Enjoy CNY savings with Volkswagen

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is celebrating a prosperous Chinese New Year (CNY) with a nationwide open house which will take place on the Feb 8, Saturday from 11.00am till 5.00pm at authorized Volkswagen dealerships in the country.

This year, Volkswagen’s Chinese New Year’s theme focuses on the Chinese character “旺” which translates to “wong”, meaning good luck and prosperity. And “wong” is given in abundance to new and existing owners through great rebates and aftersales offerings, a CNY feast complete with “yee sang” and exciting activities for the whole family.

Models and savings on offer are listed below:
ModelSavings up toMonthlyPoloRM3,000RM735Vento ComfortlineRM7,000RM794Vento HighlineRM3,000RM904Golf R-LineRM2,000RM1,750Tiguan HighlineRM2,000RM1,675Beetle SportRM5,000RM1,505Note: Savings applicable to all model variants. Monthly calculation based on 9-year loan tenure with 10% down payment and based on 2.5% interest rate. Subject to terms & conditions while stocks last.

A highlight at the event will be the newly launched Passat 2.0TSI Elegance. Featuring a redesign of the exterior and interior, improved connectivity and updated lighting signatures, the new Passat Elegance is priced at RM187,990, and for a limited time only is offered with free 1-year insurance.

Customers considering a Tiguan variant (Highline, JOIN and Sound & Style) will enjoy additional “wong” as it now comes with additional 1-year free insurance and 1-year free petrol rebate.

Volkswagen owners celebrating at the open house are invited to book a slot for complimentary 20-point inspection or to enjoy up to 20% discount on batteries and tyres.

Those with free maintenance vouchers who spend a minimum of RM388 will receive a free fluid top-up consisting of coolant, windscreen cleaner and engine oil, while those without a voucher will only need to spend a minimum amount of RM488 to take advantage of the offer.

VPCM customers are entitled to the same benefits as above with only a minimum spend of RM288, all subject to terms and conditions.


EV adoption in Malaysia set to hit new high

                PETALING JAYA: Battery electric vehicle (BEV) adoption in Malaysia is likely to pick up pace this year and may even exceed Fitch Solutions’ forecast of a 45.6% jump in sales to 4,449 units in 2023, thanks to more government incentives and accessibly priced new models.

On Friday, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said more EV-related incentives are in store in the revised Budget 2023 (to be tabled on Feb 24), and the country aims to install 10,000 EV charging points by 2025.

As seen in Japan and the European Union, government rollout of financial incentives such as purchase subsidies and tax sweeteners are critical for pushing BEV adoption.

In Malaysia, there are import and excise duty exemptions for BEVs.

The exemptions will last until Dec 31, 2025 for locally assembled models, but only until the end of 2023 for completely-built-up (CBU) vehicles.

In Budget 2023, there was a proposal to extend the exemptions for CBU units by another year.

Malaysia Automotive Association president Datuk Aishah Ahmad had said previously that the association hopes EV-related incentives can be given for up to 10 years.

A recent StarBizWeek report had noted that neighbouring countries have more robust EV policies.

Thailand has a policy to move 30% of total automotive production to EVs by 2030, while the Indonesian government has set a goal for EVs to make up 20% of all domestic cars manufactured by 2025.

Singapore is even more aggressive, targeting to cease new diesel car registrations from 2025 and requiring all new car and taxi registrations to be of cleaner-energy models from 2030.

Currently, BEV ownership is rather low, according to Road Transport Department director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim, who said in December that about 10,000 BEVs have been registered in Malaysia.

High prices is another issue for BEV adoption, and premium and luxury marques dominated offerings of such cars before the recent arrival of China-made models.

However, judging from the enthusiastic response in December to the launch of Shenzhen-based BYD’s first BEV in Malaysia – the Atto 3 – car buyers here are eagerly awaiting more accessibly priced and packaged BEVs.

BYD distributor Sime Darby Motors said the Atto 3 had garnered 1,000 bookings in the first two weeks.

The Atto 3 sport-utility vehicle is priced from RM149,800 (standard range – up to 410km on a full charge) and RM167,800 (extended range – up to 480km).

Meanwhile, distributor Great Wall Motor Malaysia said in November that over 100 bookings were received for the Ora Good Cat, priced at RM140,500 (Pro variant – up to 400km) and RM170,500 (Ultra variant – up to 500km).

The fourth quarter of 2023 may see the arrival of BYD’s B-segment all-electric Dolphin compact five-door hatchback, with recently announced 2023 prices in China ranging from 116,800 yuan (RM75,000) to 136,800 yuan (RM87,800).

The Dolphin (up to 401km on a full charge) could see strong demand here if it is priced below RM100,000.


China lagging in EV parts competitiveness, think tank warns

                NANJING: China’s carmakers risk falling behind global rivals because the country trails in the production of advanced components like chips and software that are crucial for modern vehicles, a prominent industry adviser warned.

The government should form a comprehensive component strategy and build a platform that connects automakers with suppliers, helping local developers of advanced parts, Zhang Yongwei, vice president of China EV 100, a high-profile electric-vehicle industry think tank, said Thursday at a forum here.

China is pushing for greater self-reliance amid tensions with trade partners including the US. As the auto industry moves towards electrified and self-driving vehicles in a once-in-a-century shift, suppliers of software and semiconductors are gaining in importance.

"The supply-chain problem has to be solved,” Zhang said at the industry gathering. An automobile powerhouse must have a strong supply chain of its own, he said.

READ MORE: Learning from Elon Musk

China has been the world’s biggest vehicle market and producer for a decade, claiming about a third of the global total. But in semiconductors, China has only one company in the top 20, Zhang said.

Less than 5% of automotive chips are made in the country and for some key components, carmakers rely 90% on imports, he said.

Meanwhile, semiconductor-based components are set to account for more than 50% of a car’s manufacturing cost by 2030, up from about 35% now, according to a report by China EV 100 and Roland Berger.

During an inspection tour to carmaker China FAW Group Corp. in July, President Xi Jinping stressed the need to reinforce research and development of core technologies and key parts to promote China’s auto industry and make domestic brands stronger.


Motorist fined for trying to pass his car off as a Porsche

The car inspected by the police in Hunan. Photo: Youth.cn.
BEIJING: A motorist has been fined in central China after he tried to pass off his Chinese-made car as a luxury Porsche, a news website reported.

The man was stopped at a routine spot check in Liuyang in Hunan province on Tuesday, Thepaper.cn reported.

His car was plastered with Porsche badges and emblems, but police found it was in fact a Chinese Zotye SR9 model, according to the article.

The driver, whose full name was not given, was fined 500 yuan (RM320) for modifying the car so that it did not match its registration details.

The report said an SR9 costs about 100,000 yuan in China, while a Porsche Macan starts selling for over five times that amount.

The motorist was quoted as saying that he bought the badges and stickers to make his car look like a Porsche for about 200 yuan.

A German car website reported two years ago that Porsche was considering suing Zoyte because another of its vehicles the T700 looked similar to the German manufacturer’s Macan model.

Jaguar Land Rover is suing another Chinese carmaker Jiangling Motors after alleging that it copied its Rover Evoque model, the Reuters news agency reported last year, citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter. — South China Morning Post


BMW X4 driven

When the 4 Series showed up three years ago, I had a feeling another “4” would pop up in the X line-up, more so with the likes of the Range Rover Evoque and Porsche Macan prodding BMW to react. It did. And the X4 started rolling out in 2014, making it only the second BMW coupe-styled SUV after the X6. BMW prefers you call them “sports activity coupes”.

Strange as they are, people are getting used to their hybrid shape and they are here to stay. Even Mercedes-Benz wants a share, and is now testing an X4 fighter called GLC Coupe, a fastback version of the model that arrived locally earlier this month.

READ ALSO: 5 highlights of BMW X4

Like the X6, the X4 hails all the way from BMW’s US plant in South Carolina and comes in as a RM435,800 all-wheel drive turbocharged 2.0-litre vehicle in xLine trim or optional M Sport get-up that’s RM30K extra.

In other markets, diesel variants are sold and there are 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre X4s and a 3.0-litre M40i that made its world premiere at the 2016 Detroit auto show.

While the X6 was designed as a big elevated coupe, it looks decidedly better than the shorter wheelbase X4.

There are those who don’t take a shine to the X6 nor the X4, which looks like a smaller X6 but is really based on the X3.

Despite misgivings by some about the X4’s place in the world, BMW is reporting hearty sales globally to keep it going. Over 55,000 were sold last year, a doubling over the year before. That’s fantastic, right? But the X4 remains a rarity on Malaysian roads even after over a year has passed. So draw your own conclusion.

While the X3 was a proper SUV, with a shape that is easily acceptable to everyone, the X4 is an oddity as it tries to combine SUV and coupe styling in a 4.7-metre long body– with mixed results. It’s a good 23cm shorter than the X6 and doesn’t look as sleek as the latter.  I can’t say I fancy it but I can appreciate those who will buy it for its distinctive compact shape and jacked-up advantage.

Compared to the X3, the X4 is heavier, longer and sits lower to the ground but retains the same wheelbase.
Sharing the same headlamps and bonnet as the X3, the X4 stakes its key claim to differentiation through an arcing roofline that sweeps backwards and ends in a stubby rear with redesigned tail lamps.

Muscular curves on the sides and bulging wheel arches strive to show this is a sporty vehicle with all-wheel drive to beef up traction on and off-road.

The back end, however, only succeeds in looking busy with numerous horizontal creases and elements seeping into the tail lamps that attempt to make it appear wide, you know, like a real coupe.

The test unit in xLine trim conveys modern elegance featuring an equipment list that includes underbody protection with an off-road look, light alloy wheels in a two-colour design and leather upholstery with “X” stamping on the headrests.

The X4 cabin feels premium and retains the clean dash seen in the X3. Visibility is reduced to some extent because of the sloping roof, compensated by the fitment of a rear-view camera. Legroom all around is plentiful but headroom is merely adequate for rear row passengers for obvious reason. Seats are comfortable and supportive for four passengers. But the mid-person in the rear will start whining if travel time is longer than it takes to bake bread, as he sits higher up and have a tunnel on the floor to contend with.

