 5 was developed for maximum enjoyment in the dry and safety in the wet, with a tread void ratio of 11%. It is proven to deliver the best performance in the wet, compared to its main competitors - according to Michelin’s internal tests.

The Power GP – a 50% road, 50% track tyre – is billed as providing the best performance in both dry and wet conditions, compared to its main competitors.

It features a tread sculpture built for both road and track usage, slick shoulder areas for exceptional grip and stability on track, and a tread void ratio of 6.5%.

Meanwhile, the Power Cup and Power Slick are track oriented.

The Power Cup – a 10% road, 90% track tyre – is the treaded version of the road-legal track tyre.

The Power Slick – a 100% track tyre – is specifically targeted at trackday enthusiasts, offering rapid warm-up times.

Both tyre models are proven to provide the best lap-time and long-run performance - according to internal tests carried out versus main competitors at Cartagena Track, Spain, in June 2019 - offering the fastest lap times both over a single lap and over full race distances.

All four newly launched Power tyre models not only share common technologies from track to road – in terms of ACT+ tyre architecture, 2CT+ dual compound treads, and computer-optimised tread designs; but also feature the unique sidewall branding signature of Michelin’s patented ‘Premium Touch Technology’ that creates an esthetic contrast and shades of black with a velvet effect.

“Each of the newly launched tyres has its own specific performance characteristics through the use of high technology materials and casing design. A unique architecture, as well as a clever balance between flexibility and rigidity, offer high performance regardless of the lean angle taken by the rider and his motorcycle,” added Shields.


Shah Alam City Council begins removing dual language road signs

                SHAH ALAM: The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) has started removing all dual language road signs in the city and replace them with ones featuring one language, which is Bahasa Melayu.

"Immediate action has been taken by our officers to remove dual language road signboards in the city," said an MBSA spokesman in a statement on Tuesday.

Removal of signboards will be done in stages and is scheduled to be completed soon, the statement added.

The move follows after the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah decreed that all road signs in Shah Alam with Chinese characters be removed and replaced with ones featuring only the national language.

The operation to change the road signboards must be completed by Dec 11.

It was reported on Monday (Nov 19) that a photo of a road sign in Pekan Subang with Chinese characters had gone viral on social media, sparking heated comments and debates among many Malaysians.

Most comments on Facebook called for the use of Bahasa Melayu only on all road signs.


Govt to study proposal for Johor’s long-term traffic dispersal system

                PETALING JAYA: The Federal Government will study the Johor state government’s proposal for a long-term traffic dispersal system, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

“The Transport Ministry will look into every aspect including dispersing traffic to the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL), Inner Ring Road, and Jalan Ungku Aziz to integrate with the RTS Link Bukit Chagar station.

“This is vital to reduce congestion along Jalan Tebrau.

“The RTS Link is meant to be a people-mover between Johor and Singapore to serve about 10,000 passengers per hour per direction once it is fully completed fully on Dec 31, 2026,” he said in a Facebook post after visiting the Wadi Hana work site of the Johor Baru - Singapore RTS Link today.

The Transport Minister also announced the restart of the Shuttle Tebrau service operated by KTMB.

“This service was suspended from March 24, 2020, due to Covid-19 and the resulting closure of borders.

“I’m pleased to announce that in the transition phase to endemic and following the reopening of our borders, the Shuttle Tebrau service is finally going to resume.

“Ticket sales will start on June 13 for travel from June 19 to July 18, 2022.

“There are 31 services daily on the JB Sentral - Woodlands - JB Sentral route at 30 minutes intervals.

“From these 31 services, 18 are from JB Sentral to Woodlands and 13 from Woodlands to JB Sentral.

“They can carry a maximum of 320 passengers per trip,” he said, adding that restarting these services mean that some 7,000 people will be served daily on this popular route back and forth from Singapore.


Chris Evans quits ‘Top Gear’ after just one series

                Evans (left) and LeBlanc. - Image from @achrisevans/Twitter

LONDON: British TV and radio star Chris Evans said today he was leaving BBC motoring show "Top Gear" after his first series at the helm ended with audiences at an all-time low.

"Stepping down from Top Gear," he said on Twitter. "Gave it my best shot but sometimes that's not enough. The team are beyond brilliant, I wish them all the best."

Evans and former "Friends" star Matt LeBlanc took over as co-hosts of the global hit show after Jeremy Clarkson was dropped by the BBC because he hit and verbally abused a producer last year.

The first show with the new line-up launched with 4.4 million viewers in May, but the revamped programme received lukewarm reviews from critics and viewers on social media, and viewing numbers dwindled to 1.9 million.

Clarkson and his former Top Gear co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May are making a new motoring-focused show for Amazon.com.


Fewer complaints on car flaws, Honda models dominate 2019 J.D. Power rankings

                SINGAPORE: Vehicle owners in Malaysia are experiencing fewer problems with their new vehicles than in 2018, which is largely attributed to a decline in manufacturing-related issues, according to the J.D. Power 2019 Malaysia Initial Quality Study released today.

Initial quality measures the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the first two to six months of ownership, with a lower count reflecting higher quality.

In this year’s study, the industry average decreases to 85 PP100, from 89 PP100 in 2018. Problems are nearly equally split between design (40 PP100) and manufacturing (44 PP100) categories.

The most cited problems remain top irritants. Among the top five problems, four are similar to the top five in 2018. Excessive wind noise (5.9 PP100) and excessive road noise (2.9 PP100) continue to be the top two most-cited problems. "Built-in Bluetooth mobile phone/device has frequent pairing/connectivity issues” has become the third most reported problem (2.7 PP100), up from fifth last year (2.5 PP100). Radio problems are fourth this year (2.0 PP100).

The study finds that the share of manufacturing-related issues has been on the decline over the past three years to 51% in 2019 from 74% in 2016. The majority of the reduction from last year relates to noise aspects, such as wind noise (-1.7 PP100); abnormal suspension noise (-1.1 PP100); seat noise (-0.9 PP100); abnormal transmission noise (-0.7 PP100); and other interior storage compartments noises (-0.3 PP100).

That said, noise-related issues account for 36% of all manufacturing issues identified by owners this year.

On average, the overall rating on quality and reliability of new vehicle is lower among owners who reported such noise-related manufacturing issues than those who did not (7.3 and 8.2 respectively on a 10-point scale).

“Vehicle owners continue to be sensitive to noise-related problems, which strongly affect their overall perception of the vehicle’s quality,” said E-Ling Cheah, Country Manager for Malaysia at J.D. Power. “Given the heightened customer sensitivity around buzz, squeak, rattle and wind noises, manufacturers need to not only improve their manufacturing processes but also work upstream to review and redefine vehicle design guidelines to avoid such issues surfacing early in the ownership cycle.”

The following are other key findings of the 2019 study:

> Younger car owners cite more problems: Customers who are under 35 years old (57%) indicate more problems than those 35 years or older (91 PP100 vs. 73 PP100, respectively). Younger car owners cite more problems in the features/controls/displays (+4.6 PP100) as well as vehicle interior (+4.5 PP100) categories.

> Quality builds advocacy and loyalty: Among new vehicle owners who did not indicate any problems, 49% said they “definitely will” recommend their brand and model to friends or relatives, compared with 37% for those who had encountered at least one problem with their vehicle. One-third of new vehicle owners who did not experience any problems with their vehicle say they “definitely will” purchase a vehicle from the same brand the next time, compared with 26% of those who experienced at least one problem.

In the study rankings, Honda models were ranked the best among their peers.

> Honda Jazz ranks highest in the city compact segment with 68 PP100.
> Honda City ranks highest in the entry midsize segment with 59 PP100.
> Perodua Aruz ranks highest in the compact SUV segment with 70 PP100.
> Honda CR-V ranks highest in the large SUV segment with 64 PP100.

The J.D. Power 2019 Malaysia Initial Quality Study is based on responses from 1,904 new vehicle owners who bought their vehicles between July 2018 and August 2019. The study includes 50 passenger car, pickup and utility vehicle models of 12 brands. The study was fielded between March and October 2019.

Now in its 17th year, the study serves as the industry benchmark for new vehicle quality by examining problems experienced by new vehicle owners within the first two to six months of ownership in two distinct categories: design-related problems and defects and malfunctions.


At Geely, styling matters

                The upcoming Proton SUV, which is based on the Geely Boyue SUV, will be re-designed for the local market.

What that design entails remain a mystery for now even after speaking to Design Director, Geely Design, China, Guy Burgoyne (pic above), the man responsible for designing the Geely Boyue and is overseeing the current re-design of it for the Malaysian market.

Burgoyne was in Malaysia recently and we caught up with him to see if he would reveal any design cues for the Proton SUV.

What was revealed was the massive undertaking a Geely designer has to go through. It’s not simply the case of one man designing one product from start to end.

For one thing, Geely has, under its umbrella, a range of different car brands which include Volvo, Lynk & Co, Lotus and Proton.

Burgoyne oversees the design of all these products and then some. Geely also has design studios the world over from the United States to various European countries which they tap into.

 The new Boyue.

“We’ve got this amazing global design group now and it keeps growing by the day.

“We have lots of great talent globally. When we have a new project, what we try to do is offer that new product - that theme-ing stage - across as many studios as possible so we get the breadth of ideas and creativity and quickly we will narrow down to some themes.

“You need fresh input all the time. It’s very good and healthy to have a diverse design team.

