Road legal, street legal, barely legal

                You might not be able to drive a lowered car on the road but what you can drive will surprise you.

As car fans, many of you will be familiar with the terms “road legal” or “street legal”.

For those who do not, these are terms that refer to cars, bikes and trucks that are equipped and licenced for use on public roads.

Those who fail to fulfil such criteria are deemed “street illegal”, i.e. do not even dare dreaming of driving such cars on the road unless you feel like generously contributing to the economic well-being of the country indirectly by paying compounds and fines.

In Malaysia, the body that decides what can or cannot be driven on local roads – be they expressway or country roads – is the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

In the US, given that it is a coalition of 50 states under one central government, this is decided by each state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

Practically every country in the world then, as you can imagine, has such a body that decides on these set of rules.

While each will have its own interpretation of what is deemed road/street legal, though, there are many similarities between them.

Whether or not you are in Ulan Bator or Ulu Langat, it goes without saying that a road/street legal car should be equipped with a windscreen, come with functioning seat belts, have brakes that work and should be adorned with approved licence plates.

Things that are not kosher, in many places, include lowriders – cars modified so that the ground clearance is far less than what the carmaker had intended – and monster trucks, i.e. pick-up trucks and jeeps with ginormous wheels and suspensions with enough ground clearance for a cubchai to ride under.

Here in Malaysia, as mentioned in a previous article, some of the things that the JPJ frowns upon include body kits that completely change a vehicle’s identity, roll cages and neon lights that turn your bog standard Proton Iswara into a vehicular extra from Tron: Legacy.

Having said that, you will be surprised at the number of vehicles that are considered road/street legal.

Like, for instance, a modified Suzuki Hayabusa sports bike modified to run with... the jet engine off an F14 jet fighter.

Yes, you read that right. The same kind of fighter jet used in the 80s classic Top Gun.

Available for sale for around US$60,000 (RM208,700), this jet bike runs on K2 kerosene or Jet A fuel and is capable of accelerating to 160kph with flames coming out the bike.

It is also, apparently, an easy motorcycle to ride as it only has a throttle and brakes, i.e. no clutch or gear-shifting needed.

Speaking of jet vehicles, anyone remember the Batman movie made by Tim Burton with comedian Michael Keaton as the caped crusader?

In that film, the Batmobile was essentially a turbine jet engine with four wheels and a cockpit. It also had bigger fins than a 1950s Cadillac.

A real replica was actually made by a company called Putsch Racing.
Built around a Boeing engine taken off a helicopter, not only is the replica Batmobile road/street legal, i.e. there is nothing stopping you from driving it down Route 66, it is also capable of a top speed of 290kph.

The fellows from Cracked that wrote about it did mention that, theoretically, the car could go faster than that, but its aerodynamics and other factors make it a little bit unsafe to push it beyond that limit.

Sticking with the jet theme, a car modifier named Ron Patrick actually stuck a General Electric T58-8F jet engine to the back of a Volkswagen Beetle.

How is this road legal, you ask? Well, the original engine remains and you can use it to drive normally on public roads using it.

When you turn on the jet engine at the back, though, the Beetle becomes like a bat out of hell with its rear on fire. Literally.

There are two things to watch out, though.
According to the article in Cracked, firstly, the police will probably not like to see the blue flames shooting out the back as the car barrels down the highway.

Secondly, Mr Patrick says one should never push the car beyond 258kph.

Doing so will turn the car into a flying Beetle.

For something a little more oomph, why not try Britain?

Over there, it seems that the Ministry of Defence actually sells decommissioned military vehicles to the public.

These can range from a Land Rover Defender and a Gazelle attack helicopter to a tank.

Yes, you can own a tank in Britain and use it on the road.

However, there are some caveats to this before you think of taking the first flight to Blighty to snap one up.

For a start, the tank has to be made tarmac-friendly by removing the metal tracks and replacing them with rubber ones.

Then the gun has to be deactivated.

Throw in the proper lights, turning signal and the other necessary knick-knacks so that it can pass a Ministry of Transport roadworthiness test, and all you have to do next is to pass the cheque to the men from the ministry for around £10,000 (RM54,400) or more for a Sabre light tank and you are ready to rumble.

While we do not expect any of the aforementioned vehicles being made available any time soon at a show room near you, we do think that more than one of you would not mind having some of these beauties parked outside your door.

This writer’s choice would be for the armoured personnel carrier in the car porch.

Even with the guns made inoperable, driving down the road in one of those would certainly make a road bully think twice about trying to cut into your lane.

Parking would be a hassle, though.


No spare wheel? Try a puncture repair kit

                BERLIN: Not every new car has a spare wheel on board anymore. Many manufacturers dispense with it to save boot space and instead include a puncture kit for a temporary repair.

These kits use a sealant and a compressor to repair the hole in the tyre. The idea is to fix the puncture for long enough for you to drive to a workshop.

The kits won’t work on every puncture though. To begin with you need to inspect the damaged area of the tyre.

The sealant in a repair kit can only seal holes that are no bigger than around 4mm in diameter. It also won’t work if the puncture is outside of the main tread area.

It's important that you don't remove any foreign body such as a nail or piece of glass that has punctured the tyre as that can make the hole bigger. Next, make sure the tyre valve is on the bottom, moving the car if necessary.

Usually you need to insert the sealant into the tyre through the air valve and then connect the compressor, either via the air valve or the sealant bottle. Turn the compressor off and detach it once the tyre is at the right pressure.

Then drive straight to a workshop, travelling no faster or further than the kit's instructions recommend.

A tyre that's been repaired with sealant will almost always need replacing. At least with a classic spare wheel you can drive to the workshop with the flat tyre in the boot and the workshop might be able to repair it.

If you find an embedded nail or a screw in the tyre and the pressure is okay, you can try driving to the nearest workshop to check whether a repair is possible or economical.


Pekema proposes way to spur EV growth

                PETALING JAYA: The Malay Vehicle Importers and Traders Association of Malaysia (Pekema) is urging the Government to form an electric vehicle (EV) supply chain committee to be headed by the Prime Minister to set the tone for development of electric cars in the country.

It said more must be done to promote this segment of the auto industry beyond what was outlined in the National Automotive Policy and the tax exemptions provided for under Budget 2022.

Many obstacles continue to plague the transition towards EVs in Malaysia, Pekema said following the association's 40th annual general meeting recently.

Pekema said at present, factors inhibiting the growth of EVs in the country are the steep prices of the cars that are fully imported, lack of chargers, lack of clear long-term government policy to guide EV development and the poor local industry response such as from component vendors towards nurturing EV growth.

At present, there are no EVs selling for under RM100,000, with the lowest priced being the Hyundai Kona Electric at around RM150,000.

Other fully electric vehicles available in Malaysia from official importers are the MINI Electric and Porsche Taycan models.

BMW Malaysia has started taking bookings for its iX3, iX and i4 EV models, which are expected to be delivered to customers this year.

In a press statement, Pekema president Datuk Zainuddin Abdul Rahman proposed seven steps to spur the growth of EVs:

> Extend road tax exemption to end of 2030

> Give full exemption from import duty, excise and sales tax on imported EVs until end 2025

> Offer individual income tax relief of up to RM5,000 for installation, rental, purchase, and hire purchase or subscription fees for EV chargers.

> Subsidise RM5,000 for those trading in their combustion engine cars for EVs until end 2030

> Mandate local car assemblers to produce 30% of total output as EVs by 2030. Incentivise with import duty exemption, excise and sales tax for local EV assembly until end 2030.

> Ensure local authorities and Tenaga Nasional provide facilities for public chargers in strategic places.

> Provide free parking for EV owners.

On its plans for 2022, Pekema said it aims to import 100 - 150 brand new EVs into Malaysia and that they would comply with JPJ approval requirements.

Pekema has been importing Tesla cars since 2019. And it aims to ramp up the import of the various models such as Model 3 and Model Y in the next two years, sourcing the cars from Hong Kong and UK.

It is also seeking to diversify its sourcing, looking to existing Tesla markets in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

Charging infrastructure and aftersales support are also two areas Pekema is engaged in.

Last August, Pekema and the Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute signed an agreement to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure development.

They planned to jointly set up 1,000 DC rapid EV charging stations around the country by 2025.

Pekema announced 12 charging stations are up and running in 2021, with funding coming from its members.

Apart from the Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute, Pekema is also talking to Tenaga Nasional and Petronas to strengthen charging infrastructure.

Pekema acknowledged strong aftersales support as important for EV growth. It said its Pekema Academy would bring in EV specialists to help train technicteam up to ians on handling and servicing EVs.

Pekema said it is also in discussions with several parties to obtain a franchise to import and distribute EVs in Malaysia and also for the region.

READ MORE:
Sime Darby Motors and college team up to train EV techniciansFirst Shell-Porsche EV high performance charging station opens in JohorSime Darby Motors contributes to EV ecosystemBMW i4 previewed at NEXTGen MalaysiaMalaysia or Thailand could be next Tesla market in S-E Asia, says EV observerHyundai Kona Electric launched from RM149,888


VW's CEO Diess ousted after tumultuous tenure, Porsche's Blume to succeed

Blume will take over from Sept 1, keeping his position as CEO of Porsche.
BERLIN: Porsche chief executive Oliver Blume will take over from Herbert Diess as CEO of Volkswagen, the carmaker said on Friday, after a supervisory board vote forced Diess to step down from his four-year tenure following a series of missteps over strategy and communication style.

Sources with knowledge of the matter said the Porsche and Piech families, who own over half the voting rights and a 31.4% equity stake in Volkswagen, pressed for a change at the helm.

"Diess was incorrigible. He significantly changed Volkswagen - for the better. But his communication was miserable," one source said, asking not to be named.

Blume will take over from Sept 1, keeping his position as CEO of Porsche alongside his news responsibilities - "including in the event of a possible IPO", a statement said.

The 54-year-old has held numerous roles around the Volkswagen empire, from trainee at Audi to production chief at the Wolfsburg headquarters to head of production and logistics at Porsche from 2009 and CEO from 2013.

His latest challenge is spearheading the company's effort to list on the stock market as it shores up funding to shift to electric-driven sports cars.