The X4 owner accepts that boot space will be sacrificed for style but at 500 litres, it’s still a decent volume to shove luggage or groceries in, enlarged nearly three times with foldable rear seats. Contactless opening of the tailgate is useful when you have your hands full; just practise “kicking” under the rear of the car a few times to ensure you got it down pat.

While the X4 is less practical than an X3, it rewards with a sportier drive than its less flashy sibling. The X4 xDrive28i uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder lump that’s good for 245hp and 350Nm of torque from a lowly 1,250rpm, enabling the 1,845kg car to catapult from 0 to 100kph in 6.4s, topping out at 232kph.

It’s a strong, smooth and well-matched engine for the X4, delivering the quickness required. No complaints on the paddle-shifted eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox either as it relays up to 100 per cent of torque to either axle in the blink of an eye.

It’s no surprise the X4 is often compared to the X3 since both offer a similar level of tranquil ride at highway speeds as underscored by a trip from Petaling Jaya to Ipoh and back. Toss the X4 into corners and this high rider emulates a low-riding coupe with minimal roll. It handles better than the X3, with a sharp steering that makes for easy directional changes as it gets predictively heavier with tighter corners encountered.

Staying true to its BMW lineage, it packs a raft of convenience, comfort and safety technologies that’s expected of the luxury marque.

The X4 is a case of “different strokes for different folks”. If you are practical-minded and looking across segments, the X3 would be the no-brainer choice. And the lower sticker price is darn persuasive.

The X4 is really for those who want to stand out from the crowd and who don’t mind losing some space to look different, while enjoying a sportier experience.


Mercedes-EQS begins selling in Germany

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz has begun selling the all-electric EQS in Germany.

Two variants are offered: the rear-wheel drive EQS 450+ at €106,374.10 and EQS 580 4MATIC at €135,529.10.

First deliveries in Germany are expected to start in September; US customers will get theirs in Q4.

Metallic paint and leather upholstery are standard in Germany.

The EQS is the first model to be based on the modular architecture for luxury and executive-class electric vehicles. The EQS combines technology, design, functionality and connectivity in a new way. It is also the first Mercedes-Benz to offer the option of activating completely new vehicle functions via over-the-air updates (OTA) in many areas.

The range of OTA functions is being successively expanded. This means that following the purchase and initial new-car configuration, some of the features of the EQS can be adapted according to personal preferences. This also includes enabling the rear axle steering with a ten-degree steering angle. In addition to the conventional purchasing of individual functions, customers can also take out subscriptions. Temporary activations and free trial periods are also planned.

After the purchase in the Mercedes me Store, the new OTA function is enabled in the background. A corresponding notification appears in the central display. The communication module installed in the vehicle transmits the data by radio.

For a limited period, the new EQS is also offered as the Edition 1 (additional charge: from €18,433.10): on the outside, the AMG Line and 21-inch wheels add a sporty touch to the vehicle. Interior highlights include a colour scheme only available for the Edition 1 and premium comfort features.

Exterior features of the Edition 1:

> AMG Line exterior
> Metallic paint obsidian black
> Panoramic sliding sunroof
> 3 cm (21-inch) AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels
> "Edition 1" badge in the window triangles in front of the outside mirrors

Interior features of the Edition 1:

> designo nappa leather upholstery in neva grey / reflex blue
> Luxury seats including 4-way lumbar support and contour lighting
> Multicontour seats for driver and front passenger
> Upper instrument panel and beltlines in nappa-look reflex blue
> Trim elements in open-pore ship's deck walnut wood
> Designer seat belt buckles front and rear
> Floor mats with "Edition 1" lettering and piping in reflex blue
> Door sill panels with illuminated "Edition 1" lettering in white


Fiat Chrysler US to recall vehicles to prevent hacking

                DETROIT/SAN FRANCISCO: Fiat Chrysler will recall 1.4 million vehicles in the United States to install software to prevent hackers from gaining remote control of the engine, steering and other systems in what federal officials said was the first such action of its kind.

The announcement on Friday by FCA US LLC, formerly Chrysler Group LLC, was made days after reports that cybersecurity researchers used a wireless connection to turn off a Jeep Cherokee's engine as it drove, increasing concerns about the safety of Internet-enabled vehicles.

The researchers used Fiat Chrysler's telematics system to break into a volunteer's Cherokee being driven on the highway and issue commands to the engine, steering and brakes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday it would investigate whether FCA's solution to upgrade software was enough to protect consumers from hackers, although FCA said in its recall announcement that it was unaware of any injuries.

A spokesman for NHTSA said that it was the first recall of vehicles because of concerns about cybersecurity, and experts said they hoped it would send a shock through the auto industry and beyond it.

The risks of increasing connectivity to physical devices extend far beyond cars and into hospitals and chemical plants and factories, they said.

"It's a huge problem, and it's an architectural problem with this Internet-of-Things concept," said Nicholas Weaver, a security researcher at the nonprofit International Computer Science Institute in Berkeley, California.

He said that at present there is a divide in terms of design, in that cars and other products could be accessible from a variety of sources, such as smartphones, as with the Cherokee, or else can be designed to communicate only with a single authenticated server.

Products designed to be accessible by a range of means including smartphones leave a large "attack surface" that is easier to penetrate. But products that communicate only with a single authenticated server allow the company that owns the server to compile a raft of information about the user, increasing privacy concerns, Weaver said.

Ed Skoudis, an expert in securing connected devices, said the fact that the recall came so soon after publication of the FCA cybersecurity issue "is a shot across the bow of other IoT manufacturers that this could cost them a lot of money."

Skoudis said he hoped companies would reconsider what they spend on security earlier in the design process in order to avoid similar recalls, lawsuits and the threat of increased regulation.

Automakers have until now sought to play down the threat that hackers could gain control of a vehicle using a wireless connection. While hackers had previously demonstrated the ability to tamper with onboard systems using a physical connection to the car's diagnostic system, the researchers were able to control the Jeep Cherokee remotely.

The NHTSA and members of Congress have expressed concern about the security of Internet-connected vehicle control systems.

Two Democratic Senators introduced a bill on Tuesday that would direct the NHTSA to develop standards for isolating critical software and detect hacking as it occurs.

"We have said that cars today are essentially computers on wheels, and the last thing drivers should have to worry about is some hacker along for the ride," Fred Upton, the Republican chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the committee's ranking Democrat, Frank Pallone Jr of New Jersey, said in a statement on Friday.

Some carmarkers, including BMW and Tesla Motors Inc, can update car software over the air, as Apple Inc does with its phones. But others do not, and the Senate bill would not require that.

The recalled vehicles include some of the top-selling FCA products including the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Cherokee SUVs from model years 2014 and 2015 and 2015 Dodge Challenger sports coupes, among others.

FCA said it would mail a memory stick to affected customers to upgrade vehicle software and add security. A spokesman for FCA said the USB sticks would be mailed to customers "as soon as possible."

The company also said it had already deployed a fix with its telecommunications provider to block remote access of the kind the researchers used.

FCA declined to comment beyond the statement it issued on the recall. The company did not respond to queries on whether the USB devices to be mailed to customers are on hand or have to be manufactured.

An NHTSA official said the investigation would also look at "how quickly they (FCA) are able to complete the recall."


Toyota and NTT team up to build smart city platforms

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp have agreed to work together on developing smart cities and will invest 200 billion yen (RM8bil) in each other to cement the relationship, the two companies said today.

The two companies will develop a data platform which will compile and analyse information from homes, vehicles, and public institutions, which will be used to create new services focusing on transportation, health, and energy usage.

Under the agreement, Toyota will take a 2.07% stake in Japan’s biggest telecoms company, while NTT will take a 0.9% stake in the automaker.

The platform will be rolled out at the prototype, zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered city near Mt. Fuji in Japan which Toyota is developing to incorporate smart homes, robotics as well as autonomous driving and AI technologies.

After decades spent focusing on making and selling cars, Toyota is increasingly turning to partners in the technology sector to help develop expensive new vehicle technologies as it tries to transform itself into a mobility services company.

“It is necessary not only for each company to engage in its own projects but also for both companies to work closely in jointly building and operating the ‘Smart City Platform’,” the companies said in a statement.

A growing number of global tech giants including China’s Tencent Holdings, Alphabet, Samsung Electronics, and Panasonic, are looking at developing hi-tech, connected cities, although many remain in the early planning stages.

The partnership between Toyota and NTT will build on an existing collaboration under which the companies are jointly developing technology for connected cars.

Toyota has also tied up with other domestic telecoms firms to come up with new technologies, including its partnership with SoftBank Corp to design and market an on-demand, self-driving service platform which will be used in Toyota’s prototype city.

NTT sees smart city-related solutions as a growth area as phone usage plateaus at home. It has partnered with the city of Las Vegas to use its data systems technology to analyse real-time car traffic and crowd density data to enhance public security.

Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki, Naomi Tajitsu and Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Edwina Gibbs and Stephen Coates


Honda City now also available in red

                PETALING JAYA:  What can you say about a car colour? A lot, apparently. The colour of a car is one of the key factors in a buying decision and Honda Malaysia doesn't want to miss out on it, which is why it is now offering the City in a new colour called Dark Ruby Red Pearl.

Honda said its market study showed that many of its customers find the City goes well with red. The Dark Ruby Red Pearl colour is expected to further raise the popularity of the model among young executives, it said in a statement.

Honda said the new colour, coupled with the City's overall package, is expected to cement its position as the B-segment leader and top choice among Malaysians.

Since its launch in March last year, 55,587 units of the fourth-generation City has been sold as of Aug 17. The City contributed 41% of the Honda Malaysia's total sales in the first half of 2015 securing the top position in its segment. There are now more than 200,000 units of City on Malaysian roads.

Equipped with a 1.5L SOHC i-VTEC engine and coupled with an advanced Continuous Variable Transmission, the City aims for driving performance and fuel economy.

The City also comes with class-leading features including eight cup holders and smart storage compartments to further provide convenience for both drivers and passengers, a 7-inch Display Audio with MirrorLink function (V variant), Smart Entry and Push Start button (E and V variant) and Rear Ventilation Air-Conditioning (E and V variant). The boot space of the City at 536L is the largest in its class.