“If every designer came from the same college, if every designer watched the same TV shows, have the same influences then there is a tendency they might all give you the same answer to a design problem,” said Burgoyne.

Burgoyne, who hails from the UK, has almost 25 years experience as a designer and has worked in the automotive industry for such brands as Volvo, Renault and General Motors. So he is no stranger when it comes to designing a product for a particular market.

“As designers, we are always intrigued by identities and brands.

“Obviously there are some very happy overlaps and synergies between Proton and Geely which I think the two companies can take full advantage of in a good way.

 The Boyue dashboard.

“And we take advantage of becoming right-hand drive, this Boyue (the Proton SUV) for example, we take advantages of elements we could change and elements we want to change.

“This is to ensure that, whilst we still have a globally-designed product, when you get introduced to it from 200 meters away, and either you come to it or it comes to you, and you get that little intimate connection.

“We still think we can deliver some local flavours appropriate for Proton in the same way we deliver some local flavours to the Chinese market with some small details,” he said.

One of the overlaps is the theme behind the Boyue which Burgoyne calls a happy coincidence.

“We talked about the Boyue in the past as the leaping cat. And then we happened to be with a brand (Proton) that has a tiger motif. Amazingly fortuitous coincidences here and we’re happy about that,” said Burgoyne.


Toyota Mirai qualifies as Nascar pace car

                WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Toyota Mirai will be the first hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle to pace a Nascar race.

It will lead the Toyota Owners 400 Nascar Sprint Cup Series  field to the green flag at Richmond on Saturday night.

The Mirai was tested and approved by Nascar to pace the Toyota Owners 400 Nascar Sprint Cup Series race after a test session at the Richmond International Raceway, 155km south of here, on Thursday. In the test session, the Mirai met Nascar’s performance requirements to pace the 644km NSCS race.

There is Toyota precedent bringing hybrid and lternative fuel technology to track. The Camry Hybrid earned praise as the first hybrid vehicle to pace a full Nascar race when the hybrid vehicle was used for the Coca Cola 600 in May 2009.

The Mirai is a four-door, mid-size sedan with performance to pace the 43-car Nascar field at the Richmond race track while using no petrol and emitting nothing only water vapour. The groundbreaking fuel cell electric vehicle is powered by hydrogen, refuels in about five minutes and travels up to 483km on a full tank. It will arrive first to buyers in California later this year.


Powerbank explodes inside car glove compartment

                NIBONG TEBAL: A 72-year-old retired engineer is thankful that he wasn’t in his car when the powerbank he left inside the glove compartment burst into flames.

Recalling the incident last Saturday afternoon, Tan Heng Swee said he parked his Proton Iswara at the Old Frees Association in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah and went for lunch with my wife Alice Tan, 67, at a nearby restaurant.

“About an hour later, the parking attendant rushed in to inform me that smoke was billowing from my car. I quickly grabbed an extinguisher and put out the fire.

“Later, I found out the fire was caused by the powerbank.

“I believe the hot weather had triggered a small explosion. Luckily, nobody was hurt,” he said at his house in Simpang Ampat yesterday.

Tan later posted the incident on his Facebook to warn others of the danger of leaving a powerbank inside a car and it went viral.

“I advise the public not to leave any electrical gadget or powerbank inside their vehicle,” he said.

Tan said the damage to his 15-year-old car had not been ascertained but the repair is expected to take about two weeks.

Last month, the Consumers Association of Penang had highlighted that some powerbanks built with cheap batteries could easily explode or start a fire.

Its president S.M. Mohamed Idris said these types of imported powerbanks were easily available at flea markets, pasar malam and shopping malls.


BMW Malaysia unveils the i3s electric car at RM279K

                SERDANG: BMW Group Malaysia has unveiled the new BMW i3s, its first Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or pure electric vehicle.

The retail price for the i3s is RM278,800 (on the road, without insurance, and with BMW Group Malaysia’s latest 5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty, Free Scheduled Service Programme and BMW Tyre Warranty Programme).

The BMW i3s is Malaysia’s first pure electric vehicle in the premium segment.

It uses a synchronous electric motor with a Single-Speed Automatic Transmission and delivers a maximum output of 184hp and peak torque of 270Nm.

This enables it to sprint to 100kph in just 6.9 seconds and onwards to 160kph.

A lithium-ion high-voltage battery is located low inside the vehicle's floor to gift the i3s a maximum travel range of 260km.

The combined electric power consumption on the NEDC cycle is at 14.3kWh for every 100km.

It sports a bold front bumper with a black U-shaped surround and a high-gloss black accent for its closed kidney grille.

Lateral trim strips on the front apron in the BMW i Blue further emphasises its width.

It has a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell, upholstery in Dark Truffle Leather Vernasca, full LED headlights, a sports suspension with custom-made springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, and 20-inch BMW i light alloy wheels.

Selecting SPORT mode using the Driving Experience Control switch, will result in a more direct accelerator response and tighter steering characteristics.

The i3s also features Dynamic Stability Control and Dynamic Traction Control, Cornering Brake Control, Dynamic Brake Control and the Antilock Braking System with Brake Assist for a safer drive.

Driver assistance systems include a rear-view camera, Park Distance Control for both front and rear, active cruise control with Stop & Go function, Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function and Traffic Jam Assistant.

There are also BMW Navigation System Professional with a 10.25-inch control display, as well as a 5.7-inch TFT instrument display.

The many sustainable materials used to furnish the i3s include recycled plastics, natural fibres and open-pored, unbleached eucalyptus wood.

To reduce its carbon footprint, the i3s uses recycled and renewable resources on over 80% of all visible surfaces within the vehicle.

For fast charging, the 11kW BMW i Wallbox can charge the car in under three hours for a range of 180km.

The i3s and BMW iPerformance vehicles are also supported by the ChargEV platform through BMW Group Malaysia’s partnership with GreenTech Malaysia.

The i3s can be pre-ordered from the authorised BMW i dealership, Auto Bavaria Kuala Lumpur, from now. Alternatively, visit www.bmwbethefirst.com.my to pre-book.

Colour offerings include the edgy non-metallic shades: Fluid Black and Capparis White, as well as the stunning metallic shade of Mineral Grey, of which are complete with a highlight in BMW i Blue.

With the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the i3s can be owned with monthly instalment plans starting from RM 3,188.00 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure).

The complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience includes:

 BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Program
 BMW 2-Year/ 24 Month Tyre Warranty Program for its Run Flat Tyre offering and services
 BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline
 The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App - BMW White Card
 BMW Service Online


Hopium banks on Bridgestone to develop bespoke tyres for hydrogen-powered Machina

                PARIS: French upstart Hopium is working with Bridgestone to develop premium tyres for its high-end sedan,  the Machina.

The goal of the partnership is to design bespoke tyres with low rolling resistance technology, a major factor to enhance the fuel cell vehicle's 1,000km driving range.

The tyres will be created using Bridgestone's proprietary Virtual Tyre Development technology, which is said to offer significant benefits in terms of efficiency and sustainability.

Although the partners did not say when the tyres would be ready, it is expected to be by 2025 when the 500hp Machina would go into production.  Hopium is currently accepting deposits for the first 1,000 cars.

Hopium is founded and led by Olivier Lombard, the youngest winner of the 24 hours of Le Mans.


Harley unveils turnaround plan

                CHICAGO: Harley-Davidson Inc’s shares plunged more than 20% on Tuesday after the motorcycle maker unexpectedly swung to a quarterly loss, overshadowing a new turnaround plan that targets low double-digit earnings growth through 2025.

Since the middle of last year, the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based company has shifted focus back to big bikes, traditional markets like the United States and Europe, and older and wealthier customers.

Harley has trimmed its workforce and global dealer network, eliminated slow-selling models and exited markets where weak sales and profits do not justify investment.

Chief executive Jochen Zeitz, who took charge last year, is focused on enhancing Harley’s brand and has done away with promotional offers, tightened supplies and reduced inventory, enabling dealers to charge the sticker price for the company’s bikes.

This more than halved dealer inventory last year and drove up prices for pre-owned bikes, which used to be a drag on new-bike sales. The leaner inventory as well as a switch in the introduction of new models to January from August, however, took a toll on the bike sales in the quarter through December.

Fourth-quarter revenue dropped 39% versus a year earlier as motorcycle shipments almost halved, leading to a loss of 63 cents per share. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv, on average, expected the company to report a profit of 14 cents a share.

Building desirability

Harley’s shares, which had gained 38% since July when the company shared an earlier plan to reboot its business, fell as much as 22% on Tuesday morning and were still down 18.8% at US$32.62 at midday.

“Many investors had thought the turnaround plan was leading to better profitability faster than the plan the company laid out today,” said Brian Yarbrough, an analyst at EdwardJones.

“While they are shrinking the business currently to drive more sustainable growth longer term, we continue to be concerned about lack of demand for Harley products longer term.”

Retail sales in the United States - the company’s biggest market - fell for the 16th straight quarter, resulting in an 8 percentage-point decline in big-motorcycle market share.

The decline comes at a time when motorcycle sales have gone up on the back of a demand for socially distanced recreational outdoor activity.

Polaris Inc last week said retail sales of its Indian brand of motorcycles in North America were up more than 30% in the December quarter. In contrast, Harley’s sales in the region declined 15.4% year-on-year.

Harley’s new leadership, however, remains steadfast in the strategy of keeping inventories tight as it prefers building desirability of the brand to expanding market share.