The dual role leading both companies could "make a bad governance situation worse," analyst Daniel Roeska of Bernstein Research warned. "We do not think investors will like the CEO-dilution... especially if the IPO was supposed to create greater independence from the Volkswagen Group," he said.

Volkswagen executives have pegged a possible IPO of Porsche in the fourth quarter as a means to fund its makeover as an electrification-oriented carmaker spanning software, batteries and cars, though poor market conditions mean a listing could bring in billions less than originally hoped. read more

"I know Blume always also pushed for the IPO. So don’t think they’ll reverse the decision," a source close to preparations for the listings said.

Diess' ousting was also linked to his troubles leading the carmaker's software unit Cariad, a source with knowledge of the matter said, set up on his watch but far exceeding its budget and years behind on goals to launch a new software platform.

Diess' future at Volkswagen has been in doubt on multiple occasions, most recently in autumn last year after he stated a mismanaged transition to electrification could cost the carmaker over 30,000 jobs. He was also lambasted for his frequent public warnings that Volkswagen was falling behind Tesla.

 Diess.

While Diess was seen as taking an investor-led approach, cutting costs and focusing on electrification, the instability over his leadership eventually weighed on Volkswagen's market value which has been on a downward spiral since early 2021.

Workers' council chief Daniela Cavallo had warned that support for the extension of Diess' contract would depend on whether he could keep Volkswagen at the forefront of Europe's car industry.

Joerg Hofmann, president of Germany's most powerful union IG Metall and deputy chairman of Volkswagen's supervisory board, said: "The dynamics of change in the automotive industry are enormous... The decisions taken today will allow us to keep up the pace and exploit the lead we have carved out."

In Europe, Volkswagen is ahead on electric vehicle (EV) sales with roughly 25% market share compared with Tesla's 13%.

But whether it will remain in first place is unclear, with its production times for an EV currently three times longer than Tesla's and a new electric-only factory not set to open until 2026.

Listing the carmaker's achievements this year so far in a LinkedIn post on Friday before the announcement of his departure, Diess said: "After a really stressful first half of 2022 many of us are looking forward to a well-deserved summer break."


GM to supply 30,000 ventilators in US$500mil US contract

                DETROIT: The United States today awarded automaker General Motors Co a contract worth US$489.4 million (RM2.1bil) to make ventilators needed to treat severely sick coronavirus patients.

The Department of Health and Human Services contract is the first for ventilator production under the Defence Production Act, invoked by President Donald Trump to get companies to produce essential gear needed to fight the pandemic.

GM will work with ventilator firm Ventec Life Systems to deliver 30,000 ventilators under the contract to the US government by the end of August, with deliveries of the first 6,132 ventilators taking place by June 1.

The company “will fulfill the government contract and (has) the capacity to supply more if needed,” GM spokesman Jim Cain said, adding that the contract also includes “consumables and accessories (hoses, stands, etc.) to support each unit.”

GM vice-president Gerald Johnson said last month the automaker is spending tens of millions on retooling costs as it produces the ventilators, and that if supplier retooling costs are factored in, total retooling costs were in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Last week, smaller rival Ford Motor Co also said it will produce 50,000 ventilators over the next 100 days at a plant in Michigan in cooperation with General Electric Co’s healthcare unit.


GM keeps up Shanghai output with workers sleeping on factory floor, say sources

                SHANGHAI: General Motors' joint venture here has maintained production amid the city's lockdown by asking workers to sleep on factory floors and getting passes for trucks to continue deliveries, two people familiar with the matter said.

Such measures equate to a "closed-loop" management process, which China's financial hub has asked companies to adopt to stay open during a two-stage lockdown to battle its Covid-19 outbreak.

In the bubble-like arrangement, which workers sleep, live and work in isolation from the rest of the world to prevent virus transmission.

A similar system was used at the Winter Olympics in Beijing to seal event personnel off from the public.

The facilities, which GM runs as part of a joint venture with Chinese state-owned automaker SAIC Motor Corp that produces Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac vehicles, are in areas east of Shanghai's Huangpu river that have been locked down from Monday to Friday.

GM, which said on Monday that its Shanghai JV was producing normally, declined to comment on the arrangements at its factory.

A spokesman said the company and its joint ventures had developed and were executing contingency plans with their suppliers to mitigate uncertainty related to Covid-19.

GM's ability to keep its Shanghai production lines running contrasts with that of Tesla, which Reuters reported has suspended production for the four-day period.

It was unable to secure sufficient provisions for its workers to achieve closed-loop management, one source said.

Apple supplier Foxconn, TCL Corp, and Apple supplier Shenzhen Deren Electronic Co Ltd managed to keep production going in southern China this month with closed-loop management after manufacturing hubs such as Shenzhen and Dongguan were hit by similar lockdown measures.


Mercedes-Benz celebrates '130! Years of Innovation'

                PETALING JAYA: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia marked the brand’s "130! Years of Innovation" at the newly renovated Cycle & Carriage Bintang Georgetown Autohaus in the heritage city of Penang recently.

In line with the brand’s distinctive history, and long-standing partnership with its dealer, Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad, the 130! Year of Innovation celebrations pay tribute to Mercedes-Benz’s invention of the automobile in 1886 and its continued pursuit of excellence.

Speaking during the celebration, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia president and chief executive officer, Dr Claus Weidner said, “One hundred and thirty years ago, Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz carved their name in history books with the invention of the automobile. The Mercedes-Benz brand was born and has been moving onwards and upwards since. Decade in, decade out, we have been able to reinvent the automobile. Living out our ‘the Best or nothing’ motto, we continue to excel and set standards in the automotive industry.”

In Malaysia, the brand’s heritage is well-recognised with the first Mercedes-Benz vehicle sold in 1951. And in 2003, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia was established to carry on the brand’s legacy.

 (From left) Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Passenger Cars, Mark Raine; Weidner; Wong; and Director of Operations, Ramasamy Devaraju.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s long-standing partnerships with key dealers such as Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad have extended the brand legacy. Its in-country dealer network has been instrumental in the growth of the brand.

The Mercedes-Benz Malaysia network is the largest and most extensive, with 28 authorised dealerships covering both peninsular and east Malaysia.

Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad, chief executive officer, Datuk Wong Kin Foo said, "Part of Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad’s dedication to growing the Mercedes-Benz brand is its commitment to the northern region of Malaysia. Since 2011, a total of RM20 million has been invested, with the latest RM4 million for the upgrade of the Mercedes-Benz Cycle & Carriage Bintang (Northern) Georgetown Autohaus.

Our investments into the brand and retail network will continue over the next two years in the remaining six Autohauses throughout the country and it is expected to cost us RM30 million. This is the best way to add value for our customers’ trust in us.”

The 33,489 sq ft Georgetown Autohaus includes key aspects of the Mercedes-Benz Presentation System II (MPS II) and features seven display vehicles, an upgraded customer lounge area and 14 mechanical work bays for service. Displaying Mercedes-Benz’s new Corporate Identity, the Autohaus has been created and thoughtfully designed with customers in mind.


Citroen takes trip down memory lane with Berlingo in vintage look

                PARIS: Citroen has teamed up with Italian coachbuilder Caselani to launch a cool new retro-styled Berlingo which pays homage to the popular 2CV Fourgonnette.

Visually, the special edition Berlingo shows strong similarities to the old panel van, with decorative corrugated sides, white-painted bumpers and big round headlamps.

The styling cues hark back to the much-loved cargo version of the trusty Deux Chevaux car which lasted in production until 1981 by which time 500,000 had been sold.

The technical underpinnings and cockpit of the retro Berlingo remain the same, with a range of combustion engines and electric motors on offer. The regular Berlingo was introduced in 1996 and has proved to be a best-seller for the French manufacturer.

Buyers will be able to order the Berlingo with Caselani body kit from October 1. The cute looks do not come cheaply however, with the fibreglass corrugated conversion priced at around €10,000 on top of €26,000 for the load hauler.

"We are very proud that our best-selling Berlingo has been relaunched by Caselani, inspired by the legendary 2CV Fourgonnette, which has left its mark on both Citroën's history and the automotive industry," said design chief Pierre Leclercq.

The original Fourgonnette stuggled to top 50kph on a straight road but it could lug to 250kg of heavy goods - not including the driver - with a useful volume of 1.88 cubic metres. Its bodywork was fashioned from corrugated steel designed to boost rigidity.

The new version has a much more generous capacity and the Berlingo 2CV Fourgonnette can carry up to one tonne of freight, with a load volume of 4.4 cubic metres.


Ducati Multistrada 950 instils adventure in a rider

The handsome Ducati Multistrada 950 is positioned as an adventure bike. If you do not know much about the Multistrada models, you will be confused between the 1200 and the 950. Both look very similar.

The all-new Multistrada 950 comes with the Testastretta 937cc that is popular in the Ducati line-up.

The motorcycle’s instrument panels have all the needed information for any riders. It is easy to use and to read especially when I was riding under scorching hot sun.

The instrument panel shows info on speed, rpm, total distance ridden, selected gear, trip1 and trip2, engine coolant temperature, fuel level and, of course, a clock.

The ergonomics of this bike is an upright sitting position with firm saddles. My ride to Pantai Remis, Perak and back to Kuala Lumpur on the same day; is a testament that my cheek bums were well taken care by the comfy saddle.

The Multistrada 950 is designed for a memorable riding experience while at the same making safety a priority.

Thus, the bike is fitted with the Ducati Safety Pack (DSP) which comes with anti-lock braking system and Ducati Traction Control.

Not only that, the four riding modes – Touring, Urban, Sports and Enduro - which is the highlight of the bike besides performance, design and safety.

I could pack in comfortably at least four days of clothes in one pannier.

Their design is sleek and easy to handle. Opening and closing of the panniers are simple for a first-time user like me.

The clutch, gear and throttle response were impeccable. There is so much power at every twist of the throttle.

At 3,100rpm, the bike’s springs into action and the rest is history.

Wheee…the 113hp output from the engine kicks in without any hesitation.

The sturdy chassis holds the bike together well, thus allowing me to get very adventurous. Sorry Ducati Malaysia…all done in the name of review.