The City was awarded a 5-Star rating and named the Overall Winner for Adult Occupant Protection in the Asean NCAP Grand Prix last year.

If you don't like red, the City is also sold in Taffeta White, Modern Steel Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl.

Honda Malaysia is targeting to sell 300 units monthly of the City in the new colour.

Okay, enough of appearances. Read our latest reviews of the City (in non-red, of course).

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2016 Geneva Motor Show: Mazda3 and RX-Vision

                GENEVA: Riding an extended wave of success into 2016, Mazda has brought two special highlights to Geneva – the Mazda RX-Vision, an award-winning rotary sports car concept, and the lowest-emission Mazda3 yet to be offered in Europe – alongside its complete European model line-up.

 Mazda RX-Vision.

The carmaker has  added its most frugal engine – the Skyactiv-D 1.5 – to the powertrain line-up of its stunning Mazda3 compact.

Featuring extreme compression like all Skyactiv engines, the 105PS clean diesel puts out 270Nm of maximum torque with combined cycle fuel consumption of only 3.8l/100km and CO2 emissions under 100g/km.

New on the Skyactiv-D 1.5, which is currently offered with the Mazda CX-3 and Mazda2, is a “Natural Sound Smoother” that further subdues diesel knocking by absorbing vibrations at the pistons. Already available in right-hand drive markets, this new Mazda3 version is slated to go on sale in the rest of Europe in spring.

 Mazda RX-Vision.

Brimming with pure sports car style, the RX-VISION concept making its European debut in Geneva is the brand’s latest visualisation of an exhilarating driving machine.

Featuring a unique interpretation of Mazda’s Kodo design philosophy, which aims to capture the very soul of motion even when the vehicle is stationary, the RX-Vision’s ground-hugging shape is only possible because of the compact nature of its Skyactiv-R rotary engine.

Named Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year in January at the Festival Automobile International in Paris, the RX-Vision demonstrates Mazda’s commitment to lightweight rear-wheel drive sports car perfection as well as rotary power.

The RX-Vision concept made its debut at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show.

 Mazda RX-Vision.


Honda Malaysia confirms 2005 City involved in fatal accident had ruptured airbag inflator

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has confirmed that an accident which led to the death of a woman driver involved a ruptured driver’s airbag inflator made by Takata.

"No official cause of death has yet been determined," said Honda in a statement. "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family of the driver during this difficult time."

Honda issued the confirmation following an inspection of the 2005 Honda City with local police.

The company said the accident vehicle was one of the units recalled on May 21 last year but the owner did not send the car in for inspection despite three mailed recall notices.

Honda said it was working with representative of the driver’s family to resolve their remaining concerns

Earlier, Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Zani Che Din said Norazlin Haron, 44, was driving from Sri Gombak to Kota Damansara together with her two sons, aged nine and 12, and 22-year-old niece on Sunday noon when her Honda City bumped into the right side of a Mercedes at a junction in Kota Damansara.

The driver’s airbag inflator was found to be ruptured and Norazlin suffered injuries to her chest. She died at the scene.

Earlier this month, Honda Malaysia issued a recall for 147,894 vehicles manufactured from 2003 to 2011 to replace the front passenger airbag inflator. The car in which Norazlin died in was recalled for checks on both the driver and passenger-side airbags.

Honda Malaysia reminded owners of Honda vehicles affected by the Takata airbag inflator product recall to get their vehicles repaired at authorised dealers as soon as possible. Vehicle owners can check their vehicles’ product recall status at www.honda.com.my or call its toll free number at 1-800-88-2020 or visit any Honda authorised dealers.


Ford cable can recharge an electric car in just five minutes

                DETROIT: Researchers from Ford and Purdue University have developed a patent-pending charging cable for electric cars.

The idea is to facilitate the switch to electric vehicles by making it possible to recharge them in almost the time it takes to fill a tank with gas, and it's all thanks to a revolutionary cooling process.

The goal of this research is to make electric vehicle charging much faster. From 30 minutes on an ultra-fast charging station to a whole night on a domestic socket, it takes time to fully charge an electric car.

But what if one day - in a few years' time - it could take as little as five minutes? This time saving could encourage more motorists to switch to all-electric vehicles.

In order to charge faster, more current has to flow through the charging cable, but this, unfortunately, comes with a risk of overheating.

Indeed, this excess heat must be removed in order to keep the cable operational.

That's why researchers at Purdue University, Indiana, have developed an alternative cooling method for this new type of charging cable.

The cable uses a liquid as an active coolant, which helps extract heat from the cable by changing phase from liquid to vapour. As a result, any overheating is eliminated and the electrical current can flow faster and more safely.

Once patented, the next step for Ford will be to test a prototype of this cable to determine specific charging speeds for different vehicle models.

Although it will certainly not be marketed for several years, this new kind of cable could play a significant role in simplifying electric charging.


Top picks from luxury carmakers 2015 holiday collections

                LONDON: From Bentley, BMW, Jaguar and Porsche, what the premium motoring marques are offering as holiday gifts for the car-obsessed.

Bentley
Alongside a new SUV, Bentley unveiled some 300 new gift items to add to its already extensive Bentley Collection at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. And just in time for the holiday season, the company has produced a list of the 10 items that it thinks will be the biggest hit with "brand connoisseurs and luxury motoring enthusiasts."

Among its recommendations are a set of cufflinks in the same shape as the gearshifter in its new flagship Bentayga SUV, a cashmere blanket perfect for taking to outdoor equestrian events, and a set of his and hers matching scarves featuring the iconic Birkin Spot. One of the original gentleman racing Bentley boys, Tim Birkin's cars featured the iconic spot livery and it has become historically significant with racing and refinement.

PorschePorsche has for many years been established as a design house as well as a maker of superlative sportscars and the company's emblem is on everything from outerwear to special edition BlackBerry smartphones. For this holiday season, the company is offering everything from all-day track experiences at Silverstone race circuit to wine coolers built to resemble the air cooled engines that powered the classic 911s of the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

Other new additions to the collection include a range of Porsche design Swiss watches, a selection of teddy bears dressed in authentic Porsche racing suits and a set of more practical accessories including iPad cases, a computer mouse and scale models of the Porsche 911.

BMWBMW 's Motorsports arm has its own festive selection and this year it is 100 percent sartorially focused. It consists of new bags, shirts, waterproof and leather racing jackets plus a range or watches and sunglasses for him and her that offer in the company's words, the right blend of elegance and sportiness.

Jaguar Land Rover
Like BMW, Jaguar Land Rover 's latest collection is meant to be a reflection of its brand and its heritage. Therefore Jaguar is offering a set of very retro, late 1950s-style leather jackets and matching sports bags for boys and men, inspired by the XXSS racing car.

Meanwhile, as one would expect, practicality is to the fore with the latest Land Rover offerings which include goose down jackets, waterproof coats, luggage sets and, like Porsche, a special Land Rover cuddly toy -- Adventure Bear.


Ferrari GTC4Lusso T launched in Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: NAZA Italia, official importer of the Ferrari brand in Malaysia, has unveiled the Ferrari GTC4Lusso T in a simultaneous global debut event.

The reveal was held at the St. Regis Kuala Lumpur today, in tandem with the car’s official launch at the Paris Motor Show.

The first four-seater in Prancing Horse history to sport a turbo-charged V8 engine, the Ferrari GTC4Lusso T hails a whole new Ferrari GT concept that’s aimed at owners seeking a car that is sporty, versatile, and ideal for driving on a daily basis.

The Prancing Horse’s first V8-turbocharged four-seater is being introduced at the base price of RM1,088,000 (excluding duty and customisation options).

Present at the Ferrari GTC4Lusso T media premiere in Kuala Lumpur were Datuk Wira SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin, Group Executive Chairman of Naza World Group of Companies and Dieter Knechtel, CEO of Ferrari Far and Middle East Hub.

“It is the first time Malaysia has been given the honour of participating in a simultaneous global debut of a Ferrari. We are humbled and grateful to have been granted such an opportunity and also know NAZA Italia’s customers appreciate the fact that they are one of the first in the world to acquaint themselves with the Ferrari GTC4Lusso T,” said SM Faisal.

The new GT effortlessly marries elegance, superb occupant comfort and sportiness with the thrilling driving dynamics delivered by a combination of rear-wheel- only drive, four-wheel steering, lighter overall weight andincreased weight bias towards the rear (46:54).

The car’s 3.9-litre V8 turbo is the latest evolution to emerge from the engine family that was nominated the 2016 International Engine of the Year.

Its maximum power output is 610CV at 7,500 rpm while maximum torque of 760Nm is available at between 3,000 and 5,250 rpm.

The V8 turbo’s characteristics suit day-to- day driving in urban contexts: a rich powerful soundtrack in acceleration that becomes more muted at lower speeds, rapid pick-up from low revs courtesy of versatile, modular torque delivery and, last but not least, excellent range.

Ferrari ushers in a whole new GT concept with this dynamic four-seater.

Powered by the latest evolution of the V8 turbo engine that won overall International Engine of the Year 2016, the Ferrari GTC4Lusso T delivers heightened performance for a sporty everyday drive.

“The Ferrari GTC4Lusso T has all the superior qualities Ferrari owners have come to admire in the brand and we know without a doubt that Malaysian Ferraristi are going to take a great liking to this model. NazaA Italia’s consistent and successful growth of the brand made it a fitting choice of partners with whom to host a simultaneous launch as the global debut,” said Knechtel.

The Ferrari GTC4Lusso T’s dynamic control systems have been specifically calibrated to boost responsiveness to commands. In particular, the 4WS (all-wheel steering), which is integrated with Side Slip Control (SSC3), makes for more rapid response to steering wheel inputs entering and exiting corners, thanks to the rear wheels steering in the same direction as the front ones.

The feeling of longitudinal performance in this new model has been enhanced at low speeds by Variable Boost Management and underscored by throttle response with zero turbo lag. Thanks to variable torque curves (VBM)between 3rd and 7th gear, longitudinal acceleration is consistent through the ratios, increasing smoothly with engine speed, resulting in a feeling of vivid but superbly progressive acceleration.