“We are going to continue to manage inventory in line with demand,” chief commercial officer Lawrence Hund told investors on an earnings call.

Turnaround plan

As part of the five-year turnaround plan unveiled on Tuesday, the 118-year-old company would lean on combustion motorcycles to increase sales in touring, large cruiser and trike bike segments to achieve revenue growth in the mid-single digits.

The company, which launched its first electric motorcycle in 2019, will create a separate division focused on the development of electric vehicles. It also intends to make forays in premium low displacement bikes via partnerships.

The latest turnaround strategy from the company, which has struggled for years to expand sales beyond baby boomers, comes after a decade-long effort to increase business overseas and draw younger riders with cheaper and newer models.

Overall, Harley would invest between US$190 million and US$250 million a year over the next five years.

It forecast a 5%-7% operating margin, or profit from sales, for 2021 on the back of a 20%-25% growth in motorcycle revenue.


Mercedes-Benz vehicles to get TIDAL music streaming services next year

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz and global music and entertainment platform TIDAL have announced a long-term partnership that will be happening within the next few months.

"Thanks to the cooperation with TIDAL, we are enhancing the Mercedes me lifestyle range with a unique entertainment experience. Our customers can stream music and videos at home or on the go virtually unlimited. We also offer exclusive opportunities to contact artists or experience them live," said Mercedes-Benz Cars vice president marketing Dr Jens Thiemer.

The partnership will see Mercedes-Benz customers that have connected their car to the Mercedes me Portal will be able to access a complimentary one year TIDAL HiFi membership.

This will allow clientele of the brand with the 'three-pointed star' to have access to more than 50 million songs, over 185,000 music videos and hundreds of carefully curated playlists, free of charge for twelve months in their vehicles, on their smartphones or on their music systems at home.

TIDAL also happens to offer a variety of exclusive content in High Fidelity sound quality to its members across 52 countries.

The TIDAL X program connects artists directly with fans via one-of-a-kind live events, meet & greets, ticket giveaways, livestreams and more with artists like JAY-Z, Beyonce, Bon Jovi, Nicki Minaj, Damian Marley, Lil Wayne, Alicia Keys and more.

Furthermore, the two companies are marking the launch of their collaboration with an exclusive concert by a yet-to-be-named artist and will take place during the me Convention at the upcoming Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) on Sept 15.

During the convention, visitors can sign up for a ticket via the event App with additional tickets being raffled over both company's social media sites.

From next year (2018) onwards, all Mercedes me customers will be provided with a free 12‑month subscription in hi-fi streaming quality, after which customers can continue to use the TIDAL subscription to access albums, live streams, and Tidal X concerts for €9.99 (RM50) for premium quality or €19.99 (RM100) for hi-fi quality. There will also be Mercedes-Benz playlists at www.tidal.com.

“TIDAL is honored to partner with the world’s premiere automobile manufacturer. The joint mission of superior quality and excellence is a natural synergy between both brands. Mercedes customers value ingenuity and we’re proud to share TIDAL’s elevated music and entertainment experience with them,” said TIDAL spokesperson Lior Tibon.


McLaren teases new high-performance hybrid - Artura

                LONDON: McLaren Automotive has announced that it will be unveiling its new high-performance hybrid supercar next year by introducing the Artura.

The British supercar maker says that the Artura will mark a new era for the company by building in its expertise garnered from its P1 hybrid hypercar (2012) and latest Speedtail Hyper-GT that boasts of a top speed of 250mph (405kph).

Powering the Artura is said to be an all-new compact twin-turbo V6 petrol engine that combines its efforts with an electric motor. All-electric journeys will be available to help traverse through congested urban jungles.

The nett performance will be similar to that of the company's larger capacity twin-turbo V8 engines, only it will provide better torque response at low engine speeds - thereby improving its accelerative qualities.

The Artura will use a completely new platform that's been optimized for electrification - completely built and manufactured in the UK at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre.

Together with the use of McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), it only means that extensive use of carbon fibre will be expected throughout the chassis, body and powertrain.


BMW to use trim parts made from recycled fishing nets in future cars

                LONDON: BMW models launched from 2025 onwards will incorporate trim parts crafted from recycled fishing nets and ropes.

This new raw material will contain around 30% recycled marine plastics and will then be used to trim areas of both the interior and exterior of the car. As a result, these components bring 25% lower CO2 emissions compared to conventionally-made plastics.

This form of recycling also reduces the need for petroleum-based primary plastics, while at the same time helping to reduce ocean pollution.

To create these new trim pieces, BMW is working in collaboration with Danish firm Plastix. It takes fishing nets and ropes and puts them through a process which turns them into tiny plastic granules.

Though marine plastics have already been used in the automotive industry, up until this point they have only been turned into fibres, whereas this new granule-creating process means that they can be used for injection moulding for the first time.

The raw materials made in this way can consist of around 30% of recycled maritime plastic waste and can be incorporated in a number of ways throughout a car's construction.

Recycled nylon is already being used in some of BMW's models, in areas such as the floor mats on the electric iX and upcoming X1. Called Econyl, it also uses discarded fishing nets but combines this with worn floor coverings and residual waste from plastic production. — PA Media


Petrol prices down, diesel unchanged


Jaguar’s first EV in India to cost double a Tesla

                NEW DELHI: Jaguar Land Rover unveiled its all-electric SUV in India today but its sticker price — twice that of an entry-level Tesla Inc — will put it out of reach of most consumers in the South Asian nation.

The I-Pace’s starting price is 10.6 million rupees (RM603,000), which compares to an estimated cost of around US$68,000 (RM280,000) for a Model 3 after export expenses. That’s going to be a tough sell considering that in India, about 75% of all auto sales occur in the US$10,000 (RM42,000) and under bracket.

Jaguar is hoping to make inroads in a market where the shift to electric vehicles is happening far more slowly than other parts of the world due to a lack of charging infrastructure, high costs of battery powered-models and a reluctance by banks to finance purchases.

By 2040, only about one-third of new passenger cars sold will be battery-powered in India, versus around 70% in China and Germany, according to BloombergNEF.

Jaguar’s I-Pace has failed to dent Tesla’s electric-car dominance in other markets like the United States, with the British brand’s sales running at roughly half of what the carmaker expected.

Still, a growing awareness about pollution, the Indian government’s policy push and more carmakers launching green vehicles will drive demand, Jaguar Land Rover India president Rohit Suri said.

“The Indian market is warming up to the prospects of electric vehicles,” Suri said, adding that EVs have a lower cost of running, are easy to maintain, create less noise pollution and have zero tail-pipe emissions. “EVs are a great alternative to conventional vehicles.”

To charge the I-Pace, customers can either use a home charging cable or a 7.4 kilowatt AC wall-mounted charger, with both provided with the vehicle. Tata Power Co. and Jaguar retailers will install the charger at the customer’s house. Buyers can also access Tata Power’s network of 200 chargers across the country on a use-and-pay basis.

Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors Ltd., also said its retailer network across 19 cities in India is EV-ready.

The group globally plans to introduce six fully electric Land Rover variants in the next five years and by 2030, expects all of its Jaguar models and 60% of Land Rovers sold to be zero-emissions vehicles.

“Given the high appeal and desirability of the Jaguar brand, we are confident that Jaguar I-Pace will be one of best-selling EVs in the country,” Suri said.

Although India cut the goods and services tax on EVs to 5% from 12%, effective August 2019, much lower than the levies of as much as 28% slapped on other motor vehicles, EVs currently account for less than 1% of all car sales in the country.


GM says 2023 car will allow mostly hands-free driving

                DETROIT: General Motors plans to launch in 2023 a premium model that would enable hands-free operation in 95 percent of driving scenarios, the US auto giant announced Wednesday.

The technology, called "Ultra Cruise," is a centrepiece of a newly unveiled plan that the Detroit company says will enable it to double annual revenues by 2030.

"The vehicle has become a software platform," chief executive Mary Barra said at a briefing with reporters ahead of a two-day investor presentation.

Executives said the program would be available on premium vehicles for the 2023 season, which will be introduced in late 2022. They declined to say which vehicle or vehicles would have the function.

Barra said Ultra Cruise would operate effectively in "most" urban and rural scenarios, except for cases such as "very complex" intersections.

"Customers will be able to travel truly hands free with Ultra Cruise across nearly every road including city streets and subdivision streets and paved rural roads in addition to highways," GM said in a statement.

The program has 360-degree perception around the vehicle and employs cameras, radars and sensors to enable a vehicle to follow speed limits, automatically change lanes and avoid close objects.

GM announced the technology in tandem with a series of presentation on its strategy for building up its slate of electric vehicles and developing new businesses through its autonomous and digital investments.

"There are so many growth opportunities we have" said Barra, who also discussed "disrupting" the car insurance business and building up GM Defense, which sells vehicles to government agencies.

The presentation comes on the heels of several earlier announcements by GM of new electric vehicle models and investments.


Intel to buy Israeli technology firm Mobileye for US$15bil

                JERUSALEM: US chipmaker Intel agreed to buy driverless technology firm Mobileye for US$15.3 billion today, positioning itself for a dominant role in the autonomous-driving sector after missing the market for mobile phones.

The US$63.54 per share cash deal is the biggest technology takeover in Israel's history and the largest purchase of a company solely focused on the self-driving sector.

Intel will integrate its automated driving group with Mobileye's operations, with the combined entity being run by Mobileye chairman Amnon Shashua from Israel.

Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich said the acquisition, which unites Intel's processors with Mobileye's computer vision, was akin to merging the "eyes of the autonomous car with the intelligent brain that actually drives the car."

Mobileye accounts for 70 percent of the global market for driver-assistance and anti-collision systems. It employs 660 people and had adjusted net income of US$173.3 million last year.

Intel said it expected the transaction to close within the next nine months.

"It's an area where the company (Intel) has had very little presence - the automotive market, and so this is a tremendous opportunity for them to get into a market that has significant growth opportunities," said Betsy Van Hees, an analyst at Loop Capital Markets who has a "buy" rating on Intel shares.

"Mobileye's technology is very critical ... The price seems fair," she added.

Because Mobileye's Shashua will remain in charge and the combined entity will be based in Israel, analysts said they expected it to be far more difficult for rivals to mount a counter offer for Mobileye.

Shashua and two other senior Mobileye executives stand to do well by the deal: together they own nearly 7 percent of the company. Shmuel Harlap, Israel's biggest car importer and one of Mobileye's earliest investors, also holds a 7 percent stake.

Yossi Vardi, seen as the godfather of Israeli high-tech, said the deal was a big endorsement of the whole sector.

"I'm sure that this ... will be a very important impetus to create a whole industry related to autonomous and connected vehicles (in the country)," he said.

Automakers and their suppliers have been expanding alliances in the race to develop self-driving cars, a sector that once seemed a science-fiction dream but is drawing closer to reality month after month.

Mobileye and Intel are already collaborating with German automaker BMW on a project to put a fleet of around 40 self-driving test vehicles on the road in the second half of this year.

At the same time, Mobileye has teamed up with Intel for its fifth-generation of chips that will be used in fully autonomous vehicles that are scheduled for delivery around 2021.

While Intel is known for hardware chips and Mobileye for collision detection software, their merger promises to create the most complete portfolio of technologies needed for driverless vehicles, including cameras, sensor chips, in-car networking, roadway mapping, machine learning and cloud software, as well as the data-centres needed to manage all the data involved.

Last October, Qualcomm announced a US$47 billion deal to acquire the Netherlands' NXP, the largest automotive chip supplier, putting pressure on other chipmakers seeking to make inroads into the market for autonomous driving components, including Intel, Mobileye and rival NVIDIA.

The Qualcomm-NXP deal, which will create the industry's largest portfolio of sensors, networking and other elements vital to autonomous driving, is expected to close later in 2017, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.

For a dozen years, Mobileye has relied on Franco-Italian chipmaker STMicroelectronics to produce chips that the Israeli company sells to many of the world’s top automakers for its current, third-generation of driver-assistance systems.

Mobileye's relationships with automakers, leading suppliers and STMicroelectronics will continue uninterrupted, the companies said in their statement, and Mobileye's current product roadmap will not be affected.

Founded in 1999, Mobileye made its mission to reduce vehicle injuries and fatalities. After receiving an investment of US$130 million from Goldman Sachs in 2007, it listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014.


Toyota starts production of new Innova in Indonesia

JAKARTA: Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN) celebrated the start of production of the all-new Innova in a line-off ceremony held on Nov 24 at its plant in Karawang.

The new Innova boasts a local content ratio of 85 percent, achieved by steadily increasing involvement by both Toyota Indonesia and local suppliers.

TMMIN's Karawang Plant 1 is the first plant in the world to start production of the Innova.

Sixteen new local suppliers were signed up for production of the new model, increasing the number of TMMIN's first-tier local suppliers to 123 companies. Investment to produce the new model amounted to five trillion Indonesian rupiah (RM311mil).

TMMIN said it is encouraging supplier development, with emphasis on skill transfer, safety, quality and efficiency. These efforts to transfer knowledge and experience to first-tier suppliers are expected to produce positive effects throughout the supply chain.

The Innova's predecessor, the Kijang, was the first Completely Built Up (CBU) vehicle exported by Toyota Indonesia in 1987, starting with an annual volume of 500 units to countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Now, the Innova is a key export product for Toyota Indonesia, reaching an average of 16,000 units exported annually in the past five years to countries in the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America, Middle East, and Caribbean regions.

Last year, exports of Toyota vehicles from Indonesia reached a cumulative 160,000 units, accounting for more than 80% of total vehicle exports from the country. TMMIN has also exported more than 45,000 petrol engines a year over the past five years.

The ceremony was attended by Indonesian Minister of Industry Saleh Husin, West Java governor Ahmad Heryawan, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Executive Vice President Seiichi Sudo, PT. Toyota-Astra Motor (TAM) President Director Hiroyuki Fukui, TMMIN President Director Masahiro Nonami, and TMMIN Vice President Director Warih Andang Tjahjono.

 Toyota's Kerawang plant in Indonesia.


Ford's Lincoln brand debuts new face for its best-selling model

LOS ANGELES: Ford's  Lincoln brand is changing the look of its vehicles, starting with a new face for its best-selling model, the MKZ sedan.

Ford plans to unveil the restyled 2017 Lincoln MKZ at the Los Angeles Auto Show today, showing the first production version of a new grille design. The new Lincoln look debuted on the Continental prototype earlier this year and drew comparisons to British luxury brands such as Jaguar or Bentley.

The 2017 MKZ will get a new 3.0 litre turbo-charged engine Lincoln says will deliver 400hp through an all-wheel drive system. The car’s current six-cylinder engine offers 300hp.

The updated MKZ also gets a new interior look, optional crash avoidance technology and an optional feature that will automatically slow and accelerate the car in stop-and-go traffic.

The MKZ competes with compact luxury sedans such as the General Motors Co Cadillac ATS, BMW  3 Series, Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4 in a price category that extends from roughly US$36,000 to US$50,000.

Watch the video below showing the old face.


New traffic device leaves smartphone-obsessed HK pedestrians red in the face

Pedestrians crossing a road in Hong Kong, China. The new device works in sync with a traffic light and projects a red hue from above when pedestrians need to stop. — Bloomberg
HONG KONG: Pedestrians crossing the road in Hong Kong may now find themselves bathed in a red glow after authorities installed a device reminding the public to obey traffic lights.

Too often, Hong Kongers walk into traffic because they are distracted by their smartphones, Alex Au, chief engineer of the city’s transport department, said on July 7.

“For people looking down at their phones, we have found another way to let them know there is danger,” Au said on a radio programme.

Au added that in the first half of the year, four of the seven fatal incidents occurring on Hong Kong's road crossings were related to pedestrian behaviour.

“Maybe (the device) can help save lives,” Au said.

The new device works in sync with a traffic light and projects a red hue from above when pedestrians need to stop.

It is being tested at four road crossings across the city, and officials will review in six months their effectiveness in curbing inattentive strollers and unrepentant jaywalkers.

Near a busy mall in Causeway Bay, one of the city's most popular shopping districts, the sudden appearance of a red spotlight was greeted with approval – and occasional confusion.

“I personally don’t do this, but I have noticed people ignoring road conditions because they were glued to their phones,” said a researcher surnamed Kwok.

“I think people will notice the colour even if their heads are down.”

But, surrounded by bright signage and billboards, another woman said she had no idea what the glow from above was supposed to mean.

“When I walked over just now, I didn't know what it was doing,” she told AFP.

Others – including the handful of jaywalkers spotted at the scene – may see it in an altogether different light.

“If people really want to ignore (the red light), that’s what they’ll do,” said a clerk surnamed Chung.

“You can't stop them.”

In recent years Hong Kong has recorded around 2,000 to 3,000 pedestrian casualties in traffic accidents per year in a population of 7.4 million.


CIMB launches financial solutions to drive EV adoption

From left: CIMB head of consumer banking Daniel Cheong, singer Datuk Zainal Abidin, and CIMB group consumer and digital banking chief executive officer Effendy Shahul Hamid.
KUALA LUMPUR: CIMB Bank Bhd and CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd have launched a suite of electric vehicle (EV) financial solutions to drive the adoption of EVs in Malaysia.

In a statement, the bank said the set of EV solutions address the needs of consumers across every aspect of owning an EV, including financing, insurance protection and a range of exclusive privileges.

CIMB group consumer and digital banking chief executive officer Effendy Shahul Hamid said: “We are pleased to offer the most comprehensive suite of EV financial solutions in the market today. Through this market leading offering, we are able to deliver greater value by making the customer’s EV ownership journey accessible, convenient and even more rewarding.”

“We will continue to offer innovative sustainable finance solutions that encourage Malaysians to consider a more sustainable lifestyle, as we work together towards achieving the country’s Net Zero ambitions," he added.

During the introductory campaign, which runs until April 30, 2024, customers will enjoy a variety of financing, insurance and other benefits.

These include preferential fixed rates as low as 1.98% per annum on financing for EVs, and up to a 90% margin of financing with a repayment period of up to 9 years. The bank is also providing a "green lane" for expedited approvals within eight hours.

In addition, CIMB and its bancassurance partner, Berjaya Sompo Insurance Bhd have teamed up to offer greater value and first-in-market complimentary EV benefits on motor insurance.

The bank said EV owners will also be entitled to complimentary comprehensive EV pack coverage exclusive to CIMB customers. This includes coverage on EV home wall chargers of up to RM15,000 in the event of incidents such as fire, theft, lightning, explosions and flooding, as well as RM50,000 in personal liability coverage on accidents whilst using electric vehicle chargers. On top of these, the coverage includes unlimited towing to the nearest EV charging station.