On few sweeping and tight corners outskirt of Sitiawan on the way to Pantai Remis, the bike was able to hold the riding line despite the imperfect roads.

I was bit worried that I would be thrown of, but everything was perfect.

The torque on the bike kicks bit late just at the beginning of the second gear at about 3,500rpm and from there onwards there is abundance of torque for me to handle.

After three hours on the bike, I decided to push the engine to 8,000rpm and believe you me, the bike was as solid as rock.

Very little vibration and I did not feel any wind blast because of the good height of the wind shield.

I was taking corners above 110kph and my riding buddies told me that I looked like the professional rider in the Ducati advertisement.

It was effortless even at that speed.

The mapping of the touring was much smoother. Even at high speed on touring, it felt like a slow cruise on a lazy Sunday evening.

Taking sharp corners and hairpins with the Multistarda 950 was a walk in the park.

Meanwhile with the Enduro mode, I was able to climb a small hill laden with sand and gravel with countless potholes.

The wide handle bars allowed me to have a good control on the bike while standing on the pegs and manoeuvring through the imperfect trail.

A must mention here is the Ducati Traction Control (DTC) which assisted me in controlling the rear wheelspins on slippery surfaces.

This bike was bit heavy for me; thus, while stationary, you might need a friend’s help to back this bike out from a parking.

It is very common that all the brakes on Ducati are from Brembo, so is the Multistrada TS 950.

The Brembo braking system is equipped with ABS and the addition on here is the Bosch 9.1 MP control unit with integrated pressure sensor.

I disabled the ABS while riding on the highway and the minute I was off-road in Pantai Remis, I got the ABS back on.

The suspension did wonders while riding off road.

The humps and bumps caused by the dirt track on the oil palm plantation was well absorbed by front KYB forks and the rear Sachs monoshocks.

The front 48mm KYB inverted forks has 6.7 inches travel with full adjustability which includes spring preload, variable compression and rebound damping.

Meanwhile the rear suspension is a Sachs monoshock with the same travel range and same adjustments as the front.

The combination of the front and rear suspension on an unpaved tarmac or back road is a plush ride.
Please do not compare the Mutistrada 950 with the Multistrada 1200 which is a more powerful machine.

However, this modern multipurpose bike, costing RM81,037, can tame any highways, off roads and also an efficient daily commute bike.

SPECIFICATIONS - Ducati Multistrada 950cc
Engine: 937cc, Testastretta, L-twin, four-valve DOHC,
Maximum power: 113hp at 9,000rpm
Maximum torque: 96.2Nm at 7,750rpm

Transmission: Six-speed

Front suspension: KYB 48mm fully adjustable USD forks, 170mm travel,
Rear suspension: Sachs fully adjustable shock, 170mm travel.

Front brakes: 2X320mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo Monobloc calipers, 4-piston, 2-pad, with ABS as standard
Rear braking: 265mm disc, 2-piston floating caliper, with ABS as standard

Fuel capacity: 20 litres

Wet weight: 227kg

Price: RM81,037 (without GST)


BMW expands esports platform

                MUNICH: The BMW Group announced the expansion of its involvement in the esports world,  including the launch of a new international platform and partnerships with five of the world’s leading esports organisations, including Cloud9 (US), Fnatic (UK), FunPlus Phoenix (China), G2 Esports (Germany) and T1 (South Korea).

These new collaborations will include content development across social media, information sharing, and technology transfer with its engineers and designers on hardware and software.

BMW Motorsport is also continuing its simulated (sim) racing activities to build on success from 2019.

The collaboration between BMW and the esports teams is very wide-ranging and goes far beyond mere sponsorship. Among other things, BMW shares the knowledge and expertise of its engineers and designers, to enable the development of hardware and software products perfectly tailored to gamers’ needs.

Cloud9, Fnatic, FunPlus Phoenix, G2 Esports and T1 comprise up to 200 players competing in tournaments globally including League of Legends, Dota 2, Fortnite, and more.

Typically, these events are hosted in large multi-purpose venues, with thousands of fans in attendance and millions more watching and engaging online. BMW will create unique content on various social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitch under the umbrella of the #UnitedInRivalry hashtag.

The BMW commitment also includes the provision of official team vehicles. Among these, each organization will have a team car featuring a custom livery with striking style and each organization’s logo. These eye-catching liveries, developed jointly by the teams and BMW, form another key element of this close partnership.

“Joining forces with the best teams in the world, we aim to use our design and innovation skills to help shape the discipline in the long term,” said Jens Thiemer, senior vice president consumer and brand for BMW. “Our esports involvement is an important milestone providing, for the first time, a new intersectionality with a dynamic and fast-growing community. We consider esports a promising, growing addition to our marketing activities.”

“We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with BMW to the global front and continue to uphold shared pillars of excellence and peak performance,” said Jack Entienne, CEO and Co-Founder of Cloud9. BMW initially joined forces with Cloud9 in March 2019. “We welcome the outstanding teams that we’ll work alongside to drive competitive excellence forward with BMW.”


Automakers in Thailand target 1 million cars for export in 2022

                BANGKOK: The Thai automotive industry expects to make 1.8 million vehicles this year, including one million for export, as market demand continues to improve.

According to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), auto production grew 18 per cent in 2021 from a year earlier to 1,685,706 vehicles.

Exports also rose 30 per cent to 561.1 million baht (RM72mil).

December saw exports rise to a nine-month high of 101,307 vehicles, up 2.5 per cent from November and 48 per cent from the same period a year earlier, reported Vietnam News Agency.

The FTI said vehicle exports to Australia and Oceania rose by 102 per cent, to Europe by 65 per cent and to Central and South America by 122 per cent.

It forecast the situation will continue to improve this year, with Thailand producing 1 million vehicles for the overseas market and 800,000 for domestic sales.

Toyota Motor Thailand president Noriaki Yamashita was quoted by local media as saying that the Covid-19 crisis would continue to affect the Thai economy, but the auto industry would improve gradually in line with overall economic conditions.

He said domestic sales are expected to increase to 860,000 vehicles this year, up 13.3 per cent against last year’s figure.


2017 Bangkok Motor Show: Show Girls

                BANGKOK: The Bangkok International Motor Show 2017 won't be complete without its beautiful show girls to preen and smile for the cameras.

However, this year, the motor show is being held during the mourning period of His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

As such, the event theme is set in a polite and respectful tone and this goes as well for the dress code of the beautiful show girls.

Also, the annual show's Miss Motor Show 2017 is cancelled.

Organised by Grand Prix International Co Ltd, this year’s event marks the 38th edition.

The show will be held from March 29 to April 9, 2017 at Challenger Hall 1 – 3, Impact Muang Thong Thani.


WATCH: Bugatti Chiron Sport races Dassault Rafale Marine jet

                PARIS: A car pitted against a jet plane is a scenario that has been done to death but it never fails to draw attention.

And so a new round of the same thing happened again. New car, new plane. This time in France where the Bugatti Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel' was lined up against a French navy jet plane.

It's 1,500PS/1,600Nm versus 5,727PS/58,550Nm.

The car was driven by Bugatti's Pierre-Henri Raphanel while the plane was piloted by frigate captain identified only as Etienne.

The event took place recently at the naval base in Landivisiau, north-west France.

This is not the first time Bugatti has organised such a publicity stunt.

A Veyron 16.4 took on a Eurofighter Typhoon in a drag race in 2007.

In the current match-up, the Chiron Sport and the Dassault Rafale Marine are seeing how they measure up against one another in acceleration, torque and braking behavior.

Bugatti has held close links with the aviation world for more than 110 years. Many of the successful Bugatti race car drivers, such as Albert Divo, Robert Benoist, and Bartolomeo “Meo” Costantini, flew for the French Air Force at the beginning of the last century.

The French aviator, Roland Garros, owned a Bugatti Type 18 in order to be as fast on the ground as he was in the air.

Bugatti to unveil the Chiron Sport ‘Les Le´gendes du Ciel’ at the end of last year, limited to just 20 units. It is the French luxury marque’s way of honouring French aviation and the former Bugatti drivers of the golden age who also piloted airplanes.

The limited edition Bugatti features attributes to aircraft, such as the Gris Serpent matte grey paintwork and the blue, white, and red Tricolor, which adorns the front of the side skirts made from black visible carbon fiber.

The bars of the radiator grille are made from laser-cut, deep-drawn aluminum and are reminiscent of planes in a flyby formation. A brushed aluminum door sill panel with the lettering ‘Les Le´gendes du Ciel’ identifies the edition.

It has a leather interior in the Gaucho colour which is reminiscent of the natural leather used in airplanes in the past. This natural material is contrasted with aluminum trims and an aluminum inlay featuring the ‘Les Le´gendes du Ciel’ logo, which also features on the headrests.

On the door panels, there is a sketch of a racing scene between the Nieuport 17 airplane and a Bugatti Type 13 that represents the two historical links commemorated by the limited edition hyper sports car.

The appropriate power is provided by an 8.0-litre W16 engine. A seven-gear dual-clutch transmission transfers the power to all four tyres. The edition retails at a net price of €2.88 million (RM14.6mil) .

Alongside the Chiron Sport is the Rafale Marine, the pride of French Navy aviation.

The twin-engine jet has been in the service of the French armed forces since 2000. It has a dry weight of 10.3 tons, a maximum weight of 24.5 tons and is used for a variety of tasks.

With its length of 15.5m and a wingspan of 10.86m, the Rafale Marine – in single-seater configuration for the Navy – can achieve a top speed of more than 1.6 Mach or around 1,975kph.

But what really sets it apart is its maneuverability. It can take off from and land on aircraft carriers like the Charles de Gaulle. Around 200 Rafale aircraft have been produced to date, 46 of which are Rafale Marine jets.

To cut a long story short, Bugatti and the French navy reached a consensus that the competition was a draw.

According to Bugatti, both machines share more in common than what sets them apart – in terms of technology and driving/flying behaviour as well as emotionally. “Setting off alongside and so close to the Rafale Marine was an incredible experience,” said Raphanel. To which Etienne added: “The Chiron Sport is the ideal vehicle for navy pilots.”


