Dr M's new car brand to be Asean effort to weather trade war

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s third push to build a national car brand may see it sourcing parts from South-East Asian neighbours, as the region forges stronger ties to weather out the US-China trade tensions.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s dream of developing a homegrown automotive brand has courted interest from neighbouing countries, Minister of International Trade and Industry Darell Leiking said in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s Sophie Kamaruddin here

“What Mahathir meant was that he needed something where Malaysians can get together, Asean can get together, to supply components of this vehicle and make it into a national car in Asean, not only in Malaysia,” said Leiking.

“It’s ambitious but I think that it’s necessary now, more so when you want to create an economic bloc like Asean.”

As a trade war between the U.S. and China deepens, the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, has benefited from its fallout as companies shift orders and move production bases to the region.

It was the top destination among the one-third of more than 430 American companies in China that considered moving operations elsewhere, according to a survey by AmCham China and AmCham Shanghai.

Toyota Motor Corp., Tata Motors Ltd. and Ford Motor Co. already operate assembly plants in Thailand, the biggest car manufacturer in Southeast Asia. The country seeks to ramp up production to 3.5 million units in 2020, an 80 percent increase from 2016, and exports the vehicles to Australia, Japan, as well as Malaysia and Indonesia.

Malaysia stands to gain as a trans-shipment point, capitalizing on its location by the Straits of Malacca -- a historic channel connecting Asia’s biggest economies from Japan and China to India and beyond.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the trade war will be positive for the country over the next year or so, especially in electronics and steel as the world’s two biggest economies seek alternatives for supplies.

Privately driven

The government is gathering views from the industry on developing the new car brand, and will let the project be driven and funded by the private sector, Leiking said. The government will assist in licensing and facilitation, he said.

Dr Mahathir revived his vision of a homegrown car brand just a month into his premiership. He started automaker Proton Holdings Bhd. in the 1980s during his previous tenure, but the brand was later privatized and almost half the stake sold to China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co.

A second effort was made in the 1990s with Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sendirian Bhd., also known as Perodua.

This time, however, the new car will compete in a market beyond Malaysia, Leiking said.

“Proton has already achieved what they’ve wanted and they’re there,” he said. “So this is not competing with Proton, this is not competing even with Perodua, this is not competing with anyone. This is a separate thing altogether.”

Advise and pray

A successful carmaker could help boost the nation’s exports, which relies on commodities such as crude and palm oil, as well as electronics. Shipments declined 0.3 percent in August from a year ago, falling far short of economist estimates for an 8 percent increase. That narrowed the trade surplus to RM1.6bil, from RM8.3bil in July.

Malaysia had taken into account the possible knock-on effects that global trade tensions may have on the supply chain. The government has engaged with representatives from the U.S. on the matter and was banking on the world’s two largest economies remaining rational.

“Eventually America and the Chinese will come to an understanding, and I pray that they do,” Leiking said. “What else can we do other than advise them and pray? I have faith that they will come to their senses.”


BYD launches luxury EV brand in shift upmarket, unveils U8 SUV and U9 supercar

                SHNEZHEN: BYD Co. launched the first of two new luxury electric-vehicle brands it is introducing this year, looking to broaden its rapidly expanding reach by shifting into the premium car segment.

The Shenzhen-based company unveiled its U8 sports utility vehicle, which falls under the Yangwang brand, at a press conference last Thursday.

BYD said the SUV would be at the “million yuan” level (RM644,000).

That would make the Land Rover Defender-looking model one of the most expensive EVs on the road in China. Tesla Inc.’s Model Y SUV has a base price of 288,900 yuan (RM186,000).

By expanding into higher priced EVs aimed at wealthier buyers while bolstering and renewing its existing lineup, BYD is increasingly encroaching upon market leader Tesla, which churns out around 70,000 EVs a month from its factory in Shanghai.

Outside of technical specs not a lot of other details were provided on the vehicles, though BYD said the U8 has four electric motors as well as the automaker’s signature Blade batteries, and it can drive in water in emergencies.