For more information about CIMB’s EV financial solutions, visit www.cimb.com.my/ev.


Uber sets safety review; media report says software cited in fatal crash

                SAN FRANCISCO: Uber Technologies Inc said it has retained a former top US transportation official to advise it on safety after a fatal self-driving crash in March, but it declined to comment on a technology website’s report that a software flaw was responsible for the accident.

The Information reported on Monday that Uber has determined the likely cause of the collision in March that killed a pedestrian was a problem with the software that decides how a self-driving car should react to objects it detects. The outlet said the car’s sensors detected a pedestrian but the software decided the car did not need to react right away.

“We can’t comment on the specifics of the incident,” Uber said regarding the report, citing an ongoing investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

In the March 18 accident an Uber self-driving vehicle struck and killed a 49-year-old woman who was walking across a street in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe.

Uber, which suspended testing of autonomous vehicles after the accident, on Monday said it was looking at its self-driving program and said it retained Christopher Hart, a former chairman of the NTSB, to advise it on safety.

“We have initiated a top-to-bottom safety review of our self-driving vehicles program, and we have brought on former NTSB chair Christopher Hart to advise us on our overall safety culture,” Uber said. “Our review is looking at everything from the safety of our system to our training processes for vehicle operators, and we hope to have more to say soon.”

Hart, who was named chairman of the Washington-area Metrorail safety commission in March, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a video of the crash released by police, the Uber vehicle appeared not to brake before it struck the woman. There was a human driver sitting behind the wheel, who in the video appeared to be looking down and not at the road. Just before the video stopped, the driver looked upward towards the road and suddenly looked shocked.

The NTSB is expected to issue a preliminary report on the Arizona Uber crash in the coming weeks, a spokesman said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also investigating the incident and declined to comment.

Bryant Walker Smith, a self-driving car expert and law professor at the University of South Carolina, said in an email that the report by The Information raised the question of whether Uber’s “software might have detected something but misclassified as something other than a human (which could include determining that the probability of that something being a human was low).”

False positives and negatives have long been a challenge for self-driving and semi-autonomous driving systems, he said, but said that detecting a pedestrian crossing a street “doesn’t seem like a edge case” that would have been difficult for a self-driving car to handle.

Uber’s chief executive officer, Dara Khosrowshahi, said in April that Uber still believed in prospects for autonomous transport, saying that “autonomous (vehicles) at maturity will be safer.”

Hart, who was chairman of the NTSB when it opened a probe into a fatal Tesla crash involving a driver using the vehicle’s Autopilot system, in 2016 said that self-driving cars will not be perfect.

“There will be fatal crashes, that’s for sure,” Hart said, but he said that would not derail the move toward driverless cars.


Workers locked in idle Shanghai VW factory get movies, walks

                SHANGHAI: Workers locked in Volkswagen AG’s Shanghai factory are getting movie nights and scheduled exercise to keep them entertained after production was idled by the city’s prolonged lockdown.

While at least several dozen employees initially volunteered to sleep at the plant to keep it running on a so-called closed loop system, those plans were eventually abandoned as the worsening Covid-19 outbreak saw the lockdown extended.

With no way to return home and the supply of required auto parts also disrupted, the workers are still on site.

To keep them occupied, the company has arranged group activities, starting with a walk around the factory at 10am, according to a screenshot of the schedule seen by Bloomberg News.

That’s followed by lunch and rest from 11am to 1pm, movie time and cards in the afternoon, and cardio training at 4pm.

The next two hours are taken up by dinner and showers, followed by movie night. The company has even organised voluntary garbage collecting. All staff are required to take a rapid Covid test each morning.

A spokesman for VW in China didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Automakers have been hard hit by China’s stringent Covid-Zero policy.

Tesla Inc.’s Shanghai factory has been closed since March 28, and VW’s venture with FAW Group in Jilin province remains offline.

The lockdowns are estimated to cost automakers about 20% in lost production, Cui Dongshu, the secretary general of China’s Passenger Car Association, said earlier this week, noting not only manufacturers but also suppliers and dealers have been severely disrupted.

One key automotive parts maker and crucial supplier to VW, Robert Bosch GmbH said Monday it shuttered two of its factories in China and is operating a closed-loop systems at two others where workers live on-site and are tested regularly.

It added it was seeing "temporary effects on logistics and supply chain sourcing.”

Chip giant Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., though having been able to keep plants running under a similar system, is now facing a new headache of securing the trucks it will need to get its chips to clients.


Man killed after drunk driver smashes into car and three bikers

                NILAI: In another accident believed to be caused by a drunk driver, a man was killed today after his car was hit by another car that was driven against traffic.

Nilai OCPD Supt Mohamad Nor Marzukee Besar said Abdul Salam Saad, 34, of Bandar Tun Abdul Razak in Pahang, was killed on the spot due to serious injuries.

In the 3.20am incident, Abdul Salam had apparently just exited the Pajam toll along KM17.5 of the Lekas Highway and was heading towards Seremban.

Supt Mohamad Nor said a preliminary probe showed that the 30-year-old driver of the other car, a Ford Fiesta, had entered the opposite lane and crashed into Abdul Salam's Proton Persona and three other motorcyclists.

READ MORE:
Reckless, drunk drivers may get 20 years behind bars
158 drunk drivers arrested in KL in January

"The driver of the Ford car was coming from Kajang and had apparently driven against traffic to exit at the Pajam toll and crashed into Abdul Salam's car," he said. The three motorcyclists also suffered injuries in the crash.

Supt Mohamad Nor said the Ford driver also suffered injuries and had been admitted to Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital in Seremban.

He said the case was being probed under Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for driving under the influence of alcohol or other substance.


An out-of-this-world BMW Individual M850i

                MUNICH: The stellar one-off version of the luxury sports car BMW Individual M850i Night Sky features controls made from meteoritic material, extra-terrestrial surface patterns, illuminated constellations on the centre console and 3D-printed components.

The illuminated constellations of stars on the centre console and in the surface design of the luxury sports car’s trim finishers, seat backrests, brake discs and exterior add-on parts, draws inspiration from celestial bodies.

The BMW Individual M850i Night Sky will be presented in the run-up to an exceptionally intense meteor shower expected to take place overnight from Jan 3 – 4, 2019.

The meteoritic rock adorns the whole of the centre console’s trim plate, the start/stop button for the V8 engine, the selector lever for the eight-speed Steptronic transmission and the Touch Controller for the iDrive system, creating a visual and tactile effect unparalleled in the automotive sector.

Inlays made from meteorite material have also been incorporated into the door sill finishers, together with an illuminated model badge. All of which ensures the BMW Individual M850i Night Sky embodies luxury and exclusivity at an unprecedented level.


Toyota Altis ups its game

With the arrival of the new Toyota Corolla Altis, the Japanese marque is certainly upping its game in the highly competitive C-segment sedan market.The 11th generation Corolla Altis (the model has been around since 1966!) now boasts a cutting edge exterior design which, quite honestly, makes it one of the most exciting looking Toyotas to hit the road in a long time.Not only does it look sharp and sporty, the new Altis is now longer by 80mm and wider (by 16mm) compared to the previous generation.The wheel-base has also been lengthened by 100mm to 2,700mm for even more room in the cabin.The CBU (completely built-up) model from Thailand comes in three variants: the 2.0V, the 2.0G and the 1.8E.

This review unit is the top-of-the-line 2.0V and looks even sportier as it is fitted with the optional Aerokit which consists of a front and rear bumper spoiler, side skirts and bootlid spoiler.This car has an athletic stance with the lower profile at the front and lines that run high towards the rear.And check out those wheel arches, it is really pronounced here.The curved front fascia (which resembles a crescent moon) features an intergrated grille and headlamp design (notice how the smoked-finish slats continue into the headlamps) which looks cool and is very sleek-looking overall.And the Altis 2.0V does not stinge on equipment either as you get LED projector headlamps with automatic levelling and LED taillights and some very sporty-looking 17-inch alloy wheels.Under the hood you will find a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine with Dual VVT-i (variable valve timing with intelligence) mated to a CVT (continuos variable transmission) with seven-speed sports sequential shift.And this car is no slouch either with 145PS at 6,200rpm and 187Nm of torque at 3,600rpm.Now, if you are still wary of CVT transmissions and the continuous drone that is often associated with it, well, you can put your mind at ease here.

The Altis simulates the gentle shift shock just like you would get from a traditional transmission.Driving the Altis is pretty effortless in the sense that the leather-wrapped steering wheel is light, responsive and sporty too what with the thumb rests at the 10 and 2 o’clock position.The seating position is nice and low for the driver and the car is, literally, fun to drive.The throttle has a progressive feel.The ride is comfortable and the Altis handles well through the corners without much body roll.And if your foot feels a little heavy, just step on it and enjoy the excitement the car brings.Plus, external noise is kept to a minimum, so it’s quiet in the cabin.And when night falls, the cabin is radiated by a warm blue light which is also the same type of blue you will find emanating from the meter panel and climate control panel on the centre dash.I mention this because it does have a calming and pleasing effect.Gone are the wood trims in the interior like the previous Altis.Instead, you’ll find silver coloured accents on the dashboard, doors, centre console and steering wheel.There is even a carbon fibre-like motif (Toyota calls it ‘Cyber-Carbon’) surrounding the 7-inch touchscreen display which houses a 2DIN head unit with CD/DVD Player, MP3, Bluetooth connectivity as well as jacks for AUX, USB and an SD card slot.Other conveniences include keyless entry and push start button, reverse camera, automatic air conditioning, the rear view auto electro chromic mirror which reduces glare.Safety features include dual airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), vehicle stability control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC).All-in-all, the new Corolla Altis, priced around RM136K, offers a complete package (with or without the bodykit) and we like its brand new looks, engaging drive, functionality and versatility (its 470-litre trunk can fit four golf bags).