Tesla steps up auto service as Model 3 debut nears

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc said it is expanding its auto service centres and adding 350 mobile service vans as it gears up to support its Model 3 sedan, a mass-market car that is expected to drive a 500 percent increase in the electric car company's sales.

A senior executive speaking on behalf of the company said Tesla would be able to triple its global service capacity by increasing efficiency, adding to mobile service, and adding 100 service centers to its current total of more than 150.

Tesla is adding 1,400 technicians this year, and the company plans to continue expanding mobile and service center capacity at a similar pace over then next few years.

Tesla needs to expand service quickly to be able to handle the increase in sales and as the electric car company transforms itself from a luxury vehicle maker into a competitor with mainstream cars.

Expectations for a smooth roll out are particularly high among investors. Tesla has been challenging General Motors for the title of biggest US automaker by market capitalisation, even though its output is a fraction of GM's.

The US$35,000 (RM151,000) Model 3 is designed for easy production, creating lower service needs, the executive said.

Tesla's last launch was the Model X SUV in 2015, which had a number of production issues.

Model 3 production began in the last few days and is expected to reach 20,000 per month in December. The first deliveries are expected on July 28.

Tesla had fielded 373,000 Model 3 reservations as of April 2016, the latest date at which it announced a figure.

The company has learned from previous problems including issues with seatbelt latches, seats and a 53,000-vehicle parking brake recall earlier this year, the executive said.

Tesla said it has improved service time by automating paperwork, using cars' wireless connections to diagnose problems, and expanding mobile support.

Tesla deployed mobile vans to company charging stations to fix the seatbelt latch and cut the procedure to less than 20 minutes.

About 80 percent of fixes on its vehicles do not require a lift and can be done by one of its mobile technicians, which frequently can handle an appointment in less than an hour.


Range Rover Velar arrives: RM530k for P250 and RM589k for R-Dynamic variant

                PETALING JAYA: The Range Rover Velar luxury SUV (sport utility vehicle) has arrived in three petrol-powered variants, namely the 2.0-litre Velar P250 as well as a more generously kitted R-Dynamic variant, and the more powerful 3.0-litre Velar P380 (also in R-Dynamic kit).

The Velar is priced at RM529,800 (Velar P250) and RM588,800 (Velar R-Dynamic P250).

Prices are inclusive of 6% GST and excludes road tax, registration and insurance.

Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia is still firming up pricing for the Velar R-Dynamic P380 which has a all-aluminium 380ps/450Nm 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine.

Both the Velar P250 variants are powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine with twin-scroll turbocharger, that develops 250ps at 5,550rpm and maximum torque of 365Nm from 1,200rpm to 4,500rpm.

The Velar P250 can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds and return an impressive 7.6-litres per 100km.

All vehicles distributed by Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia are compatible with the Malaysian climate, environment, fuel quality and meet the Malaysian emission standard.

Land Rover vehicles distributed by authorised dealers also come with Land Rover Care programme which includes a five-year warranty, five years’ free service and three years’ roadside assistance.

The mid-size Velar is positioned between the Range Rover Evoque and Sport.

The Velar is available in eight exterior colours - Fuji White, Yulong White, Corris Grey, Santorini Black, Kaikoura Stone, Firenze Red, Silicon Silver and Carpathian Grey.

There are five interior colour options of Ebony/Ebony, Acorn, Vintage Tan/Ebony, Eclipse/Ebony and Light Oyster/Ebony.

The Velar also has unique flush deployable door handles, which deploy when the vehicle is unlocked and retract once the vehicle is locked.

These door handles contribute to the low drag coefficient of only 0.32, making it the most aerodynamically-efficient Land Rover ever produced.

Standard across all three Velar variants are a smooth-shifting ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive, a Terrain Response system, Dynamic Stability Control, Hill Descent Control, Matrix LED headlights with Signature daytime running lights, automatic headlights, powered Gesture tailgate, 10-way powered seats, dual-zone climate control, six airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system, push-start ignition, and a 825W Meridian Surround Sound system with 17 speakers and subwoofer.

Also standard is the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system which features two 10-inch high-definition touchscreens integrated seamlessly behind secret-until-lit surfaces.

The Velar P250 has 20-inch rims while both the R-Dynamic variants have 21-inch rims.

Meanwhile, a unique optional item is Kvadrat highly durable wool-blend premium textile contrasted with Suede cloth, for those who prefer this option over the perforated grained leather for the P250 variant or perforated leather with suede cloth (depending on interior colour choice) in both R-Dynamic variants.

Kvadart is Europe’s leading manufacturer of high-quality design textiles.

The use of Kvadart premium textile in the Velar is unique to luxury SUVs of this segment.

Also, the Velar P250 gets a rear view camera while the R-Dynamic variants get extra kit like head-up display, a fixed panoramic roof and a surround camera system.

Meanwhile, the supercharged Velar R-Dynamic P380 is fitted with electronic air suspension, Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist and an extended full leather upgrade package.

Range Rover Velar P250 (priced at RM529,800)

- 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine with twin-scroll turbocharger
- 250ps at 5,550rpm
- 365Nm from 1,200rpm to 4,500rpm
- ZF eight-speed automatic transmission
- Four-wheel drive with Standard Driveline
- Terrain Response system
- Dynamic Stability Control
- Hill Descent Control
- Matrix LED headlights
- Signature daytime running lights
- Automatic headlights
- Powered Gesture tailgate
- Raining sensing wipers
- Intelligent High Beam Assist
- Reduced section steel spare wheel
- 10-way powered seats (with driver seat memory)
- 2-zone climate control
- Powered steering column
- 6 airbags
- Tyre pressure monitoring system
- Intrusion sensor
- Push start ignition
- Electric parking brake
- 825W Meridian Surround Sound system with 17 speakers and subwoofer
- InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system
- Two 10-inch high-definition touchscreens
- Navigation Pro system
- 12.3-inch high-definition Interactive Driver Display
- 20-inch wheels
- Perforated grained leather seats
- Head-up display (optional)
- Paddle shifters
- Rear view camera

Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic P250 (priced at RM588,800)

- R-Dynamic exterior pack
- 21-inch wheels
- Perforated grained leather and suede cloth seats
- Head-up display
- Fixed panoramic roof
- Surround camera system

Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic P380 (price not finalised)

- All-aluminium 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine
- 380ps at 6,500rpm
- 450Nm at 3,500rpm
- Electronic air suspension
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist
- Extended full leather upgrade

PHOTO GALLERY: Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic P250


Most Malaysian motorists would change car colour, says Nippon Paint poll

                PETALING JAYA: A Nippon Paint Malaysia Group survey among 515 car owners has revealed that 71% Malaysian car owners would choose to change their car colour.

Traditionally, car owners would change the colour of their cars only if factors such as road accidents or when they wish to sell their cars for a higher resale value.

The survey further revealed that 56% car owners were adventurous in their choice of colours and are receptive towards non-conventional colours such as yellow, purple, pink, orange, green, red and blue.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) usually provide consumers the choice of conventional monochromatic colours which are commonly white, black and silver. However, the survey which encompasses 21% female and 79% male respondents from the age range of 20-39 years shows that Malaysians are open to explore non-conventional and vibrant colours for their rides.

Other key insights unveiled in the survey showed that 57% Malaysians prefer compact vehicles while 25% prefer sport utility vehicles (SUV) or multipurpose vehicles (MPV) – demonstrating that consumers choose their type and model of cars based on not just users’ needs, but also their age and personality.

The survey was conducted by Nippon Paint in conjunction with the rollout of its Trend Colours for Mobility 18/19 (TCM 18/19), encompassing a series of 40 colours in four themes – “Transient Glow”, “Conscious Being”, “Essential Balance” and “Seeking Adventure”.

The TCM 2018/19 was derived through a meticulous colour forecasting workshop held amongst a group of 65 Asian design experts and colour enthusiasts from 11 countries throughout Asia such as Bangladesh, China, the Region of China including Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, as well as Sri Lanka.

These colours were forecasted to drive utilisation across Asian markets for the automobile industry for the year 2018 and 2019.

Elaborating on the inspiration behind Trend Colours for Mobility, Senior Marketing Manager of Nippon Paint Malaysia Group, Eugene Yong, commented, “Preferences, choices and style outlines individuals’ character and personality. As pioneers in the paint industry for over 50 years, Nippon Paint continuously pushes boundaries to re-think and re-create possibilities – be it for solutions or colours.

"We believe that these thematic, adventurous colours derived by Asian designers would not only hit the right notes amongst Malaysians but to also provide opportunities for personalisation to end consumers, as well as challenge the norms of utilising only conventional colours in the automobile industry.”

For more information on Nippon Paint’s Automotive Workshops and Colour Inspirations, visit https://automotive.nipponpaint.com.my/


UD Trucks and TCIE deliver first unit of light-duty Kuzer in Malaysia

                SHAH ALAM: UD Trucks and sole distributor partner Tan Chong Industrial Equipment Sdn Bhd (TCIE) have recently delivered the first ever unit of the all-new light-duty UD Kuzer to local transporter, Jun Hong Trading Sdn Bhd.

The all-new UD Kuzer was previewed one year ago at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS).

UD Kuzer is the newest light-duty truck in UD range of trucks currently being offered in Malaysia, complementing the existing heavy-duty UD Quester and medium-duty UD Croner.

Steve Hedouin, managing director, UD Trucks Hub Malaysia & Oceania says, “The delivery of our first unit of UD Kuzer signifies the growing partnership between UD Trucks, TCIE and our customer, in addition to heralding promising growth to all our businesses.”

Jaclyn Loy, chief operating officer of TCIE shares, “UD Kuzer provides our customers who have diverse logistics needs. It is designed as the perfect partner for efficient day-to-day urban deliveries as it fulfills all the requirements customers seek, from easy to maneuver to safety and fuel economy. It is a very capable light-duty truck with superior efficiency thanks to an optimized driveline.”

“We are extremely delighted with this handover to our valued customer Jun Hong Trading Sdn Bhd and would like to thank them for their support as our loyal customer for over 15 years."