The Ferrari GTC4Lusso T’s styling remains the same innovative take on the shooting brake coupé, reinterpreting the concept with an extremely streamlined, tapered shape that gives it an almost fastback-like silhouette.

The cabin is an effortless melding of distinctive Ferrari styling and the luxurious elegance expected of a four-seater GT. The Ferrari GTC4Lusso T features the unique Dual Cockpit architecture, designed to enhance the shared driving experience for both driver and passenger.

It also incorporates the latest iteration of the infotainment system complete with an impressive 10.25-inch HD capacitive touchscreen.


Volkswagen ID. R takes aim at the infamous Nürburgring-Nordschleife

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen's racing flagship of the future - a fully electric race car, is to set a new lap record for electric vehicles on the 20.832km-long Nordschleife.

In order for driver Romain Dumas to undercut the until-now best time of 6 minutes and 45.90 seconds, Volkswagen Motorsport has consistently and continuously developed the ID. R.

On April 25, the ID. R is to complete its first test on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

Virtually speaking, the ID. R will already drive its first laps from today - for the first time, a race car will also be presented at the same time in a near-reality computer simulation that can be downloaded free of charge.

“The ID. R’s mission to be the spearhead of the fully electric ID. product family from Volkswagen continues in full force,” said Volkswagen Motorsport director Sven Smeets.

“Once again, this time in 2019, the ID. R will demonstrate the great potential of electric drive, combining emissions-free technology with true emotion.

"The Nürburgring-Nordschleife is the next step on the journey of the ID. R, a car that provides a symbol of the future significance of electric drive in all of motorsport at Volkswagen. To see the ID. R take to this legendary race track for the first time will be a moment guaranteed to give you goose bumps.”

The 680PS electric drive of the ID. R has been adapted to the world-unique track characteristics of the Nordschleife.

Two lithium-ion battery blocks serve as energy storage on board the ID. R, which were constructed with expertise from Volkswagen’s production development and whose structure is comparable to the technology that is to be used in the future production vehicles from the ID. family.

The ID R uses new aerodynamics with technology hailing from Formula 1.

“Last year, the many- cornered hill-climb track and the thin air at Pikes Peak demanded maximum downforce,” explained Volkswagen Motorsport technical director François-Xavier Demaison.

“On the Nordschleife lap, the ID. R will reach an average speed of more than 180kph with a top speed on the straight of up to 270kph.

"We have therefore developed a completely new aerodynamic package with Drag Reduction System (DRS), known from Formula 1, as well as optimised the energy management, which controls the power output of the two electric motors and energy recovery under braking.”

The Frenchman has already won the famous 24-hour race four times. Nevertheless, he will treat the track with a lot of respect as he goes into the upcoming first test run.

“I have already driven the Nordschleife with the ID. R on the simulator countless times. But the true feeling from the incredibly high cornering speeds you only get when you’re on the actual track. The extent to which the ID. R has been continuously developed compared to 2018 is impressive. I can’t wait to finally drive the ID. R on the Nordschleife,” said Dumas.

But not only will Dumas have the opportunity to drive the ID. R on the Nordschleife.

Racing fans can, as of now, compare themselves to the professional – virtually speaking of course.

On the occasion of the world premiere of the continuously developed ID. R, Volkswagen has launched an online racing simulation for the free-to-play racing simulator RaceRoom (www.raceroom.com/volkswagen).

There, the gamer can take to the 20.832km Nordschleife in the ID. R and can compete with Romain Dumas – with the option to use virtual reality glasses as well.

The computer vehicle model was created based on the original ID. R data, while the engineers from Volkswagen Motorsport have given the game developers deep insights into the driving dynamics of the electric racing car in order to make the driving experience as realistic as possible on a home computer.


Malaysian auto-parts industry best developed in region, says German trade fair organiser

                FRANKFURT: Malaysia's auto-parts industry has improved over the years and is the best-developed in South-East Asia, according to Messe Frankfurt vice-president Michael Johannes.

Messe Frankfurt is the organiser of the world's largest auto-parts and after-market trade fair, Automechanika. The event is held biennially and is now into its 25th year.

Johannes said the Automechanika Kuala Lumpur Trade Fair — the Malaysian edition of Automechanika to be held in March 21-23, 2019 — is the gateway to the Asean region for Messe Frankfurt

“Automechanika Kuala Lumpur may be a smaller show, but of high quality, and deals with topics which are future-oriented. “We also organise seminars, programmes about various projects of the industry during the event and provide the latest data and information about developments taking place within it,” he said when met at the Frankfurt edition of Automechanika.

The last edition of Automechanika Kuala Lumpur — also a biennial event — saw 246 companies from 18 countries and regions showcasing their products before some 5,650 visitors from 71 countries.

The 2019 event will be held under the theme, “Sourcing, Training, Entertainment”.

Messe Frankfurt also organises a Vietnamese edition called Automechanika Ho Chin Minh City. This year's event was held in April.

Johannes said Asia especially China will continue to be the growth centre in driving innovations and developments taking place in the industry.

“China's now places great emphasis on environmental protection and reducing the level of pollution, ” he said.

He pointed out that two major technical developments would have a long-term impact on the automobile industry and in turn, also the auto-parts sector.

“There is great emphasis on clean vehicles and digitalisation. There will be business opportunities in the new business models. Indeed, digitalisation will generate the biggest growth.


Aug 18-24: RON97 petrol down 5 sen to RM4.35, rest unchanged

                PETALING JAYA: The retail price of RON97 petrol is down 5 cents to RM4.35 per litre from Aug 18-24, says the Malaysian Finance Ministry

It also said the retail price of RON95 petrol and diesel will remain unchanged for the same period at RM2.05 per litre and RM2.15 respectively.

Fuel prices are set using the Automatic Pricing Mechanism.


Mazda tempts with CX-4 teaser

                HIROSHIMA: With crossovers the in-thing these days, Mazda is making wishes come true with another crossover which is set to debut at the Beijing Motor Show from April 29 through May 4.

It is set to reveal the CX-4, whose size and proportions were first communicated by the Koeru concept seen at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. However, it looks like the CX-4 is targeted at the China market - at least for now.

Mazda said today that the CX-4 would feature the full range of SKYACTIV Technology and KODO-Soul of Motion design. The announcement, accompanied by a teaser image, said the CX-4 would promise to be "a new type of crossover SUV designed to help customers live more creative lives."

If the plan stays largely on track with the Koeru , the CX-4 could have a distinctive headlamp design, a coupe roofline and big wheels to create presence plus a premium level of refinements inside and out.

Mazda's stand at the Beijing show will showcase 12 vehicles, including new-generation models such as the Mazda3, Mazda CX-5, Mazda6, and race cars prepared for the Mazda-sponsored MZ Ruisi Racing Team competing in the China Touring Car Championship.

Other vehicles and technologies that represent the brand would also do the rounds.

 The Koeru Concept of 2015.


‘I’m calling about your auto warranty’: US orders spam block

                WASHINGTON: The US Federal Communications Commission has ordered phone companies to stop carrying traffic related to robocalls about scam auto warranties.

US voice service providers must now “take all necessary steps to avoid carrying this robocall traffic,” or provide a report outlining how they’re mitigating the traffic, the FCC’s Robocall Response Team said in a statement on Thursday. The calls are coming from Roy Cox, Jr., Aaron Michael Jones and related companies and associates.

“Consumers are out of patience and I’m right there with them,” FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in the statement.

The group appears to be responsible for making more than 8 billion unlawful prerecorded calls to Americans since at least 2018, per the FCC statement. The operation is also the target of an ongoing investigation by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau and a lawsuit by the Ohio Attorney General.

Auto warranty renewal calls were the top robocall complaint filed with the FCC by consumers in 2021. The number of complaints filed with the FCC about auto warranty scams rose from close to 7,600 in 2020 to more than 12,000 in 2021, the agency said.

The calls often include specific information about your particular car and warranty that can make the call seem more legitimate, according to the FCC.

Other top categories for robocalls were Social Security number phishing scams, credit and credit card scams, fake insurance and healthcare, and phony lawsuit or criminal charges, the FCC said.

Americans received over 4.3 billion robocalls in June, marking an 8.5% increase from May, according to a tally by YouMail Inc., a developer of software that blocks the calls. Because May has one more day than June, robocalls were actually up 13.4% on a daily basis.

The FCC in recent years has told carriers to adopt a system to digitally validate phone calls passing through the complex web of networks that carry phone calls. The agency also has made it clear that providers may block calls. And in May, the agency adopted new rules to stop illegal robocalls that originate outside the US from entering American phone networks.

New FCC rules haven’t slowed the robocall scourge, YouMail said in a news release.

“The robocall volume in June 2022 was almost identical to that of June 2021” when a call authentication rule went into effect, YouMail said in the July 7 release.

“US consumers have received 48.3 billion robocalls since the rule was initially rolled out one year ago.”

The calls are a perennial top consumer complaint, the FCC says.

Will spam text messages be next?


Why you shouldn't forget the car boot when spring cleaning

                MUNICH: First head to the car wash, then clean the inside: When carrying out the a deep clean on your car, it's essential you don't forget to take a look at the car boot.

That's because dirt and moisture can accumulate there quickly, especially in the spare wheel recess, according to TÜV, a technical inspection association based in Germany.

But the car boot doesn't just need a good clean, but also a declutter. Weather-related items such as shovels, de-icers and thick gloves can be taken out, depending on the season.

This also applies to other car accessories and care products such as wax, polish and car shampoo. These are generally better off stored in the basement or the garage.

On the one hand, this has weight advantages. Tüv inspectors estimate that decluttering can save 2-5% percent in fuel. On the other hand, there's a risk that high temperatures can damage these products or cause spray cans to heat up and explode.


Lower petrol prices in Feb to impact Malaysia's inflation pace

                PETALING JAYA: The rise in prices for February is likely to be slower due to the drop in petrol prices but costs will start to creep up again in March given the rise in petrol prices in the same month.