BMW i chargers installed at Langkawi resort

                KUALA LUMPUR: The mission to install more electric chargers continue.

Two new BMW i Wallbox chargers have popped up at The Datai Langkawi resort

BMW Group Malaysia worked with its dealer, Tian Siang Premium Auto, to install the 11kW AC chargers at the entrance of the Langkawi beach resort, which are limited for use to its guests.

Tian Siang Premium Auto managing director Tan Ka Kin said a total of 12 charging facilities are now available across the northern regions of Malaysia with the latest addition.

The partnership with the dealer and the resort highlights BMW's commitment to providing a premium electric ownership experience to all electric vehicle owners across the country, said BMW Group Malaysia corporate communications chief Sashi Ambi.

To promote electromobility on the island, guests of The Datai Langkawi are also invited to experience the BMW iX through a limited-time test drive opportunity.


Rare Lamborghini Diablo SV goes on sale

                LONDON: A supercar dealership near here is offering a rare Lamborghini Diablo SV for sale.

Super Veloce Racing (SVR), which is the official dealer for the Noble M600 supercar in Britain and Europe, said the unit in its custody is one of the last examples built, and is a 1998 "Ice Blue" one-off.

The concours condition SV had a number of upgrades over the standard model however remained true to the original, keeping to the traditional rear-wheel drive layout with a manual gearbox.

The first Lamborghini road car capable of a top speed of more than 322kph, the Diablo was launched in 1990 to critical acclaim. It followed the brands traditional layout of a rear-mid mounted engine, a 5.7-litre V12 delivering 492hp, and rear-wheel drive. With a production run of 11 years, the model went through a number of iterations, with updates to the engine, chassis and styling during its lifetime.

The SV model was introduced in 1995 and was only the second model in Lamborghini’s history to wear the "Super Veloce" title after the legendary Miura.

The unique colour of SVR’s example is interesting in its own right and is the only Lamborghini in Britain to be finished in this colour. Originally painted yellow, the factory finished this SV with a fine coat of light blue metallic to give a pearlescent finish. This was done especially for this example, which started its career on the Lamborghini stand at the 1999 British Motor Show.

Purchased from the show, the original owner also bought the ownership rights to the colour, thus securing this example’s place in history as truly unique. Complementing the already formidable specification are a select few upgrades, opted for and fitted during production at the factory.

This includes SE side skirts, a carbon fibre gear lever, a performance grade stainless steel exhaust system and a two-tone alcantara interior. The interior was a special order item and included grey, light and dark blue shades of the material covering every aspect of the car’s interior, with the SV logo hand embroidered into the seats, complete with blue contrast stitching.

The two previous owners have kept the car in exceptional condition and it is presented with just 11,170km from new, a fully detailed history file, full Lamborghini service history, both keys and every original accessory in place, including the rare Lamborghini umbrella.

Price is on application. A 1997 SV model is listed at nearly £250,000 (around RM1.4mil).


Lego and Mercedes partner on Technic truck

                STUTTGART: Big kids rejoice one of the most complex commercial vehicles, the Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245, is about to debut in Lego form.

The new 2,793-piece model, suitable for anyone 12 or over, features a full frame and suspension system as well as steering, drive and lift. It also boasts motorised functions and pneumatics and will stand 31cm tall, 54cm long and 14cm wide when completed.

"Whenever we design a new set, our aim is to give Technic builders a stunning model that looks as detailed as its real life version as possible. It should have all the main functionalities you would expect. And we strive to introduce inspiring new ways to build with the Technic elements," said Lego senior marketing manager Niels Henrik Horsted.

The model, which can also be built as a Mercedes-Benz Articulated Construction Truck, will go on sale on Aug 1.


Europe’s Car of the Year 2022 Award nominees all have plugs

                LONDON: All seven shortlisted models vying for the title of Europe’s Car of the Year are battery electrics or plug-in hybrids, a milestone for the continent’s push away from internal combustion engines.

The nominees, shortlisted by motoring journalists from countries across Europe, include two made by Volkswagen AG brands - the Cupra Born and the Skoda Enyaq iV.

The list also includes Ford Motor Co.’s Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Motor Co’s Ioniq 5 and affiliate Kia’s EV6, the Peugeot 308 made by Stellantis NV, and the Renault SA Mégane E-Tech.

 Peugeot 308 cabin.

The title, which has been awarded since 1964, is usually part of the annual Geneva International Motor Show, cancelled for the third consecutive year due to the pandemic.

Electrified vehicles have emerged as a bright spot for the industry as governments roll out generous subsidies and incentives, while carmakers like VW and Stellantis NV spend billions on rolling out a range of plug-in hybrid and battery-powered models.

Analytics firm Jato Dynamics expects electrified cars will outsell diesel vehicles in 2022.

The winner of the contest will be announced on Feb 28.

READ MORE: The other major car awards programme


Tesla readies updated 'secret masterplan'

                SAN FRANCISCO: Electric carmaker Tesla is preparing an updated "secret masterplan," as the company looks to rebound from concerns over two crashes of vehicles using its "autopilot" semi-autonomous driving mode.

Company founder Elon Musk announced on Twitter Sunday that the new roadmap for the California company would be coming this week.

"Working on Top Secret Tesla Masterplan, Part 2. Hoping to publish later this week," he wrote.

This would update the "masterplan" announced by Musk in 2006 when he promised "an electric car without compromises," and a long-term vision of building "affordably priced family cars."

Tesla Motors launched its first electric car in 2008 called the Roadster, which had limited distribution, followed in 2012 by the Model S, which has gained appeal globally among well-heeled buyers willing to pay some US$70,000.

The company has begun plans for its more affordable Model 3, at roughly half the price of the Model S, and has received more than 300,000 pre-orders.

But Tesla's reputation has been hit by a fatal crash involving its self-driving system in Florida, and another crash in Pennsylvania, sparking federal safety investigations.

Tesla has warned drivers that its Autopilot is not fully autonomous and that motorists must still be vigilant when using the system, which can automatically change lanes, manage speed and brake to avoid a collision.

The future of Tesla has become a fresh challenge for Musk, the South African-born entrepreneur who was a co-founder of PayPal and also runs the private space exploration firm SpaceX.

The company is planning to ramp up production of vehicles, with a major element in the plan the creation of a "gigafactory" in Nevada that will produce the special batteries needed for the cars.

Tesla and other automakers has been working on autonomous driving features, seen as one step toward self-driving vehicles with an eye toward improving road safety.


Jaguar Classic reveals E-Type 60 collection

LONDON: Jaguar Classic has unveiled its first matched pair of E-type 60 Collection cars, and revealed full specification details for the 12 restored and uprated 3.8-litre E-types built to celebrate 60 years of the sports car.

The E-type made its world debut in Geneva, Switzerland on March 15, 1961. The public reaction to the lone coupé available for test drives was so strong that Jaguar rushed a second E-type, a roadster, from Coventry to Geneva overnight.

Six decades later, the E-type 60 Collection pays tribute to these two cars: the Opalescent Gunmetal Grey coupé ‘9600 HP’, driven ‘flat out’ by Bob Berry to make the launch itself, and the British Racing Green roadster ’77 RW’, driven by Norman Dewis who was told to "drop everything" to get to Geneva the next day.

The E-type 60 Collection cars, which are sold as a pair (one E-type 60 Edition coupé, one E-type 60 Edition roadster) are finished in exclusive Flat Out Grey and Drop Everything Green paint colours respectively. These colours were inspired by the original 1961 colours and won’t be used on any other Jaguar.

The cars also feature unique E-type 60 design elements developed. They include subtle enhancements for improved usability and driveability including a five-speed manual gearbox and better cooling; plus the Jaguar Classic infotainment system with built-in satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity.

The most distinctive highlight for each of the cars is an engraving by artist and designer King Nerd on the centre console of each car, recalling the drive routes from Coventry to Geneva of those original cars. Each piece of art takes more than 100 hours to create by hand, in consultation with the owner.

The most significant mechanical upgrade is a specially-developed five-speed manual gearbox which features synchromesh on all ratios, helical cut gears and a reinforced cast aluminium casing for enhanced reliability and greater durability as well as closer gear ratios and smoother changes.

The 265bhp 3.8-litre six-cylinder XK engine benefits from a 1961-style alloy radiator, with electric cooling fan and electronic ignition for everyday usability, as well as a polished stainless steel exhaust system. This new exhaust system is similar to the standard mild steel system but produces a slightly deeper tone and offers greater longevity.

Johnny "King Nerd" Dowell has inscribed the stainless steel centre consoles of the 12 cars with a customised etching relevant to each E-type 60 Edition.

Each Smooth Black leather-trimmed coupé features a stylised route map plotting the key locations along the route taken by Bob Berry, with an overhead sketch of the E-type and the words, "I thought you’d never get here", recalling the reaction of Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons to Bob’s arrival just minutes before the unveiling.

For the six Suede Green leather-trimmed roadsters, the engraving tracks the route taken by Dewis on his last-minute drive to Switzerland, with a sketch of the car and another Lyons’ quote – this time his instructions to Norman: "Drop everything and bring the open top E-type over."