UD Kuzer is designed for busy city deliveries as it provides great maneuverability with strong chassis, spacious cabin and better driving comfort. Its advance engine technology offers high performance and torque, delivering reliability, durability, power, comfort, and fuel efficiency. This truck also comes with real time Fuel Coach system to guide the driver on fuel savings optimization and UD Telematics as optional to track and improve truck and drivers’ performance.

Established more than 20 years ago, Jun Hong Trading Sdn Bhd is a specialist supplier of general merchandise including products for household and garden, car care and accessories and various handy tools and lifestyle products.

The company will be using its new UD Kuzer for deliveries to hypermarkets and departmental stores such as Mydin, Aeon/Aeon Big, Giant and TF Value Mart.

Chong Fook Loy, executive director of Jun Hong Trading Sdn Bhd shares, “We are honored to be the first in Malaysia to receive the new UD Kuzer. Our decision to buy it was spurred by our good experience with previous UD legacy models and the extensive and responsive aftermarket service coverage. This is important because our trucks deliver goods to all over Peninsula Malaysia. Our drivers’ positive feedback on UD Kuzer’s high horsepower and spacious cabin is also encouraging us to consider buying more units in the future.”

In Malaysia, customers of UD Trucks are supported by TCIE’s extensive network of 43 services centers and dealerships nationwide which provides the UD Extra Mile Support services comprising UD Genuine Service and Parts, UD Driver Training, UD Telematics Services and UD Trust Service Agreements.


CarSifu Auto Show 2022 JB: Sales ramp up at car show

Teh with daughter Tracy.
JOHOR BARU: Car buyers have expressed relief over the much shorter waiting period for their new vehicles.

Nutritionist Thomas Teh is taking advantage to book a Subaru Forester GT Edition with a RM197,000 price tag.

“I’m an avid reader of The Star CarSifu column and have been eyeing this model for quite some time now,” Teh said.

He was among the visitors to the Subaru booth at the CarSifu Auto Show 2022 taking place at the Mall, Mid Valley Southkey here until Sunday.

The 40-year-old, who has been working at a private specialist hospital in Singapore for 10 years, brought along his five-year-old daughter Tracy to the event.

Teh, who paid RM500 as the booking fee instead of RM1,000 under the company’s promotion, will test-drive the car today.

“The sales adviser informed me that the model I’ve booked is readily available,” said Teh, who has chosen white for his car’s colour.

He is giving himself about a month to get his car loan approved and the vehicle registered with the Road Transport Department.

Apart from the safety features, the price is affordable compared with continental cars, he added.

“I’m looking forward to driving the new car to celebrate Chinese New Year in my hometown in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

Ben Tan, a Malaysian living and working in Singapore, is also considering buying a Subaru SUV.

“My wife and I happened to be at the mall to do some shopping and we came across the car show,” said the 40-year-old.

The Penangite, who is married to a Singaporean and working as a shipping technical support officer, returns home to Johor Baru every week, during which they need a car to get around.

“My choice is the XV GT Edition at RM146,000 OTR. Subaru is a good car as I used to own one for six years,” he said.

Tan said a similar model sold in Singapore was priced at about S$150,000 (RM501,722) plus Certificate of Entitlement, adding that his brother just bought the car a month ago in Singapore.

“I’m hoping to get the new car just in time to go back to Penang for Chinese New Year as we have not returned to celebrate the festival for more than two years,” he said.

The five-day event, organised by Star Media Group, sees five car companies comprising Volvo, Toyota, Subaru, Proton and Honda displaying their latest models. — ZAZALI MUSA


Rolls-Royce creates the cleanest micro environment in a car

                LONDON: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has launched a new Micro Environment Purification System (MEPS), which creates the cleanest micro environment available in a motor car.

Using the latest sensor and Nanofleece filtration technology, Rolls-Royce engineers sought to elevate the exceptional air quality within its existing motor cars to unprecedented levels of purity, recognising the importance of protecting clients from harmful carbon and pollen particles, as well as viruses and bacterial contaminants.

Highly sensitive Impurity Detection Sensors have been introduced to detect ambient air quality, automatically switching fresh air intakes to Recirculation Mode if unacceptable levels of airborne contaminants are present.

This channels all cabin air through a Nanofleece filter, which is capable of removing nearly all ultra-fine particles, viruses and bacteria from the Rolls-Royce's micro environment in less than two minutes.

For the new Ghost, which debuts in autumn 2020, this technology has been further developed to incorporate a full suite of hardware and software improvements, collectively known as the Micro Environment Purification System.

Following the initial implementation of this technology, clients in future will be able to remotely pre-condition the micro environment within their Rolls-Royce via the vehicle's app in preparation for their arrival.


Safety board to tackle road accidents, says transport minister

                KAJANG: The establishment of the Malaysian Transportation Safety Board is among the measures which will be implemented to address road accidents, especially those involving express buses.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the establishment of the body was among the suggestions raised in the “Recommendation Review Panel” (RRP) report which reviewed the Genting Highlands bus accident in August 2013, which took 37 lives.

He said other proposals were on compulsory wearing of safety belts for passengers in new express and tour buses as well as ensuring all buses were equipped with brake retarder system as well as the installation of speed limiter gadget.

“It will also be made compulsory to install closed circuit television (CCTV) on all new buses apart from raising the level of bus driver welfare,” he told reporters after a handing over ceremony of the RRP report with contained 51 suggestions over the Genting Highlands bus accident at the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) here today.

He also said the compulsory wearing of safety belts for all new express and tour bus passengers would start next year and enforcement on compliance would be carried out in 2020.

Meanwhile, Loke said 54 per cent or 27 of 51 suggestions found in the report had been implemented while 38 per cent or 19 suggestions were partially implemented and eight per cent (four suggestions) have yet to be implemented.

He said the appointment of panel members to study the implementation of 51 suggestions had been carried out since July 19.

Loke said the review panel would be jointly chaired by Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Saripuddin Kasim and MIROS chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.


Online link to check Toyota recalls

                SHAH ALAM: UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd has added a new section to its website that enables Toyota owners to easily check if their vehicles are involved in a recall.

Owners are advised to visit the Toyota Malaysia link and follow the instructions to fix their cars if necessary.

The Toyota distributor said the new link was a way to improve its reach as some vehicles may have changed ownership and further recalls may not have reached the current owners.

UMW Toyota Motor urges Toyota car owners to periodically visit the link and act on any recalls affecting their cars.


Germany to have 1 million electric cars on the road in July, says paper

                BERLIN: Germany will in July have 1 million electric cars on the road, hitting its target six months late, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier told Tagesspiegel daily today, saying subsidy programmes had boosted demand.

"We will reach our target of 1 million electric cars by 2020, which everyone thought was unattainable, this July, just six months late," the minister was quoted as saying.

"More bonuses have been taken up in the first half of 2021 than in the whole of last year," he added, saying they amounted to €1.25 billion (RM6.2bil). Subsidies were increased during the coronavirus pandemic.

Altmaier also said that Germany may exceed its longer-term goal of having 7-10 million electric vehicles on its streets.


April 14-20: Fuel prices unchanged

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail prices of RON97 and RON95 petrol as well as diesel will remain unchanged from April 14 to April 20.

The Finance Ministry said today the retail prices of RON97 and RON95 remains unchanged at RM3.81 and RM2.05 a litre respectively, with diesel fixed at RM2.15 a litre.

The price is based on the determination of the retail price of petroleum products on a weekly basis using the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.


Feuding Korean firms risk disrupting electric car battery supplies

                SEOUL: In 2018, South Korea’s SK Innovation beat its larger, local rival LG Chem to a multibillion dollar deal to supply German carmaker Volkswagen with electric vehicle batteries in the United States.

With great fanfare, SK Innovation (SKI) broke ground in March on a US$1.7 billion factory in Commerce, Georgia, about 200km from VW’s Chattanooga plant, which will be the automakers electric vehicle hub in the United States.

LG Chem (LGC) had other ideas.

Stung by missing out on the VW deal to the new kid on the block and the departure of 77 employees for its rival across the Han River in Seoul, LGC took SKI to court in the United States in April accusing it of misappropriating trade secrets.

Fast forward seven months and the two firms have hit each other with US lawsuits for battery patent infringements in a bitter row that threatens to disrupt the launches of electric vehicles (EVs) by some of the world’s biggest carmakers.

US court filings reviewed by Reuters show the feuding firms are trying to stop each other from importing and selling EV batteries destined for the SUVs VW will build in Tennessee as well as GM’s Bolt, Ford's pickups, Jaguar’s I-Pace, Audi’s e-tron, and Kia Motor’s Niro.

At stake is the Korean firms’ ability to supply automakers in the United States with batteries just as the car producers are scrambling to lock in supplies with lucrative contracts ahead of an expected surge in demand, according to court filings by the two companies and several industry experts.

“Whoever loses the fight would suffer a fatal blow, unless the two reach a settlement. This will also be a setback for automakers,” said Cho Jae-phil, a professor at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology who worked previously at another Korean rival, Samsung SDI.

Ford spokesman Jennifer Flake said it was encouraging LGC and SKI to resolve their conflict without litigation and that it believed there was sufficient demand for multiple suppliers.

“We are aware of the issue. As a normal course of action, we have business continuity plans in place to protect our interests,” Flake said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

GM spokesman Patrick Morrissey said the company was aware of the dispute and at this point it did not expect any impact on the production of its Chevy Bolt electric vehicle.

Kia, Jaguar Land Rover and Volkswagen, which also owns Audi, declined to comment.

Trade secrets

Volkswagen has said it is worried there won’t be enough batteries for all the EVs it plans to launch in the next five years, partly because producers such as LGC and China’s CATL don’t have enough skilled workers for new plants in Europe to ramp up output quickly.

According to Korea’s battery industry tracker SNE Research, the market for EV batteries — the most expensive and important component in the vehicles — is set to grow 23% a year to reach US$167 billion by 2025, making it bigger than the global memory chip market which is expected to be worth US$150 billion by then.

In one court filing, LGC said its rival poached employees working on its own project to supply batteries for VW’s MEB electric vehicle architecture — and that SKI only won the VW contract because it had misappropriated trade secrets.

 The Bolt battery is installed on the floor.