The Statistics Department would be releasing the consumer price index tomorrow showing the expected drop in headline inflation following the decision to lower petrol prices on Feb 1.

Ahead of the release, a survey of economists showed a median estimate of just 0.2% inflation year-on-year compared with January’s 1%.

Economists pointed to the drop in petrol prices in February as the main reason for the slower inflation pace. Prices for RON95 was fixed at RM1.70 per litre in February while RON97 was fixed at RM2 after global crude prices plunged on a combination of oversupply and lack of demand.

However, petrol prices went up in March following a pause in the drop of crude prices with prices for RON95 and RON97 fixed at RM1.95 and RM2.25 a litre respectively. Crude prices have since fallen again, with US benchmark WTI closing at US$43.46 a barrel on Tuesday and global crude benchmark Brent closing at US$53.51.

Economists expect inflation to ease in the first quarter largely due to the drop in global crude oil prices before accelerating again following the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST).

“Given declining oil and utility prices as well as the Government’s efforts to lower prices of goods on March 1, we expect inflation to ease in the first quarter, before accelerating again as a result of GST in April,” CIMB Investment Bank Bhd economist Julia Goh said.

Bank Negara expected headine inflation to be below the historical average at between 2% and 3% this year versus the earlier 2.5% to 3.5% official projection from the Finance Ministry.

Goh noted that inflation should rise in the second quarter albeit gradually given the longer list of tax-exempt goods. Other factors that could impact inflation would be global crude oil prices staying above US$50.

“Inflation may continue to track moderately higher, depending on the path of fuel prices in the second-half. We project inflation of 2.7% for 2015 (versus 3.2% in 2014),” Goh said.

Admittedly, there would be some cost-push price effects that economists expect consumers to feel from April but Alliance Research chief economist Manokaran Mottain said the high-base effect of inflation in the first-half of last year would mitigate the short-term inflation growth rates.


Tesla announces US$1.5bil bitcoin bet, makes payments pledge

                PALO ALTO (California):  Tesla Inc said on Monday it had invested around US$1.5bil in bitcoin and expected to begin accepting payment for its cars and other products with it in the near future, prompting a more than 10% jump in the electronic currency.

Analysts said the move by one of the world’s best-known companies was liable to prove a game changer for bitcoin.

The worlds largest crypto currency was up 14% in late trade, setting a new record high above US$44,000.

The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust rose 20.6%, its highest since mid January. Gold jumped more than 1% while ethereum, another cryptocurrency, surged to a record high.

New York's JMP Securities equity research analyst Devin Ryan said:

“Today’s announcement that Tesla ... has purchased US$1.5bil of bitcoin for its balance sheet in advance of allowing customer payments in bitcoin is bullish for several reasons.

"It ties the crypto asset class to a nearly trillion dollar and highly visible company that we are confident put substantial resources into vetting the decision and structure (and after its analysis, was confident moving forward).

"We also believe this will spark other companies (private and public) to explore Tesla’s decision and determine whether they should look to do something similar.

"Simply put, Tesla’s decision de-risks the decision for other companies, which could reasonably open the door for more corporate adoption.

"MicroStrategy ..., which has been a pioneer in purchasing bitcoin for its firm treasury account as a public company, held a virtual event last week which discussed their decision and process for entering the bitcoin space and gave a blueprint for other companies to think about making similar decisions.”

Pennsylvania's SEI Investments CIO of non-traditional strategies Jim Smigiel said:

“Ironically, wider acceptance of these technologies may require more centralization and third-party verification, which would cause them to become more similar to the systems they were designed to replace.

“The cryptocurrency market is just beginning to mature and the supportive value of digital coins remains difficult to price.

“We view them as highly speculative instruments, which makes them an unsuitable investment choice for pursuing important financial life goals — particularly for investors who can’t afford the high risk of permanently losing money.”

New York's Great Hill Capital LLC managing member Thomas Hayes said:

“It’s saying that Elon Musk believes that buying Bitcoin will grow faster and generate a better return for his shareholders than buying Tesla stock. In my view it’s not a tremendous vote of confidence in Tesla stock.

“Now, he may see what MicroStrategy did and the market started to play the MicroStrategy stock as a proxy for Bitcoin and it attracted flows so there might be a clever play like that.

“It’s a huge vote of confidence for Bitcoin there’s no question about that because now other companies will start to look at if Tesla is doing it, should we allocate some of our cash into bitcoin?

“If any lesser mortals had made the decision to put part of their balance sheet in Bitcoin I don’t think it would have been taken seriously.

“But when the richest man in the world does it everyone has to take a second look there’s no question about it.”


Toyota set to sell long-range, fast-charging electric cars in 2022, says daily

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp is working on an electric car powered by a new type of battery that significantly increases driving range and reduces charging time, aiming to begin sales in 2022, the Chunichi Shimbun daily reported today.

Toyota's new electric car, to be built on an all-new platform, will use all-solid-state batteries, allowing it to be recharged in just a few minutes, the newspaper said, without citing sources.

By contrast, current electric vehicles (EVs), which use lithium-ion batteries, need 20-30 minutes to recharge even with fast chargers and typically have a range of just 300-400km.

Toyota has decided to sell the new model in Japan as early as 2022, the paper said. A Toyota spokesman said the company could not immediately comment on the report.

Japan's biggest automaker is looking to close the gap with EV leaders such as Nissan Motor Co and Tesla Inc as battery-powered cars gain traction around the globe as a viable emission-free alternative to conventional cars.

Whether Toyota will be able to leapfrog its rivals remains to be seen, however, as mass production requires a far more stringent level of quality control and reliability.

"There's a pretty long distance between the lab bench and manufacturing," said CLSA auto analyst Christopher Richter. "2022 is ages away, and a lot can change in the meantime." How quickly the new EVs will catch on would also depend largely on battery costs.

Having long touted hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and plug-in hybrids as the most sensible technology to make cars greener, Toyota last year said it wanted to add long-range EVs to its line-up, and set up a new in-house unit, headed by president Akio Toyoda, to develop and market EVs.

Toyota is reportedly planning to begin mass-producing EVs in China, the world's biggest auto market, as early as in 2019, although that model would be based on the existing C-HR sport utility vehicle and use lithium-ion batteries.

Other automakers such as BMW are also working on developing all-solid-state batteries, eyeing mass production in the next 10 years.

Solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes rather than liquid ones, making them safer than lithium-ion batteries currently on the market.

 The C-HR from concept to production form. An electric C-HR using Li-ion batteries is planned for production in China in 2019 as an interim step.


Singapore holidays for BHPetrol winners

                PETALING JAYA: A total of 15 BHPetrol customers recently won prize packages, each consisting of a three-day/two-night hotel stay at Genting Hotel Jurong for two, two entry tickets to Universal Studios Singapore, and two tickets to S.E.A. Aquarium.

They were presented with the prizes in a ceremony at Thistle Hotel, Johor Baru.

The event was filled with fun, laughter, good food and lots of freebies including petrol vouchers.

The joint promotion by BHPetrol and Resorts World Sentosa Singapore was held from November 25 to December 25, 2015 at selected BHPetrol service stations in conjunction with the year-end school holidays.

Motorists had to pump at least RM50 of petrol, to enter the contest.

Winners were selected through a lucky draw from correctly submitted entries.

“We are glad that this contest received tremendous response from motorists. Please look out for our upcoming promotions real soon,” said BHPetrol convenience retailing manager Noraina Idrus.


Hino launches SR1E 700 6x2 prime mover

                SHAH ALAM: Hino Motors Sales Malaysia (HMSM) has launched its latest Hino SR1E 700 series heavy-duty 6x2 prime mover.

The new model range has been specially designed for the logistics and distribution industry

At 8,050kg (front - 4,775kg and rear - 3,275kg) the SR1E has a 3,330 + 1,330mm wheelbase while standing at 7,035mm-long, 2,490mm-wide and 3,015mm-tall.

The SR1E is capable of hauling different body types that include general cargo, box van, curtain sider, tanker, refrigerated and container trailer.

Power comes from a 13-litre (12,913cc) six-cylinder E13C-TM (Euro 3) turbo-diesel engine that red-lines at 2,150rpm and drinks from a 390-litre fuel tank to produce 420PS from 1,800rpm and 1,903Nm from 1,100rpm.

This gives it the ability to pull a gross combination weight of up to 66,000kg with its SH19 rear axle carrier with a ratio of 4.333.

A 430mm dry single plate with damper spring - actuated hydraulically with air booster, has been fitted to the 12-speed mechanical synchromesh MZ12 transmission with power assistance.

The front 7,500kg load bearing axle uses a a reversed Elliot "I" section beam while a full-floating, single reduction, single-speed by Hypoid gearing is used for the first rear axle (rated for 13,000kg) and the second rear lift-axle has been rated at 10,500kg.

The full dual circuit air braking system uses a "S" cam type with leading and trailing shoes for front and rear pads at the front and comes with anti-lock braking system.

At the front, the suspension employs parabolic leaf springs with double acting shock absorbers and a stabiliser, while the first rear axle gets fitted with an airbag suspension with shock absorbers and mechanical height control.

The second rear axle uses a liftable air bellow suspension that is height adjustable by the driver at the flick of a switch from within the cabin.

The SR1E rolls out on 22.5 x 8.25-inch wheels with 10 ISO type studs and all 11 wheels (including one spare) have been fitted with 295/80 tyres.

The electricals uses two 12-volt batteries in series connection with 432,000 coulombs (120-amp per hour at the rate of 20 hours) capacity, while the 24-volt alternator capacity is rated at 60 amps.

Inside, the cabin is able to seat two and the driver gets an airbags for added safety as well as a three-dimensional body-cradling air-suspension seat, overhead console, multi-information display, shift-knob with Hi-Lo switch and a telescopic-tilt steering column with locking device and a recirculating ball with an integral type hydraulic booster.

"The logistics and distribution industry is a timeless field of business, where it continues to grow within this advance era, and we, Hino, now present enhanced tools to meet this demand and we have developed vehicles and solutions to ensure sustainable profitability," said HMSM managing director Ken Iwamoto.