In addition to the centre console, the bonnet badge, clock face within the tachometer, fuel cap and chassis plate are all finished with a commemorative E-type 60 logo created by Jaguar Design, featuring the years "1961-2021". A light beech-rimmed steering wheel, as fitted to 1961 cars, features a 24-carat gold horn push.

Every car is supplied with a tailor-made E-type 60 car cover, tool roll and jack storage bags.

In the summer of 2022, the six customers and their guests will take part in the ultimate E-type pilgrimage; a Coventry-to-Geneva drive experience with their cars.


Xiaomi to make EVs using Great Wall's plant, say sources

Lei Jun. — Reuters
HONG KONG/BEIJING: China’s Xiaomi Corp plans to make electric vehicles (EVs) using Great Wall Motor Co Ltd’s factory, said three people with direct knowledge of the matter, making it the latest tech firm to join the smart mobility race.

Xiaomi declined to comment, while Great Wall said in an exchange filing late today it had not discussed such a partnership with Xiaomi.

Xiaomi, one of the world’s biggest smartphone makers, is in talks to use one of Great Wall’s plants in China to make EVs under its own brand, said two of the people, who declined to be identified as the information is not public.

Xiaomi will aim its EVs at the mass market, in line with the broader positioning of its electronics products, the two people said.

Great Wall, which has not before offered manufacturing services to other companies, will provide engineering consultancy to speed up the project, said one of the people.

Both companies plan to announce the partnership as soon as early next week, said another person.

Smarter vehicles

The plan comes as Xiaomi seeks to diversify its revenue streams from the smartphone business which accounts for the bulk of its income but carries razor-thin profit margins.

It flagged on Wednesday rising costs from a global chip shortage and reported quarterly revenue below market estimates.

The move also comes against the backdrop of automakers and tech firms working closer together to develop smarter vehicles with technology such as smart cabins and autonomous driving.

Chinese search engine provider Baidu Inc said in January it plans to make EVs using an auto plant owned by Geely - an automaker with aspirations to offer engineering consultancy and contract manufacturing.

Reuters has also reported Apple Inc and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd’s respective auto ambitions.

Xiaomi’s founder and chief executive, Lei Jun, believes the firm’s expertise in hardware manufacturing will help accelerate the design and production of its EVs, one of the people said.

“Xiaomi wants to find a mature automobile manufacturer to provide model infrastructure, enabling its own advantages in mobile internet technology,” said Alan Kang, senior analyst at LMC Automotive.

“Xiaomi’s advantages in operating systems and home furnishing also bring a lot of imagination for such cooperation in the future.”

Alongside smartphones, Xiaomi makes dozens of internet-connected devices including scooters, air purifiers and rice cookers.

The firm plans to launch its first EV around 2023, one of the people said. It will enable its cars to connect with other devices in its product eco-system, the people said.

Baoding-based Great Wall, China’s biggest pickup truck maker, this year launched a standalone brand for electric and smart vehicles. It is also building an EV factory in China with Germany’s BMW AG.

The automaker sold 1.11 million vehicles last year helped by the popularity of models such as the P-series pickup truck and Ora EVs. It is currently building its first factory in Thailand.


S. Korea launches 'drive-thru' coronavirus testing facilities as demand soars

                SEOUL: From inside his car, a driver is checked for any fever or breathing difficulties by medical staff in protective clothing and goggles who lean in through the window at a new drive-thru coronavirus clinic in South Korea.

He drove off after the brief test showed he was clear.

Others queuing in their vehicles in the city of Goyang were instructed to stop briefly to submit a sample of secretions for closer examination, with the entire procedure taking less than 10 minutes.

“I initially went to a community health centre and had to wait more than one hour, so this is easier and faster,” the first driver told local broadcaster YTN.

None of the drivers nor medical workers gave their names, the stigma of even being tested making people cautious.

A growing number of local governments in South Korea are launching the roadside testing facilities last week, as demand soars for checks and increasing waiting times raise the risk of infection.

South Korea reported 516 new coronavirus cases today as thousands of sick people waited for hospital beds in Daegu, the city at the centre of the worst outbreak outside mainland China.

The new cases bring South Korea’s total to 5,328, with at least 32 deaths, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.

The temporary testing facility in Goyang, about 16km northwest of capital Seoul, was opened last Wednesday at a public parking lot as more than 100 residents seek to get tested every day, the city said in a statement.

Goyang has not been badly hit so far, with just four patients, but sudden and rapid surges in infections in recent days have stoked fears of a nationwide transmission.

Other cities, including Incheon and Sejong, have launched their own drive-thru testing clinics, while others plan to introduce one in the near future.

The facilities can cut testing time by as much as a third, officials said.

“Here we can test many people within a short period of time in a less crowded manner, and there are lower risks of infection because it’s done inside the car,” Kim An-hyun, chief of the Goyang community health centre, told local broadcaster MBC.


Ferrari earns equal salary certification

                MARANELLO: Ferrari has been awarded the Equal Salary Certificate for providing equal pay to men and women with the same qualifications and positions in the company.

The certification was granted by the Swiss-based Equal Salary Foundation and entailed an eight month long study by the international audit firm, PwC, using a methodology recognised by the European Commission.

Ferrari is the first Italian company to receive this certification. The certification process included a detailed statistical analysis of compensation levels which revealed that the Prancing Horse is one of Europe’s companies successfully eliminating the gender pay gap.

In addition, a survey of Ferrari’s management and human resources development policies was carried out. Employees were asked to complete anonymous surveys and participate in one to one interviews and focus groups to discuss their perception of the company’s culture and commitment to inclusion and diversity.

Women play an increasingly prominent role within Ferrari. From 2016 to 2019, its female employees increased from 11.5% to 14% of the 4,285-strong workforce.

Women have gradually taken on more responsibility and positions of increasing importance within the company over this time.


Numerous problems' with Tesla Model 3, say influential US testers

                NEW YORK: Problems with body hardware, paint and trim are among numerous flaws with Tesla's Model 3, according to a major product-testing and review body in the US.

Consumer Reports says it can no longer recommend the newest Tesla due to complaints of owners, citing data on around 470,000 cars.

"Our latest survey data has surfaced numerous problems reported by Model 3 owners," the organisation said online, explaining the removal of its recommendation for the electric sedan.

The decision by the non-profit organisation is based on results of its annual reliability survey.

The Model 3, which costs about US$44,000, is critical for Tesla, which hopes it becomes a mass market vehicle. Its other problems since launching in 2017 include production delays resulting in long wait times for buyers.

Tesla said in a statement that it has corrected many of the problems found in the survey.

"Not only are our cars the safest and best performing vehicles available today, we take feedback from our customers very seriously and quickly implement improvements any time we hear about issues," according to the statement, quoted in US media reports.

The majority of the issues have already been corrected through design and manufacturing improvements, Tesla's statement added.

Despite the difficulties, Consumer Reports said the car has "largely lived up to its promise as a highly competitive sports sedan, earning a respectable road-test score, which puts it not far behind the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series."

Neither of Tesla's other cars, the Model S luxury sedan nor the Model X SUV, is recommended by Consumer Reports.


Proton X70 1.5 TGDI: Frugal run

                In this new age of small displacement turbocharged engines, more carmakers are coming on board and Proton is the latest to follow suit.

Yes, it’s natural to raise one’s eyebrows when looking at the rather dimensionally large Proton X70 and being told it is powered by a 1.5-litre engine.

Prior to including the X70 facelift model in the 1.5-litre turbo direct injection family (which powers the smaller build X50), the X70 has 1.8-litre turbo power and of which the variant is still available for disbelievers.

To dispel this "lack of power" scepticism, Proton organised a media drive from its Centre of Excellence (COE) centre in Subang Jaya to Desaru, Johor.

This 350km plus route took in mostly highways with about 20% B-grade and urban roads for three diversions; to Dataran Bukit Tangga for a scenic drive, Pampas Sky Dining Malacca for lunch and Durian Farmstay in Simpang Renggam for the king of fruits.

Firstly, the X70 1.5 turbo (1.5TGDI) is a lighter sports utility vehicle (SUV) over the 1.8 turbo variant by 60kg.

This is because the 1.5TGDI is a three-cylinder unit while the 1.8-litre version has four cylinders and this means a lighter engine by about 30kg.

Taking away the sunroof reduces the vehicle weight further along with other subtle changes to give the 1.5TGDI-powered variant a lower body mass to get moving.

Secondly, as a turbocharged unit, the 1.5TGDI engine has comparatively good output on tap with 177PS and 255Nm that develops early at 1,500rpm (184PS and 300Nm for the 1.8 turbo.

This engine output goes to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) with manual mode; this is basically the transmission available throughout the X70 model range.

The X70 1.5TGDi Premium 2WD (front-wheel drive) that the media drove to Desaru runs on 19-inch tyres (255/55 R19) similar to that for the 1.8 turbo variant.

Taking off from the COE, the X70 1.5TGDI responded easily to normal accelerator inputs, betraying little of the load from the vehicle’s 1,615kg kerb weight and we had three on board too.

Our drive to Dataran Bukit Tangga was fully enjoyed, including the winding section to the rendezvous point, with brisk uptake of speed when required for some fairly quick overtaking.

It was when we wanted to scoot off quickly from the lights that we were left a little wanting as mild turbo lag was felt before the engine let loose its horses.