If the ITC rules in favour of LGC on June 5, when it is due to make a preliminary ruling, that could jeopardise SKI’s plans to supply VW in the United States with batteries from Georgia or a new factory in Hungary, according to court filings.

In April, LGC asked the US International Trade Commission to block SKI from bringing batteries and components into the United States, as well as manufacturing systems needed for US production which is scheduled to start in 2022.

The SKI spokesman said there had been no change to its schedule for the factory, which will have the capacity to make batteries for more than 200,000 EVs a year. He said SKI had received inquiries about the lawsuits from customers, including if they would have an impact on supplies, without elaborating.

LGC said a final ruling on the case would be made on Oct 5 next year but it asked the ITC earlier this month to make a so-called default judgment against SKI quickly.

The US trade commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

War of words

The patent infringement lawsuits lodged by the companies in the United States, meanwhile, mean that if one, or both, lose they probably won’t be able to market products using the patents in question in the country, the companies said in court filings. The two have taken their feud to South Korean courts as well.

LGC said in a statement it would be impossible to design around its patents, while SKI said losing the patents case could create “substantial setbacks” to its battery business.

SKI and LGC said there had been no supply disruptions yet.

LGC was an early industry force to be reckoned with, winning a deal in 2008 to supply batteries for GM’s Volt, the world’s first mass-market, plug-in hybrid car, and it has since worked with almost every EV maker including Tesla.

But LGC has been grappling with an exodus of workers: 1,258 employees jumped ship from 2016 to 2018, according to its sustainability reports. The company said the total number of staff who have joined SKI since 2016 has risen since it filed its complaint in April to about 100.

The bitterness of the fight is worrying Korean government officials on the grounds it could damage the firms’ reputations and let rivals win market share from South Korean companies.

Lawmakers have called on the government to intervene and Industry Minister Sung Yoon-mo said in October it was watching the dispute closely to see how and when it could play a role to bring about a “positive outcome for the country overall”.

Beejay Kim, a battery consultant, said Volkswagen may have to broker a truce as the dispute could disrupt not only battery suppliers but also reduce competition between its vendors.

“No one wants them to fight till the end,” he said.


Proton SUV to get lane keep assist; ACC; voice control; bird's eye view

                PETALING JAYA: The new Proton SUV (sport utility vehicle) will get premium features like lane keeping assist, voice command, adaptive cruise control and 360-degree 3D view.

The national automaker has posted a video revealing its first SUV's features, on the official Proton Facebook page, together with an online poll that invites the public to vote for the name of its first SUV.

The video shows the Geely Boyue, on which the Proton SUV is based, performing dynamic manoeuvres on a snow-covered landscape and a test track.This will be the first time that such premium safety and driver-assist technologies are found in a Proton car.

In a statement, Proton says its SUV "will be the first premium C-segment SUV produced by a Malaysian automotive brand and will be equipped with features usually found on more expensive rivals including a long list of passive, active and cognitive safety systems."

Lane keeping assist uses a camera to read lane markings and adjusts the steering to maintain the car safely within the lane.

Adaptive cruise control helps to avoid accidents by automatically keeping the car at a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, by using a radar sensor that measures the distance to the vehicle ahead, and also controlling the speed of the car.

Meanwhile, a 360-degree 3D view of the car is obtained via software that stitches visual data from cameras placed around the car, and this is a boon when parking a car in tight spaces.

As for voice command, this allows convenient voice-enabled control of in-car functions such as radio, navigation, phone calls, media entertainment and air-conditioning temperature.

READ MORE:
2017 Geely Boyue: Quick test drive in Ningbo
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Geely group's remarkable rise via tech takeovers
New Perodua SUV coming this year, says research house

The Proton SUV is due for a fourth-quarter launch, and is based on the popular 5-seater Geely Boyue.

The top-grade Boyue has a powerful 1.8-litre turbocharged engine, and a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Meanwhile, the online poll concerning the name of the Proton SUV will run till April 30 and is open to all Malaysians.

Poll participants are in the running to get RM100,000 worth of gift vouchers while five winners will be chosen based on the best reasons given for the name they voted for.

The winners will get a "money-can’t-buy" experience consisting of exclusive VIP invites to the SUV launch and being among the first to test drive the car at Proton’s test track in Shah Alam.

Also, if a proposed alternative name for the SUV is chosen, the lucky winner will get a 4D/3N tour package to Hangzhou and Shanghai for two.


Raikkonen says 'crazy' to question refusal to take knee

Raikkonen.— AP
SPIELBERG (Austria): Kimi Raikkonen said Thursday it was "crazy" to question why six drivers refused to take a knee alongside Lewis Hamilton, insisting "each individual has the right to do what they feel most comfortable".

Six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and 13 other drivers all took a knee on the grid just before last weekend's season-opening Austrian Grand Prix to show their support of anti-racism protests.

However, six remained standing.

They were former world champion Raikkonen, his Alfa Romeo team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Red Bull's Max Verstappen, Daniil Kvyat of Alpha Tauri and Carlos Sainz of McLaren.

"F1 and all the teams are doing the best they can so I think it's a bit crazy to question things, but that's how the world is," said Raikkonen. "Everyone has a right to do what they feel like.

He told Sky Sports: "All the drivers are definitely against racism and we all had the search.

"I am more than happy to help on these things but each individual has the right to do how they feel most comfortable, so I think F1 and all the teams are doing the best that they can."

Kvyat said that taking a knee was not an appropriate action for him as a Russian while Leclerc said he had been offended by some social media reaction to his decision to stand last Sunday.

Haas driver Romain Grosjean, president of the Grand Prix Drivers Association that proposed action last weekend, said it was clear "100 percent of the drivers were in line with the bid to end racism."

Many paddock observers, however, pointed to F1's failure to make a united collective gesture as seen at all English Premier League football matches and many other sports.

"We wanted and we had 100 percent of the drivers united with the message 'End Racism', which was something very important for us all," added Grosjean.

"Everyone has a different way of showing support and I believe that taking the knee was the right message, as a sportsman, to emphasise the 'End Racism' T-shirt that we had.

"But others had a different view."


London borough seeks crackdown on noisy supercars

                LONDON: On one of London's most exclusive streets, the drivers of some expensive cars are getting ready to leave their parking spots.

The owners of the Lamborghini and KTM X-Bow edge onto the road and drive off, the roar of their engines heard down Sloane Street.

Such supercars are a regular sight in the wealthy Knightsbridge neighbourhood - home to some of the British capital's most expensive properties.

And while they draw admiring glances from passersby, residents complain their drivers make too much noise, often at late hours.

"The real problem for us is at night when they race up and down ... revving their cars at high speed and making a really horrific noise," resident Panda Morgan-Thomas said. "It's quite impossible to sleep and that's the real problem."

Residents' complaints have now reached a point where the local council is planning to act.

Last week, the Kensington and Chelsea borough said it had begun consultation on introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), based on 2014 legislation intended to deal with nuisances seen as detrimental to local communities.

The PSPO would prohibit the revving of engines, rapid acceleration and playing loud music among other activities.

"These are very wealthy people ... who drive these sports cars, very upmarket models which have the facility to switch into sports mode," Nick Paget-Brown, leader of Kensington and Chelsea council, told Reuters. "(This) means they can make an incredible amount of noise, even when they are stationary."

According to the council, failure to comply with a PSPO means a fine of 100 pounds (RM598) or potentially prosecution.

Residents say the drivers are locals or visitors from other countries, such as the Gulf states, who ship over the supercars.

Standing by his gold Ferrari, Iraqi kick-boxer Riyadh al-Azzawi said he agreed with the measure, adding that not all supercar owners were noisy drivers.

"At least we can stop these people from doing all of that because that ruins people's image," he said. "People come (here) to drive because we love cars ... people taking pictures - it's something nice."


Volkswagen in j-v for automated software integration

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen is strengthening its expertise in the integration of automotive software through a joint venture with TraceTronic, a world-leading provider of solutions to test and integrate automotive software.

Each partner holds 50 percent in the joint venture, named neocx, which will create a continuous integration/continuous testing (CI/CT) factory.

This is a platform which brings together high-performance tools for the automated testing and integration of automotive software and networked services. In this way, Volkswagen aims to accelerate the development of digital functions such as over-the-air updates, which are provided to the owners of ID. vehicles every three months. Prior to this, the updates are to be integrated and tested with solutions from neocx. This makes the new joint venture a key contributor to the development process.

The neocx CI/CT factory is to provide scalable development and testing tools in response to the exponential increase in the size of software packages and data volumes in fully networked vehicles. It will make it possible to incorporate individual software components into integrated systems – such as driver assistance systems – at an early stage of development in order to test their compatibility and performance.

The high-performance solutions from TraceTronic are the basis for this approach. In addition, the partners aim to consistently expand the functional scope of the platform. They are deploying new technologies and test processes from fields including machine learning, data analytics and scenario-based testing. The consistent use of cloud technology also facilitates the creation and integration of a highly scalable virtual testing environment.

Volkswagen can already leverage internal group synergies in developing software for its fully networked vehicles. CARIAD, the Group’s software company, is developing a standard software platform for all Group brands. neocx is a further building block in transforming the Volkswagen brand into a software-based mobility provider and has the goal of integrating the digital functions developed by CARIAD into Volkswagen’s vehicles, testing them in highly automated processes and accelerating the roll-out to customers.

Volkswagen is collaborating closely with Audi and Porsche in these activities. It is planned that the CI/CT factory will also be used by the sister brands in the future, thus harmonizing the testing and integration landscape across the Volkswagen Group. The standard interfaces will also facilitate the integration of development partners, suppliers and third-party tools.

Work on the CI/CT factory will start immediately. neocx will deploy agile methods and grow its workforce to a three-digit figure in the years ahead. The young company is therefore seeking to recruit additional experts for its main location in Dresden and its secondary location in Wolfsburg.

Video: Volkswagen and TraceTronic establish neocx

Video


How does your choice of in-car music affect your driving style?

                BERLIN: We listen to twice as much music in our cars than we do at home. International studies have shown that pop, rock, jazz and classical music can certainly have a positive effect on a driver's mood.