Rétromobile 2019 to mark Citroën centenary

The Citroën DS was the star of the 1956 Paris Motor Show.
PARIS: The 100th anniversary of Citroën will be celebrated at the French capital's Rétromobile classic and vintage car exhibition from Feb 6-10, 2019.

In 1919, André Citroën, inspired by the American carmaker Ford, launched his first car, the 10 HP model. The brand helped popularize the motorcar in France in the 1920s and was ahead of the curve with its advertising.

The Traction Avant, the 2CV and the DS are just some of the brand's legendary models to have left their mark on the history of the automobile with their innovations.

In the mid-1970s, after a period of crisis, Citroën was bought by fellow French carmaker Peugeot to become part of the powerful PSA Peugeot Citroën group.

A selection of the brand's most iconic models will be on show at the carmaker's stand. The 2019 Rétromobile poster even features the radiator grille of a Citroën Traction Avant fading into the Eiffel Tower, uniting two emblems of France in a single visual.

The Rétromobile show will also celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Mini, and will feature an exhibit devoted to Bédélia cyclecars, made prior to World War I.

Like each year, visitors will be able to admire vehicles for sale in the traditional Artcurial Motorcars auction, including a 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touting Berlinetta estimated at €16mil-€22mil.
The 44th edition of Rétromobile wouold be held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.


Brace for big changes in MINI cars

                MUNICH: MINI design is changing and the BMW-owned brand will unveil a concept study of a crossover model , which will provide the first full preview of the new design language for the next-generation all-electric model family.

It will be presented to the public for the first time at the end of July 2022.

The new design language MINI refers to as "Charismatic Simplicity" is a design that helps each new model develop a strong individual character of its own, focusing on the essence of the brand with a clear, reduced design language.

Materials fitted in cars will be produced sustainbaly. For example, the next MINI model generation has a leather-free interior and dispenses almost entirely with chrome elements.

The new design language also exploits the opportunity of electrifying the powertrain to generate the driving pleasure you expect from MINI entirely without local emissions.

“Purely electrically powered models from MINI give us a unique opportunity to rethink our design. At the same time, we retain the attention to detail, sense of tradition and passion for innovation that MINI is renowned for,” says Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design.

The vehicle architecture for the new MINI model generation has been developed for purely electric mobility. It will continue to offer a small footprint while making interior space more efficient for the comfort and well-being of its occupants.

According to MINI, Charismatic Simplicity reduces the number of components and concentrates on essential elements, helping the design of future MINI models achieve "an emotional, intuitively perceptible identity."

In the cockpit of future MINI models, the OLED technology for the fully digital display and control unit presented for the first time in the MINI Vision Urbanaut means more functions can be combined in a single control unit.

MINI is the world’s first car manufacturer to offer a touch display with a fully usable round surface.

The innovative display technology paves the way for a new user interface design. At the same time, the MINI design retains analogue control units such as the toggle switches below the central interface to show its attention to detail and distinctive design.


Many more EV charging stations needed

                KUALA LUMPUR: The number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the country is still low, with fewer than 1,000 recorded nationwide, says Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim.

He said the ministry initially aimed to have 5,000 charging stations nationwide this year, but to date, the number of EV stations was still far below the target.

“Our focus is still at major towns, but we have also received requests from other states to allow these vehicles to travel from state to state and they need charging station facilities along the way.

“Efforts are being done now with the government calling all stakeholders to meet.

“This would allow us to look into ways to increase the number of charging stations,” Bernama quoted him as telling the media after a DHL Express Malaysia event here yesterday.

DHL Express introduced six electric vans for deliveries in the Klang Valley.

The move marks the company as the first logistics provider in the country to switch to commercial electric vehicles.


What's new in Mercedes‑Benz GLS

                STUTTGART: The new Mercedes GLS models get updated for 2024, with fresh looks, upgraded standard equipment, new options and software, and interior colours and trim.

The latest Mercedes‑Benz GLS, Mercedes‑Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC and Mercedes‑AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+ get an even more striking radiator grille, a more prominent bumper and a redesigned simulated underguard (standard equipment).

As before, the Mercedes‑Benz GLS is a seven-seater as standard.

With Catalana beige and Bahia brown, two new leather colours are available.

The range of interior trim finishes has also been revised. Glossy brown lime wood is now standard.

As most GLS drivers only travel on paved roads or in easy to moderately difficult off-road terrain, the scope of the Off-Road Engineering package was recompiled.

Components include an underride guard and 30mm more ground clearance.

 Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023

The updated MBUX infotainment system MBUX has a new look for the displays.

The displays can be individualised with the help of three different styles (classic, sporty, discreet) and three modes (Navigation, Assistance, Service).

Also, the standard Parking package with 360‑degree camera offers the "transparent bonnet" function.

When the Offroad mode is active, the central display shows a virtual view under the front of the vehicle.

With the "transparent bonnet", obstacles such as large stones or deep potholes on the route ahead can be better recognised.

 Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023

Also, all-wheel drive and a gear ratio designed for pulling power allow a high trailer load of up to 3.5 tonnes and a tongue weight of up to 140kg.

The trailer coupling has two additional bolts on the ball neck on which a suitable bicycle carrier can be supported.

Its load capacity is 100 kg - this means that e‑bikes can also be transported.

Helpful additional features for use when towing include Trailer Manoeuvring Assist, the updated Trailer menu in the central display and the Trailer route planner.

This can be used to find optimised routes when travelling with a trailer.

 Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023Mercedes-Benz GLS 2023


Details of BMW M5 Competition Package leaked ahead of reveal

                MUNICH: BMW is looking to embark on a little one-upmanship on the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S when it launches its new performance package for the latest M5 uber-sedan, but details of the car have been leaked online ahead of the official launch.

The M5 Competition will be a more powerful version of the already impressive M5, and a posting on the BMW blog site Bimmerpost has revealed it will boast an additional 25bhp over the regular M5 to take its output to a healthy 616bhp.

 All pix in this article shows the current M5.

The leak comes from a forum member from Australia who claims to have one on order and is said to have received the information about the car, courtesy of BMW Australia, Munich and the local dealership.

That extra 25bhp will get the M5 Competition from 0-100kph in just 3.3 seconds and from 0-200kph in 10.8 seconds. The top speed is said to be a useful, license-busting 306kph, and it's being reported it will have an extra 50Nm of torque available to take the total to 536Nm. That means it will have 22hp more than the Mercedes, but the amount of available torque will still fall short of its rival by 50Nm.

It was thought that carbon ceramic brakes would be part of the package, but it turns out that's not the case. That could be to help keep the price of the tuning package down a little, but there's no word about them being available as an optional upgrade either.

Other features of note are a Sports Exhaust that's reportedly not the full lightweight titanium unit, a lowered and firmer suspension, Y-spoke alloy wheels, an M carbon engine cover and Competition illuminated door sills.

The badging on the car will be black with an M5 Competition logo on the rear, black front and side grills, a blacked-out lower rear bumper and a high-gloss black rear spoiler.

Production is expected to start in July with deliveries then getting under way in September.


US arrests two men wanted by Japan over ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn's escape

Ghosn (shown) met with the Taylors and Zayek just before his escape from Japan. — Reuters
BOSTON/WASHINGTON: US authorities on Wednesday arrested a former US Army Special Forces soldier and another man in Massachusetts wanted by Japan on charges that they enabled the escape of former Nissan Motor Co boss Carlos Ghosn out of the country.

Former US Green Beret Michael Taylor, 59, and his son, Peter Taylor, 27, are accused by Japanese authorities of helping Ghosn last year flee to Lebanon to avoid trial over alleged financial wrongdoing.

The US Marshals Service arrested them in Harvard, Massachusetts, at the request of Japan, which in January issued arrest warrants for both men along with a third, George-Antoine Zayek, in connection with facilitating the Dec 29, 2019 escape.

Ghosn, who was out on bail at the time, fled to Lebanon, his childhood home, while he was awaiting trial on charges of under-reporting earnings, breach of trust and misappropriation of company funds, all of which he denies.

Japan is closely communicating with relevant US authorities following the arrests, a Japanese government source said today.

READ MORE: Fugitive Ghosn promises new revelations in upcoming book

Prosecutors said Peter Taylor travelled to Japan the day before Ghosn’s escape and Michael Taylor and Zayek arrived the day it occurred with large black boxes that appeared to be for music equipment.

All three met with Ghosn, who after entering a hotel room with Michael Taylor and Zayek hid in one of the boxes, which was taken to an airport and loaded on a private jet headed for Turkey, prosecutors said.

Ghosn two days later announced he was in Lebanon.

The Taylors were arrested after US law enforcement learned Peter Taylor had booked a flight from Boston to Beirut departing Wednesday with a layover in London, according to court papers.

Following their arrest, the Taylors appeared by video before a federal judge wearing orange prison jumpsuits and face masks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

They are being detained at the request of US prosecutors, who say they pose a risk of flight after aiding Ghosn’s “brazen” escape. Assistant US Attorney Stephen Hassink said Japan plans to formally seek their extradition as quickly as possible.

Paul Kelly, their lawyer, in a statement said he expects to challenge any extradition request.

“Michael Taylor is a distinguished veteran and patriot, and both and he and his son deserve a full and fair hearing regarding these issues, both before the courts and the executive branch,” he said.

A representative for Ghosn declined to comment.

Japanese lawyer Junichiro Hironaka, who had defended Ghosn until his flight from the country, said in a telephone interview today that the key question is whether there is enough evidence for extradition, and that he would watch developments closely.

This month, Turkish prosecutors prepared an indictment charging seven people, including four pilots, over Ghosn’s escape via Istanbul to Beirut.

Nissan said in an emailed statement it notes the extradition proceedings and reserves the right to take further legal measures against Ghosn.

The company filed a civil suit in Japan earlier this year seeking 10 billion yen (RM404mil) in damages from its former boss for alleged misconduct.

In September, Nissan and Ghosn settled civil charges by the US Securities and Exchange Commission related to what it said were false financial disclosures by the company that omitted more than US$140 million to be paid to Ghosn in retirement.

That sum was ultimately not paid. Nissan paid US$15 million and Ghosn US$1 million, and Ghosn agreed to a 10-year ban from serving as an officer or director of a publicly traded US company.