Once the X70 1.5TGDI was up to speed, the engine responded well with strong torque readily available across a wide engine range to pick up the pace to pass confidently.

We liked the handling performance of the X70 because it took naturally to the winding B-road sections for a vehicle of its taller stature and size.

Steering feel was good and the seven-speed DCT selected the right gear for us to take the meandering roads pretty quickly.

Of course, we did use the manual mode for a while but without steering wheel paddle shifts, we were more comfortable letting the automatic transmission do all the work.

With the 255/55 R19 tyres, ride was on the firm side and this was felt all round; up front and rear
as we took turns to drive and be passenger along the route.

As a rear passenger, we felt the suspension impacts over bumps, dips and patches on the highway at robust speeds; despite that we still caught 40 winks along the way.

Its good body aerodynamics was another note of enjoyment in the quiet interior that allowed normal conversation among the three of us.

Owing to the robust speeds that we carried on the highway, we were not really surprised to note that the 60-litre fuel tank couldn’t take us over the entire journey.

On the drive to Desaru, we pushed our luck some till we reach the petrol station just before reaching town while we filled up at Alor Gajah on the way back.

If you want to achieve the best mileage of 7.5l/100km, you would have to drive at 100-110kph on the highway with a light and progressive accelerator foot.

Generally, the X70 drives just as good with the 1.5TGDI engine owing to positive notes on its urban and highway drive performance, winding road prowess and quiet interior for long distance travel.


No-holds barred McLaren 720S GT3X track car available to order

                LONDON: McLaren Customer Racing has confirmed that an unrestricted version of its 720S GT3 race car, the 720S GT3X, is available to order through the McLaren Motorsport Retailer Network.

Designed and developed in-house by the motorsport arm of McLaren Automotive, the GT3X is for track use only but is not homologated for any racing class or championship.

Without the need to comply with competition regulations, increased levels of power and performance have allowed McLaren Customer Racing to further exploit the chassis and aerodynamic characteristics of its latest-specification, race-winning 720S GT3 to optimise circuit driving enjoyment.

Pioneering in the field of lightweight and safety in motorsport, McLaren introduced the first all-carbon fibre chassis to Formula 1 in 1981 with the McLaren MP4/1.

Since then, carbon fibre has been at the core of every McLaren and the 720S GT3X features the MonoCage II chassis that provides a strong, light and safe environment for its occupants.

Performance comes from a hand-built 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged engine, optimised to combine features from the 720S road car and the 720S GT3 race car.

Coupled to a six-speed sequential motorsport transmission, a unique version of the M840T engine features a blueprinted cylinder head, strengthened pistons, ‘Diamond Like Carbon’ (DLC) coating and a lightweight performance exhaust system.

The track-focused components and systems deliver the same 720PS (710bhp) as the road car, with a further 30PS (30bhp) boost function available to the driver through a steering wheel-mounted ‘push-to-pass’ button.

The lightweight 720S GT3X tips the scales at just 1,210kg and displays the extreme weight-saving efforts that have been taken into consideration to remove all non-essential or luxury items where possible, leaving the driver with just what they need to extract the best performance. Each of these measures combine to give the 720S GT3X a power-to-weight ratio of 620PS*-per-tonne.

The development programme has seen a focus on pure engineering, innovative aerodynamics and efficient design, with thousands of track kilometres covered across Europe and the Middle East.

Freed from sporting regulations, the 720S GT3X is a performance-optimised version of the already-bespoke GT3 race car, with the bodywork’s flowing lines developed using ‘Computational Fluid Dynamics’ (CFD) and Formula 1 wind tunnel technology.

The aerodynamically sculpted shape is hand-finished in metallic MSO Carbon Black paint. A refined pinstripe in heritage McLaren Orange - a nod to the historic race-winning McLaren Formula 1 cars of the 1960s - accentuates the lower edges of the ground-hugging body shape and the outer rim of the gloss black centre-locking wheel rims, while an ‘X’ graphic stretches across the upper canopy.

The stripped-out cabin features extensive use of lightweight carbon fibre and is designed around outright track performance and functionality.

A carbon fibre and Kevlar FIA-approved race seat hugs the driver, while the pedal box and steering wheel adjust to ensure the perfect driving position.

The ergonomically-designed race steering wheel is fitted with all key functions via intuitive rotary switches and buttons meaning everything is at the driver’s fingertips.

Thrill-seeking friends can also experience the speeds and exhilaration of being on a track as the interior of the 720S GT3X has been designed to accommodate a fully safety-compliant race seat on the passenger side of the cabin, complete with six-point race harness.

Modifications over the race car include a revised design to the roll-cage to accommodate a passenger without compromising on safety and enhanced crash structures around the occupant safety cell.

In addition to delivering a new type of performance on the track, the 720S GT3X delivers a new level of ownership experience.

As part of the purchase and ownership package, McLaren Automotive can provide dedicated technical track support for each owner. This programme is carried out by the customer support engineers from the in-house McLaren Customer Racing division - the team that has designed and developed the model alongside the 720S GT3 global customer race program.

The 720S GT3X is available to order now from the 11 official McLaren Motorsport Retailers worldwide. They are located in Glasgow, Zurich, Frankfurt, Beverly Hills, Houston, Newport Beach, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, Auckland and Melbourne. Each retailer can also offer technical and servicing support for the track-only model.


MINI JCW Pro Edition roars in

                CYBERJAYA: If you have been hankering for the fastest, loudest and the most powerful MINI 5-Door yet, the JCW Pro Edition is it. Only 20 units have been built exclusively for the Malaysian market.

It is priced (on-the-road for personal registration, without insurance) at RM255,888 and is available in only one colour - Midnight Black Metallic.

If you are looking to add some custom touches and upgrades to the base car, there's the optional MINI JCW Pro accessories that will readily separate RM47,000 from your pocket if you were to take them all.

The proportions of the car is accentuated by the aero kit, featuring front splitter, side skirts, rear bumper and rear spoiler. Pay more and you get the exclusive 18” MINI JCW Pro Cross-Spoke light alloy wheels in Jet Black, a colour that is synonymous with the motor racing expertise of John Cooper Works.

Fitted with run-flat technology, the new JCW Pro Edition can keep travelling up to 80km at 80kph even with a puncture.

The car also comes with a one-of-a-kind red and black chequered roof graphics; additional visual enhancements include JCW Pro Wing Mirror Caps and JCW Pro Side Scuttles which matches the side panels.

A JCW Pro Tuning Kit, if optionally fitted, harnesses extra power for more performance. The output is then boosted from 192hp to 211hp. Torque now peaks at 300Nm as compared to the 280Nm of torque produced by the MINI Cooper S 5-Door.

The JCW Pro Valve Silencer with Carbon Tailpipe Trim lets the driver switch between different exhaust notes. The exhaust silencer system comes in two modes – “Sport” for a full sound to accompany everyday driving and “Track” for the adrenaline kick on the race track. The exhaust flap, which unleashes backfire pops and cracking, is operated wirelessly via two clicks of the Bluetooth 4.0 controller.

BMW Group Malaysia managing director and CEO Han Sang Yun said the JCW Pro Edition provides a new dimension to the sophisticated premium compact automotive brand, injecting a boost of adrenalin and sharing the brand’s successful track record in motorsports.


Ducati DesertX arriving soon

                KUALA LUMPUR: Ducati Malaysia has confirmed that the all-new Ducati DesertX will be available locally in the early part of the fourth quarter.

For the first time in Ducati's modern history, it is fitting the dual purpose DesertX with a 21-inch front wheel typically used for off-roading.

The rugged machine is more at home off-roading but is also designed to deliver good performance during street riding.

The DesertX comes with six riding modes of Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet along with two off-roading of Enduro and Rally.

There is a suite of riding assistance such a Engine Brake Control (EBC), Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up and Down, and ABS Cornering.

Powering the machine is a 937cc liquid-cooled, Testastretta 11-degree V-twin engine that is also used in the Monster, Hypermotard and Multistrada V2 models.

Being an off-road bike, the DesertX comes with a long travel suspension system provided by Kayaba.

The front is equipped with a 46mm front fork offering 231.14mm of suspension travel and preload adjustment.

Meanwhile, the rear gets 220.98mm of travel and a preload clicker as well as settings for compression and rebound damping.

This 202kg (dry weight) machine is fitted with M50 Brembo Monoblock four-piston calipers at the front and the rear is a two-piston caliper with ABS.

The ABS comes with three settings and the rider can turn off the ABS at any time.

Aside from a 21-litre tank, the DesertX's five-inch TFT color display comes ready for integration with the Ducati Multimedia System.

The screen is set at an upright position instead of the usual horizontal placement.


Footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović to headline new Volvo V90 campaign

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo Cars is set to launch a new V90 marketing campaign featuring global footballing star Zlatan Ibrahimović.

The new campaign, which will air for the first time on May 30, comes following speculation of further collaboration between the former Paris Saint-Germain F.C. striker and the Swedish premium carmaker.

Volvo Cars and Zlatan have worked together in a 2014 marketing campaign featuring the enigmatic footballer reciting the Swedish national anthem and hunting in remote Swedish forests.

Since its launch earlier in the year the new V90 has received positive reviews from media around the world. Building on Volvo Cars’ long experience in the estate segment, that began over 60 years ago with the Volvo Duett, the new V90 takes the premium estate a step forward in terms of aesthetics, materials and finish, while being big on practicality.