But doesn't music distract drivers from what’s happening on the road, and thus endanger traffic safety? "That depends entirely on the current mood and the emotional connection to the music heard," says traffic psychologist Thomas Wagner.

The key criteria in determining the impact music can have on driving are, above all, the rhythm, volume and tempo of the music. "Hard rock, for example, increases the mental load, which can be seen in a reduced heart rate variability," says the psychologist from Dekra, a vehicle testing organisation.

The heartbeat becomes steadier and thus more uniform as the organism adapts to the situation of tension. This is a biological indicator of stress processes that take place in the body, which makes it possible to "measure" whether the music requires mental resources. This, in turn, is not conducive to the task of driving, and can negatively influence, for example, lane changes, passing or right-of-way situations.

Even people who hear their favourite music in the car and react emotionally strongly to it can become a danger to traffic safety as a result. "Although the music heightens one’s mood – in a way comparable to a low alcohol or drug enjoyment – at the same time it reduces conscientiousness while driving," warns Wagner.

In addition, listening to your favourite music can cause increase distraction levels, as your thoughts might wander or recall emotional experiences associated with a particular song.

"As a result, the attention resources are heavily constrained and there is less mental capacity for the driving tasks on the road," explains the expert.

Wagner thus has the following piece of advice. While a person’s favourite album can dispel bad moods and aggressive tendencies, this is only in connection with an exercise known as the thought-stop:

"By imagining a stop sign sliding out in front of negative thoughts, you can prevent yourself from constantly thinking about this particular annoyance."

Then you should get out of the car. Next, "take a deep breath, walk around a bit, re-arrange your thoughts, insert your favourite CD and continue," says Wagner.


Transport minister denies new tint ruling to generate income

                PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Minister says a committee will vet all applications for full car tints that are based on security or health reasons.

Rejecting the claim that the ministry changed its policy on tinting just to generate revenue for the government, Anthony Loke said the setting up of the committee would ensure no abuse of power by the minister or Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general.

He said although the government considered the potential revenue involved, this did not mean that “those able to afford the RM5,000 charge will get their applications approved”.

“There will be a committee and processes (to follow) particularly, to filter out those with criminal records. I have surrendered my power to this committee,” he told a press conference at the ministry here yesterday.

READ MORE: New govt policy allows fully darkened rear windows and windshield

Loke was responding to his predecessor Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai’s views that the RM5,000 charge seemed to be “only looking at the revenue side”.

The former minister was reported by a news portal as saying that previously, JPJ used its discretion to approve applications and that the new ruling implied that anyone could apply as long as they could pay.

According to ministry statistics, there were 1,631 applications for security and 349 applications for health reasons submitted last year.

Loke maintained that the ministry had considered the views of the police before changing the policy on car tinting, which he said was based on findings of a workshop held in 2014. “Some supported our move and some did not. We respect all views, and what has been decided upon took into account all considerations and factors,” he said.

Loke said the workshop decided on amending the allowed Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) level for rear windows from 50% to 30%. VLT refers to the amount of light that passes through a lens or glass. The lower the VLT rate, the more light is blocked.

Conceding that there was no follow-up to the previous workshop, Loke explained that United Nations regulations did not specify any VLT level for the rear windshield and windows.

“What we have decided (on the VLT) is in line with international standards,” he said.

Loke said vehicle tinting regulations fell under the jurisdiction of his ministry, adding that JPJ director-general Datuk Seri Shaharuddin Khalid would work with the police to coordinate enforcement on the latest ruling.

Bukit Aman Department of Investigation and Traffic Enforcement director Deputy Comm Datuk Azisman Alias had said that police were not consulted on the new tinting ruling.

He said the latest ruling compromised on safety of policemen as it would make it harder for them to observe passengers seated at the back seat.


Kia teases first images of all-new Sportage

                SEOUL: Kia has revealed the first official teaser images of the all-new Sportage – the fifth incarnation of the brand’s most popular SUV model.

Due to be revealed in July in South Korea, the new Sportage has been designed to set new benchmarks in its segment – for its advanced exterior and interior design, connectivity tech, and responsive yet highly efficient powertrains.

In September, and for the first time in the model’s 28-year history, Kia Europe will unveil a dedicated European version of the Sportage.

Revealed earlier this year, Kia’s new design language – Opposites United – is at the core of the Sportage. The early images hint at an assertive and cutting-edge presence for the SUV – paying homage to nature’s perfection and simplicity whilst connecting with the brand’s new design direction.

The new Sportage has a muscular stance and a strong yet refined silhouette. Notable new details include the crisp, taut character lines that ripple across the surfaces. The front creates a provocative statement, with a detail-orientated black grille graphic spanning the width of the face. At the rear, muscular shoulder lines drop gently to meet slim daytime-running lamps, which flank the new Kia logo and Sportage emblem.

The interior design sketch reveals a driver-orientated space that plays with boldness in character, softness in qualities and innovation in technology. At the core is a sculpted integrated curved display.

“Taking inspiration from an ethos we created where nature meets modernity, the new Sportage challenges design norms with an adventurous yet contemporary exterior and a beautifully detailed and pioneering interior,” said Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Design Center. “With new Sportage, we didn’t simply want to take one step forward, but rather move to a completely different level within the SUV class.”

More details regarding design features of the all-new Sportage will be unveiled in the coming weeks, as well as information on the European version and UK specification.


China's BYD wins five-star Euro NCAP rating for Atto 3 electric SUV

                LONDON: BYD today received a coveted five-star Euro NCAP safety rating for its electric Atto 3 crossover SUV, the latest Chinese carmaker to receive top marks as it seeks to gain a foothold in Europe's competitive car market.

Two other Chinese-made cars - the eCitroënC5 X, built by a joint venture between Stellantis and Dongfeng and the Mobilize Limo, an electric sedan made by Renault together with Jiangling Motors - received four-star ratings.

Ratings from the European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) are not binding, as it does not certify vehicles for road use.

But European consumers pay attention to Euro NCAP's safety tests and carmakers aggressively market good ratings.

Last month, Chinee rival Great Wall Motor received five-star ratings for its WEY brand Coffee 01 hybrid SUV and its ORA brand Funky Cat electric sedan.

Just this week BYD launched the Atto 3 in India, which sells in China as the Yuan Plus.

Last week, German car rental company Sixt said it has committed to buying around 100,000 electric vehicles from China's BYD in the coming years.

Among the other cars receiving a five-star rating today was Mercedes-Benz's EQE electric sedan.

The vehicle's driver assistance system - including one that moves the car to the slowest lane on a highway and brings it to a halt if the driver becomes unresponsive - made it the highest-scoring car so far for assisted-driving functions, Euro NCAP said.


March 25-31: RON97 petrol up three sen, rest unchanged

                PETALING JAYA: The price of RON97 petrol will increase by three sen from RM2.47 to 2.50 per litre from March 25 to 31, says the Finance Ministry.

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

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


Fast and the Furious: 'Tokyo Drift' Nissan 350 Z up for sale

                LONDON: Movie memorabilia comes in all shapes, sizes and price ranges, but you'll need pretty deep pockets if you want to snap up a particularly interesting item that has just been put up for sale from the 2006 film "Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift."

That's because it's the Nissan 350 Z that, as well as appearing in the film, also featured in the majority of the promotional material, and it's now being advertised for sale through the Auto Trader magazine and website in Britain.

In the film, the 350 Z was owned by Takashi, aka the "Drift King" (DK), and was memorably equipped with a nitrous oxide system, although it appears that was only for cinematic purposes, of course. The Nissan is particularly recognisable due to the distinctive artwork on the body, which was very much on display during the drift races Takashi took part in around Tokyo in the film.

The car is being advertised for sale by the car retailer Auto Logix, which claims to be selling it on behalf of a collector who bought it originally from Universal Pictures after the film was released. It seems the 350 Z was first registered in Japan back in 2002, and it's said to look every-inch how you would expect a car to look that has starred in a street racing movie.

Anyone who's genuinely interested in the car described by the seller as "the most famous 350 Z in the world" will be pleased to know it's available to buy on finance, which is probably just as well considering it's advertised for sale at an eye-watering asking price of £99,950 (RM544,000).

It's believed a total of six of these 350 Z models were written-off during production of the movie, and the one being sold through Auto Trader is one of only two to survive the filming, and the only one to feature the performance upgrades.


Hydrogen cars a step closer in Sydney after Hyundai supply deal

                SYDNEY: Hydrogen-powered vehicles could soon be more common on the streets of Australia’s biggest city after Hyundai Motor Co. reached a supply deal for the zero-emissions fuel with local producers.

Hyundai Australia has signed a memorandum of understanding with Jemena Ltd. and Coregas to produce and supply hydrogen generated from solar and wind power to the South Korean company’s Sydney hub from early 2021.

“A lack of critical refueling infrastructure is regularly cited as a hand-brake to hydrogen vehicle sales,” Frank Tudor, Jemena’s managing director, said in a statement. The agreement “is an opportunity to demonstrate that renewably-generated hydrogen gas can be made directly available to the vehicle and transport sectors,” he said.

Fuel cell electric vehicles combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, which runs the motor. A fully-charged FCEV can travel around 650km, giving them a bigger range than pure electric vehicles, which generally only stretch to 150km.

The global hydrogen vehicle industry was estimated to be worth around US$650 million in 2018 and is expected to grow rapidly in the years ahead, according to Jemena, jointly owned by State Grid of China and Singapore Power.

Hyundai’s Macquarie Park showroom in Sydney is currently the only hydrogen refuelling site in Australia. Another is under construction in Canberra, with more planned for Melbourne and Brisbane.

The Australian government is also seeking to build a hydrogen export industry over the next decade by harnessing the country’s natural advantages of using renewable power to manufacture the fuel.


Audi introduces laser lights

INGOLSTADT (Germany): Audi is revealing the headlights of its new R8 as the first of a number of technology highlights of the top sports car. The R8 uses LED headlights which can be supplemented by a laser high‑beam lighting module as an option.

The new R8 will set new standards among high‑performance sports cars – including in its lighting technology. As an option, the latest car development by Audi can be equipped with a laser spot as the high‑beam headlight. The special appeal of laser lighting is that it uses high‑intensity laser diodes, which generate a lot of light energy from a very small component. Compared to LED high‑beam headlights, laser high‑beams attain nearly twice the lighting range.