The SEC also said Ghosn engaged in a scheme to conceal more than US$90 million of compensation. Nissan sued Ghosn in February seeking about $90 million.


If boys can do it, so can I, says engineer

                KUALA LUMPUR: An engineer by training and now a racing champion, Siti Fatimah Husna knows she still has two tough critics despite her triumphs.

“Two of my brothers are bikers too and I picked it up from them.

“Of course it is very hard to please them. Even if I win, they would still push me and say I could do better,” she grinned.

The tough cookie was the sole female competitor and yet she beat all the 10 male riders to emerge first place in the Malaysian Supermoto Championship CKD category yesterday.

The race was part of the events held during the Federation International Motorcycle (FIM Asia) Supermoto Championship which featured top riders from Japan, Thailand, United Kingdom, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia.

“It was exciting. I was about a lap ahead of the rest,” said Siti Fatimah, 24, who is fifth in a family of four boys and two girls.

Siti Fatimah said that initially she did not have a fascination with bikes and in fact studied mechanical engineering and wanted to become an engineer.

“My mum especially would try to talk me out of racing. She would say that I’m an unmarried woman and that I would get hurt and bike accidents could cause internal injuries as well,” she said.

But Siti Fatimah persisted and continued practising and pushing herself until she got a podium position in a race.

“It was tough. I fell many times. I got so many bruises and cuts but it was worth it,” she said, adding that she eventually brought her medals home and managed to convince her parents to support her interest.

Now her parents would even provide her with monetary support when she needed it.

“It’s an expensive sport and I worked and used all my savings to get whatever I needed to race,” she said adding that hopefully with the backing of sponsors, she would be able to move on to bigger competitions in future.

Siti Fatimah said that in the meantime she would continue to push the limits of her racing time.

“If the boys can do it, so can I.”


Toyota expects to lower full-year production target due to chips shortage

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp expects to lower its production target of 9.7 million vehicles for the financial year through March 2023, the Japanese automaker said today, in the first admission that it will miss an ambitious goal.

Analysts and even some group companies had cast doubt on prospects for achieving the record-high output plan, and a spokesman attributed the shortfall to a scarcity of semiconductor chips.

A revised target will be disclosed once the outlook becomes clearer as the company examines the impact on future production, the spokesman added.

In a statement, Toyota said it planned to turn out about 800,000 vehicles worldwide next month, or about 100,000 short of the average monthly production plan for September through November presented on Sept 22.

The firm will suspend 11 production lines at eight domestic factories next month, affecting the output of a wide variety of vehicles including the Corolla, RAV4 and Yaris, it added.

Toyota slashed its global production target for last financial year three times, from 9.3 million in May 2021 to 8.5 million this February. It ended up producing about 8.6 million vehicles in the last financial year, which ended on March 31.


Ford sees no GST impact in introducing new models

                KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) next month will not impact Ford Motor Co's plan to continue introducing new models in Malaysia.

Managing director, Malaysia and Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Dave Westerman, said the company would not speculate on the potential impact of government policies and that of the GST.

"We'll have to wait and see. Like other businesses, we regularly review pricing," said Westerman in response to a question whether Ford would adjust its car prices in Malaysia after April 1.

"The implementation (of GST) will not change our plan to continue introducing vehicles that offer value for money by delivering best-in-class combinations of quality, performance, smart technologies, safety and fuel economy," he said.

He said Ford supported policies that were simple, transparent and did not inadvertently provide competitive advantages or disadvantages among brands.

Westerman said for 2015 Ford aimed to continue growing in Malaysia by introducing more global Ford vehicles.

"The new launches will include the Mondeo passenger car, Everest Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and Mustang sports car.

"We're also confident in continuing to see strong demand for our current models -- Ranger, EcoSport, Focus, Kuga and Fiesta," he said.

He, however, declined to share any sales target for 2015.

The global carmaker achieved its best-ever sales in Malaysia last year.

Its overall retail sales surged 31 per cent to an all-time full-year record of 13,938 units, driven by strong demand for its Ranger and Fiesta models.

It kicked off 2015 with record sales. January 2015 became its best-ever monthly performance in Malaysia as sales soared 38 per cent year-over-year to 1,544 units, fuelled by continuing demand for its versatile Ranger pick-up truck, sporty Fiesta, and EcoSport compact urban SUV.

Westerman said Ford, together with the Malaysian partner, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), would continue to further enhance Malaysian customer and ownership experiences.

"Over the next 12-24 months, SDAC and its dealers will continue with investments in new facilities, upgrade and renovate current dealerships to meet Ford's global standards.

"We opened nine 'Quick Lane' outlets in 2014, and plan to expand the number of facilities in 2015 to provide customers with quick, convenient and high quality service.

"We also plan to continue investing in our people with ongoing skills training to ensure they are delivering our brand promise of being an excellent after-sales provider," he said.

He said while Thailand would still serve as Ford's Asean manufacturing hub, the company's business and operations would continue to benefit from all economic partnerships and trade agreements in the region, including Asean Trade in Goods Agreement and the Asean Economic Community in 2015.

"These will help to further strengthen intra-regional trade and provide opportunities for integrated growth among all markets in the region," he said.


Apple and BMW may be working on using iPhone as 'CarKey'

                PETALING JAYA: Could car keys and fobs become a thing of the past? It looks that way going by the report from auto website carmagazine.co.uk.

BMW is reportedly working with Apple to develop CarKey which lets iPhone users unlock and start their car.

This was suggested by Apple fan site 9to5Mac.com, which claimed it had discovered this new feature through an early iOS 14 code and that BMW is the most likely candidate since it did not deny or confirm the collaboration.

The idea is interesting as the phone will be an actual key fob by allowing you to lock, unlock and start the car.

It will also sync wirelessly with Apple CarPlay and act as a media hub.

By the way, BMW is a high-profile member of the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) and is working to create a new industry standard on digital key features between vehicles and connected devices.

As such, the evidence from the CCC suggests that the technology used for the vehicle and device to communicate is the Digital Key v3.0 which will harness Near Field Communication (NFC).

Only time will tell if the latest iPhone will be equipped with this feature. But it doesn’t sound all that surprising, does it?


Ford Ranger Raptor X Special Edition at RM216,888

                KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, has unveiled the new Ford Ranger Raptor X Special Edition priced at RM216,888 (on-the-road, without insurance).

The variant in a new striking True Red colour is exclusively for customers in Malaysia and making it the first red Raptor to be introduced in the market.

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion head of sales Turse Zuhair said the company hopes to inject excitement into the Ranger line-up with the special edition.

“With its Ford Performance DNA, Ranger Raptor is undoubtedly the ultimate and only performance pick-up truck in Malaysia that has been perfected for everyday urban use in addition to commanding the harshest off-road terrains at thrilling speeds," he said.

The Ranger Raptor X Special Edition comes standard with a 360-degree camera and a dual channel Kenwood Digital Video Recorder (DVR) that offers a range of functions, including Quad high-definition (HD) recording, wide-angle viewing, night view recording, a built-in polarised filter and Mobile App connect via hotspot.

Compatible with both Apple iOS and Android smartphones, it also comes with a 32GB memory card which will allow drivers to record their life’s adventures or as a safety feature.

Also exclusive are Raptor X decals and Special Edition carpet mats.

Other features include first in-class Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning and Assist.

It also comes with a five-star NCAP rating, 5-year manufacturer’s warranty or 160,000km (whichever comes first).

The Ranger Raptor which was introduced in Malaysia at the end of 2018 is Asia Pacific’s first and only factory-built high-speed off-road performance truck and is designed to thrill even the most hard-core extreme adventure enthusiast, straight off the line.

With the learnings from Ford’s F-150 Raptor, the Ranger Raptor’s unique chassis frame had been newly-developed and extensively modified for high speeds and endurance off-road.

Its race-bred suspension has also been specifically crafted to tackle the toughest terrains, smoothing out jumps, bumps and ruts. No other production truck in Malaysia features the legendary FOX Racing Shox and a huge ultra-strength bash plate as standard equipment.

Its cutting-edge Terrain Management System offers six pre-set driving modes to conquer virtually any terrain, at the turn of a dial.

Inspired by the Baja 1000 Desert Race, the famed Baja Mode dials down traction, improves responsiveness and shifting speed, and optimises the Ranger Raptor for high-speed off-roading.

The Ranger Raptor delivers 213PS and 500Nm of torque and has been carefully calibrated with Ford’s latest 10-speed automatic transmission with PaddleShift technology.

To know more about the Raptor X Special Edition, visit www.sdacford.com.my or chat live with Ford on WhatsApp at +6019 204 1200 from Monday – Friday, 10am – 7pm and Saturday, 10am – 2pm, excluding public holidays or any 40 Ford authorised showrooms nationwide.


No entry for m-cycles in KL public parks

                KUALA LUMPUR: Motorcyclists are prohibited from riding their bikes on walkways in public parks of Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib said City Hall (DBKL) would take action on errant motorcyclists and build barriers to prevent them from riding on those paths.

“Lanes in the park are made for cyclists and pedestrians.

“Motorcyclists are endangering pedestrians and families at the park.

“We have issued 20 summonses to motorcyclists who were riding on the walkways in Perdana Botanical Gardens, Titiwangsa and Kepong Metropolitan Park.

“Each summons issued is RM100.

“We are also working on installing mechanical barriers to prevent motorists from driving into the parks and signage to remind them,” he said during the launch of Aquaretro electric boats recreation facility at Kepong Metropolitan Park.

DBKL oversees 16 public parks.

The Aquaretro boats are the latest attraction at the 90ha public park converted from a former mining pool and opened in 2004.

Asia TechBiz Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Mahyudi Md Yusof said 15 self-pilot boats were available.

“Aqua refers to water and Retro refers to the classic-car shape of the boats.

“Each boat can accommodate four passengers, ideally two adults and two children.

“Everyone can take a ride on the boat for RM50 per boat for 40 minutes,” he said.

In view of the increasing number of visitors to the park, Ahmad Phesal said DBKL was planning a multi-storey carpark in Kepong Metropolitan Park.

Citing Yogyakarta for lively parks and recreational facilities, the mayor said two public parks would be opened at night.

“DBKL is working towards opening Perdana Botanical Gardens and Titiwangsa Lake Gardens at night for the public.

“From either June or July, we will consider having more activities at night for people to take part in,” he said.

However, he added that DBKL would have to look into concerns about possible misuse of the park at night and prevent immoral activities after dark at those parks.


Re-badged cars and shared technology: Hits and misses

                It is common for automakers to collaborate and share technology in developing new cars, as this substantially reduces vehicle development costs and time, as well as eliminating unnecessary and expensive investments in powertrain and component production.

These collaborations can be in many forms ranging from sharing a common vehicle platform, or sourcing powertrains to outright re-badging.

Automakers who own various marques, each with their own unique brand positioning, also regularly introduce separately branded vehicles that share common technology, parts and even designs.

Many such collaborations and vehicle re-badging projects enjoy success, although some also suffer market failure.

Mercedes-Benz X-Class and Nissan NavaraMercedes-Benz X-ClassNissan Navara

While the motoring public has come to accept top-grade pick-up trucks offering premium comforts at executive car prices, it is still too much of a stretch for luxury pick-up trucks to command exorbitant price tags.

After less than three years on the market, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be discontinued from end-May 2020 due to poor sales.

Some quarters also speculated that luxury vehicle buyers were unwilling to pay for a Mercedes-Benz that shares underpinnings and powerplants with the Nissan Navara pick-up truck.

Actually, aside from the platform, the 2.3-litre engine and manual and automatic transmissions, there aren't much more that the entry-level X-Class variants (X 220 and X 250) and Navara have in common.

The X-Class has a wider body and track which provides better handling, a different body and a much plusher cabin, more high-tech safety and driver assistance systems, and of course, much higher price tags.

Mercedes-Benz also offered a range topping X 350 variant with its own tech like a high-torque 550Nm V6 diesel engine and 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive, the 7-speed automatic transmission (7G-Tronic Plus) and Dynamic Select transmission mode switch.

Toyota Harrier and the Lexus RX2005 Lexus RX 3302005 Toyota Harrier

There was also the hugely successful Toyota Harrier in Japan which made its debut in 1997, and was rebadged as the Lexus RX for export markets the following year.

The RX set new standards in the high-end crossover SUV and became a best-seller, helping to drive global success for Toyota's luxury marque Lexus.

At the same time, the JDM (Japan domestic market) Harrier also became a popular choice for grey importers in countries like Malaysia.

This curious turn of affairs was because Toyota was still building the Lexus brand in overseas markets, and didn't launch its luxury marque in Japan until late 2005.

The Harrier can be easily identified via the emblem of a stylised bird of prey on the grille.

In late 2013, Toyota released a re-designed Harrier with its own distinctive styling, and in late 2017, local distributor UMW Toyota Motor decided to offer it here in two luxuriously kitted 2.0-litre turbocharged variants.

Both Harrier variants offer high value and are competitively priced at RM243,000 (Premium) and RM266,000 (Luxury).

Proton Perdana and Mitsubishi Eterna1995 Mitsubishi Eterna1995 Proton Perdana

Another hit was the Proton Perdana four-door D-segment executive sedan which started life in early 1995 as a re-badged seventh-generation Mitsubishi Eterna with a 2.0-litre engine outputting 135hp and 176Nm of torque.

The first-generation Perdana was an instant hit - waiting list was up to six months and it took control of nearly half of the 2.0-litre passenger car market.

Almost four years later, in late 1998, it received a major facelift with a new and more powerful 2.0-litre Mitsubishi V6 engine with 148hp, Lotus-tuned suspension for better ride and handling, as well as a new front grille and improved interior features.

The Perdana V6 was a huge success, and was exported to Brunei and Singapore.

In 2003, the Perdana V6 received a major facelift - an Alfa Romeo-inspired grille, a re-tuned suspension and higher local content, and extensive exterior and interior improvements.

Still, it did not have airbags and the same Mitsubishi DOHC V6 engine remained in use.

Proton continued to sell the Perdana V6 until 2010, when demand fell due to changing market dynamics.

Perodua Aruz and Toyota RushPerodua AruzToyota Rush

The Perodua Aruz and Toyota Rush are are essentially twins with the same powertrains and technology, albeit wearing different badges and sporting some differences in exterior and interior design and trim.

Both 1.3-tonne seven-seater SUVs are produced by Perodua, and have the 1.5-litre Toyota 2NR-VE 4-cylinder, DOHC with Dual VVT-i engine mated to four-speed automatic transmissions, and power transmitted to the rear wheels.

There is a slight difference in power output, with 102ps/133Nm Aruz being slightly less muscled than the 105ps/136Nm Rush.

However, there is a huge price difference of circa RM20,000 as both Aruz variants are priced at RM72,900 (X) and RM77,900 (AV) while both Rush variants are priced at RM93,000 (G) and RM97,000 (S).

This is understandable as Toyota is positioned as a more premium passenger car brand compared with its wholly owned subsidiary Daihatsu (Perodua's technical partner and substantial shareholder).

The Rush also offers more premium kit such as automatic air-conditioning, Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) and a four-camera Panoramic View Monitor.

Of course, the big price difference also means the Aruz is the much more popular choice with deliveries of over 30,000 units last year.

Proton X70 and the Geely Boyue2019 Geely Boyue facelift 2020 Proton X70 CKD

With over 26,000 units delivered in 2019, the Proton X70 has been a massive success since its launch in December 2018 thanks to a raft of premium technologies and kit - all packaged at competitive prices.

It is a re-skinned Geely Boyue, and all X70 variants are powered by a 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol direct injection engine, producing 184ps at 5,500rpm.

The Malaysian touch can be found in "infinite weave" grille, which takes the shape of a traditional bow, and has its basis in the country's craftsmanship and rich natural heritage.

Proudly displayed in the middle of the distinctive "infinite weave" grille is a large Proton badge, framed by three black horizontal bars.

The infinite weave pattern also makes a subtle appearance on the interior door handle trim and speaker grilles.

The locally assembled X70 was launched recently with a new 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, and its lowered price tags (thanks to tax breaks), improved torque and fuel economy, and better features should see the SUV enjoying even more sales success.


ID.7 with 700km range is most aerodynamic electric model from VW

                WOLFSBURG: The ID.7 is the first electric model from Volkswagen for the upper mid-sized class.

Volkswagen said the limousine is an efficiency champion with a range of up to 700km (WLTP).

In addition to a new drive generation, sophisticated aerodynamics contribute to the ID.7’s long ranges.

The aerodynamically favourable basic form, low drag coefficient (Cd value) of 0.23 and frontal area of 2.46 m² are the result of close cooperation between the Design and Development departments.

With limousines like the ID.7, the body shape accounts for about 50 per cent of the Cd value.

The wheels and tyres influence about 30 per cent, the underfloor 10 per cent, and the functional openings through which air flows to the radiators in the vehicle front end, for example, also 10 per cent.

The fact that the new ID.7 is the most aerodynamic ID. model so far can be seen at first glance when looking at the silhouette of the vehicle, which is almost five metres long.

Volkswagen designer Daniel Scharfschwerdt said: “When designing the ID.7, there was a greater focus on aerodynamics than for practically any other model. This can be seen in the low front end, the flowing transition into the bonnet, and the fast windscreen. The coupé-like roof form and the tapering rear end are also designed for ideal aerodynamic performance.”

The ID.7 has an almost completely closed underbody.

This is supplemented by newly developed wheel spoilers on the front wheels. These guide the air along the wheels under the vehicle with minimum turbulence.

Air curtains at the sides of the front bumper direct the air around the vehicles front end with minimum loss. The flared side sills prevent the air from flowing into the underbody area and shield the rear tyres from air flowing onto them.

In addition, small spoilers and trim panels guide the flow of air on the underbody.

“On electric vehicles, the wheels make a greater contribution to good aerodynamics, and we therefore focused on them in particular,” said Stephan Lansmann, project engineer responsible for ID.7 aerodynamics.

“When designing the wheel rims, the primary focus was on the aerodynamics, which we also had to match to the cooling requirements of the brakes. The resultant wheel rims are more closed and therefore have especially good aerodynamic properties.”

Flow simulations were also used when designing the tyre contours.

Other areas were also taken into account in the aerodynamic development process. These include the functional openings at the front, for example, through which air flows to the radiators in the vehicle front end.

In the ID.7, the air flow is actively controlled by a radiator roller blind in order to reduce the drag.

The electrically operated roller blind opens only when targeted cooling of the power units and battery is required. At the rear, aerodynamic efficiency is ensured by the ideally shaped tailgate and the design of the diffuser and side separation edges.

The ID.7 is expected to launch in Europe and China in fall 2023, with entry into US in early 2024. A wagon version of the ID.7 is also being prepped for launch.


Alpine A290_ß electric show car to be unveiled on May 9

                LONDON: Alpine will unveil its all-new show car named A290_ß that will be the prelude to a future 100% electric urban sports car to be introduced in 2024.

The A290_ß (A290 "beta") will be the first vehicle in Alpine's so-called "Dream Garage", embodying an electric and sporty future for the brand.

The A290_ß will be unveiled in the UK on May 9 at 10.30 pm (CET/4.30am on Wednesday in Malaysia) by Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi and Alpine design director Antony Villain. The presentation will be streamed live as well.

The A290_ß follows the Alpine brand naming strategy of an A followed by three digits. The first number refers to the size of the vehicle. The “90” is specific to the brand's multi-purpose sports vehicles, known as “lifestyle”, while the purely sports vehicles have the number “10”.

The “ß” refers to the beta test used in the software world, the test version, just before the final version.

Founded in 1955 by Jean Rédélé, Alpine has set itself apart with its French-style sports cars.

In 2018, the brand presented the new A110, a sports car that was light, compact, agile and fun to drive.

The Alpine Business Unit was created in 2021 and thus became the brand dedicated to exclusive sportscars of the Renault Group.

The brand is supported by the heritage and craftsmanship of its historic plant in Dieppe and the Alpine Racing and Alpine Cars teams engineering talents.