Each headlight contains one laser module that operates with four high‑intensity laser diodes. This module bundles the four intense blue‑light laser beams. Then a phosphor converter transforms the blue light into pure white light. An identifying characteristic of the laser headlights is their blue light signature. Standard equipment in the new R8 includes an LED headlight system. All lighting functions are produced with 37 LEDs per headlight.

The laser spot is the latest production technology in a long line of lighting innovations. Audi introduced LED technology to the market for the first time in 2004 – in the daytime running lights of the Audi A8 L W12. Lighting technologies such as LED daytime running lights, Matrix LED headlights and laser spot high‑beam lights are prime examples of technology that visualize the core values of the Audi brand: progressiveness, sportiness and sophistication.

In related news, Audi is extending its lead in the field of automotive lighting technology with a new lighting competence center at the company’s site in Ingolstadt.

Vehicles can be driven into this underground light tunnel, which is 120 meters long and offers new possibilities, especially for the development of innovative lighting solutions and camera-based lighting assistance systems.

“Audi is the leading brand for automotive lighting technology,” stated Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development. “From the xenon plus headlight to the matrix‑LED headlight to the laser light, we have been putting pioneering innovations into series production for the past 20 years. Light is part of an automobile’s aesthetics and is becoming an interactive medium of information.”


Family trip across 6,011km in Indochina on SYM bikes

                KUALA LUMPUR: The SYM Sport Rider 125i moped and VTS200 scooter took expert biker and mechanic Rusli Osman, his wife Yong Suzi and 13-year-old daughter Yong Sofea on a 16-day journey that spanned 6,011km and six Indochina borders.

The exciting family motorbike road trip started at SYM headquarters, Alma in Bukit Mertajam, Penang on November 28 last year and ended on December 14 at the same venue.

"We rode to Bangkok city via highway from Malaysia, then from Cambodia to Vietnam via rocky and laterite roads, follow by a few climbs at Tub Berk, Mae Sot and Umphang in Thailand," recalled Rusli, 37, at a recent press conference.

Rusli said the journey cost RM3,380 and highlights included visiting the Angkor Wat monument in Siem Reap, Cambodia as well as the Death Railway Bridge on the River Kwai, Thailand.

During the trip, the family crossed the Thai border at Bukit Kayu Hitam, following which they travelled to Hua Hin by the Gulf of Siam, up to Pattaya, Koh Khong Phnom Penh in Cambodia, Moc Bai at the Vietnam border, Siem Reap through the Wats of Cambodia, Udonthani, Kho Kao, Myawaddy in Myanmar and Kanchanaburi where the famous Durian Festival is held annually.

When asked what was the strangest thing that happened throughout their whole journey, the family cited a gravity-defying place in Mae Sot Thailand called Magic Hill, where they say vehicles roll up by itself which is said to be due to electromagnetic fields at the top of the mountain.

“Heavy traffic at certain stretches in Thailand due to road upgrades made the journey much longer, and road conditions were also challenging. But we got through, and we were happy with the suspension of our Sport Rider 125i and VTS200 motorbikes and its fuel consumption of 48 to 52km per litre,” said Rusli.

The digital LCD speedometer on Sport Rider 125i is a handy instrument cluster indeed.

“It shows multiple duties such as time, gear read-out, odometer, fuel and battery gauge which are really helpful to plan our journey ahead,” said Rusli.

Both motorcycles were sent to SYM Service Centre at Alma for servicing a few days before the trip.

Subsequent services were done at Phnom Penh and Nakorn Sawan respectively, after every 2,000km.

"There were no mechanical or technical issues along the journey. We just suffered tyre punctures."

MForce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd is the distributor for SYM motorcycles in Malaysia, while Malaysia Formula Bikes Sdn Bhd is the importer and assembler.

Also present at the press conference was Malaysia Formula Bikes managing director Datuk Seri Arifuddin M. Shah.

SYM Sport Rider 125i

SYM Sport Rider 125i is the first moped launched by SYM equipped with EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) and its engine is Euro 3 compliant.

The 123cc bike has a few superbike design elements such as tubular framework of naked bike at sides, sporty-looking muffler and fender at the rear.

The SYM Sport Riders 125i comes with a two-valve SOHC engine that produces 9.5hp at 8,000rpm and 10.8Nm of torque at 5,500rpm.

There is a digital panel meter in LCD for easy data reading.

Weighing in at 107kg, the SYM Sport Rider 125i comes with a 4.2-litre fuel tank under the seat.

Braking is taken care of by hydraulic discs front and drum rear, attached to cast alloy wheels.

The bright daytime running front LED light and signal ensure the motorbike can be seen from far easily for rider-safety.

Tubeless tyres reduce the chances of immediate deflation in case of puncture.

Also, the seats for rider and pillion are designed to be apart.

This unique design feature is the first in Malaysia to enhance the comfort level and safety of both passengers.

The SYM Sport Rider 125i retails for RM5,450 (exclusive GST) and has a three-year or 30,000km (whichever is first) warranty including a one-year or 10,000km engine warranty.

SYM VTS200 LE

The SYM VTS200 LE (limited edition) scooter is priced at RM11,100 (excluding GST), with a two-year or 20,000km (whichever is first) warranty.

The 171cc 4-stroke scooter outputs 14.5ps at 8,000rpm and 13.7Nm at 6,500rpm and comes with a 14.7-litre fuel tank.

There is a huge storage space of 45 litres underneath the seat, which can hold two full face helmets.

Also, there is a Neo socket for charging electronic devices.

It is designed with comfortable and wide seating with good back support.


VW ID.4 GTX marks introduction of GTX performance series

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen has announced that performance models of the ID. family would wear the GTX badge, starting with the ID.4 GTX.

Similar to GTI and GTE, it stands for top performance models in the electric world.

"The letters GT have long stood for driving pleasure," said Klaus Zellmer, Board Member for Marketing and Sales at the Volkswagen brand. “Now the X is building the bridge to the mobility of the future. Sustainability and sportiness are not mutually exclusive, but complement each other intelligently."

The GTX models come with an extra electric motor on the front axle bringing all-wheel drive into the ID. family. The additional motor kicks in automatically when very high performance or strong traction are required. In the new “Traction” driving mode, it is even permanently activated.

In addition, sporty design details and their own light signature will underline the top performance of the GTX models.

According to the UK's Autocar, the ID.4 GTX is expected to have a combined output of 302hp and 461Nm of torque, giving a claimed 0-100kph sprint time of 6.2s.


Fuel prices rise 4 sen across the board

                PETALING JAYA: Fuel prices will go up by four sen from midnight Wednesday.

The new prices for RON95 will be RM2.12 (from RM2.08) per litre, RON97 at RM2.40 (RM2.36), and diesel from RM1.99 to RM2.03 per litre.

The new prices will come into effect from May 25 until May 31.

The prices were announced on RTM1 and posted on the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry’s Twitter account on Wednesday evening.

The weekly fuel pricing mechanism came into effect from April this year.

The prices of petrol and diesel had been placed on a managed monthly float system since Dec 1, 2014, following the removal of fuel subsidies.


Going greener with 1,000hp plug-in hybrid Audi

                INGOLSTADT: Audi uses a plug-in hybrid locomotive with 1,000hp of combined output for its plant in Ingolstadt, Germany, as a way to go greener.

The locomotive, manufactured by Alstom, will replace the rest of the plant’s locomotives from now on, which means that the German brand’s components and finished products will reach its respective loading stations with a reduced contribution to global warming.

The plant employs 17 Audi locomotive drivers for its 18km of railway lines and 15 goods trains arrive at its North railway station everyday loaded with pressed parts, engines and transmissions, as well as cars from other Audi sites that are ready for delivery to customers – also via rail.

With wagon being allocated by the driver to the various plant buildings, each locomotive gets to carry up to 75 shunting maneuvers every day and operates for an average of 3,800 hours each year.

However, the new locomotive runs without any emissions inside the plant buildings and can operate for up to two hours at a time in purely electric mode.

The battery is plugged in during breaks and recharges with carbon dioxide (CO2)-free electricity, or is supported while in motion by a diesel engine.

Hybrid locomotives are significantly quieter and their CO2 emissions are reduced by half compared with conventional locomotives at the plant, which means they emit up to 60 tons less of CO2 each year and is a step closer to a CO2-neutral factory.

“Our goal is all-round sustainable logistics and the new railway technology allows more economical, energy-efficient and low-emission rail transport,” said Audi plant railway head Johann Schmid.


Indonesia produces maiden batch of biodiesel made of 100% palm oil

                JAKARTA: Indonesia's state oil company PT Pertamina produced its first successful batch of biodiesel made up of 100% palm oil (D100) in its Dumai refinery last week and is set to produce 1,000 barrels per day (bpd), the company said on Wednesday.

Indonesia, which has one of the world's most ambitious biodiesel programmes, raised the bio-content in its biodiesel mandate to 30% (B30) late last year from 20% (B20) before, and is planning to upgrade the bio-content gradually to 100%.

"This trial shows that our refinery and catalysts are ready. Next, we have to think how to make the economic side work too," Pertamina CEO Nicke Widyawati said in a statement.

In Indonesia - the world's largest palm oil producer - the bio portion of biodiesel is made with fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) from palm oil, but efforts to increase FAME concentrations in biodiesel have faced resistance from users.

While biodiesel can cut fuel costs and reduce emissions, higher blends of FAME require special handling and equipment as the fuel has a solvent effect that can corrode engine seals and gasket materials, and it can solidify at cold temperatures.

Instead of using crude palm oil to create FAME and mixing it with regular diesel, the D100 "Green Diesel", processes refined, bleached and deodorised palm oil straight into its refinery using catalytic cracking and hydrogen gas, the statement said.

The biodiesel programme is a key part of the government’s strategy to soak up excess supplies of palm oil and curb expensive fuel imports, one of the main contributors to the country’s current account deficit problem.

In May, Indonesia said it is likely to delay plans to raise bio-content in palm oil-based biodiesel to 40%, amid speculation that low crude prices could force a government re-think.