Like the GMC HUMMER electric pickup, the U8 would also be able to move sideways in crab mode - a useful feature to have for greater vehicle maneuverability when off-roading or parking.

BYD has previously teased the safety capabilities of its new luxury marque, with footage of driving in icy conditions and with a puncture.

In a surprise announcement, BYD also unveiled a supercar called U9 on Thursday.

According to Chinese auto news site carnewschina.com, the U9 claims a 0-100kph sprint in 2s. It reported that YangWang had designed the car not only for speed but comfort and safety as well.

No exact price was revealed but BYD said it would also be around a million-yuan.

Warren Buffett-backed BYD’s sales of new-energy vehicles — including pure electric cars and hybrids — climbed to 1.86 million last year from about 604,000 in 2021, even as Covid slowed production.

A top BYD executive said in December that output was curtailed by at least 2,000 cars a day and that 20% to 30% of employees were unable to work and quarantining at home. Sales of its pure-electric cars fell month-on-month in December for the first time since February.

While sales of regular passenger cars in China aren’t rising as strongly as in the past, rising just 1.8% to 20.7 million in 2022, demand for EVs is holding up. China’s Passenger Car Association estimates around 6.5 million EVs were sold last year and predicts that figure could rise to at least 8.4 million in 2023.

BYD is “resilient thanks to long order backlogs and a stable supply chain,” said Jing Yang, a corporate research director at Fitch Ratings Inc. “We look forward to BYD’s overseas expansion and the new brands to be launched in 2023, which should enhance value.”

The company, which also produces batteries and semiconductors, hasn’t yet said where the new luxury brands will be sold.

BYD shares have risen 7.9% in the first three trading days of the year in Hong Kong, following a drop of 28% in 2022. Tesla slumped 65% last year and then tumbled 12% Tuesday after delivering fewer EVs than expected last quarter. - With additional details from carnewschina.com


Toyota buys software firm Renovo to accelerate self-driving tech development

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp's Silicon Valley research arm said it had acquired automotive operating system software company Renovo to help accelerate the development of fully-autonomous connected vehicles.

"I am hoping to shave off years and months to our minimum viable product launches," James Kuffner, the head of Toyota's Woven Planet subsidiary said during a press briefing.

A longer term goal is to design software and operating systems that other automakers would also use, the former Google robot engineer added.

Toyota is in a technological race with other established car companies and newer rivals, such as Tesla Inc and Amazon, to build cars that can operate without drivers and share data within connected networks.

While some driverless vehicles are already available, their autonomous functions are mostly limited to parking and driving on expressways.

Toyota deployed a fleet of driverless vehicles at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to showcase its autonomous technology.

It had to temporarily suspend operations, however, after one of them struck and injured a Paralympic athlete in an incident that Toyota chief Akio Toyoda said showed the technological challenges of autonomous vehicles.

US-based Renovo has designed an operating systems for cars that manages vehicle systems and can sort and filter information for sharing, including data that can help carmakers improve vehicle design.

The latest acquisition by Woven Planet comes after it bought Carmera in August, a US firm that provides real-time, high-definition maps and data for driverless vehicles.

Toyota set up Woven Planet in January to invest in and develop mobility with artificial intelligence.

Japan's leading carmaker is also building Woven City, a "city of the future" at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan, a community Toyota says will use hydrogen fuel cells for power and be a laboratory for autonomous cars.

Earlier this year, Toyota also bought ride-hailing service Lyft Inc's self-driving technology unit for US$550 million, and invested in Ridecell which provides automation for fleet businesses.

Other self-driving partnerships include a joint venture with SoftBank Corp and stakes in China's Didi Global Inc and Singapore's Grab.


BMW's new electric flagship, the iX SUV, set for November launch

                MUNICH: BMW is gearing up to launch its new top electric model, an SUV that can charge up enough energy for the next 120km of dirt road before you finish your coffee.

Set to roll off the line in November, the iX ('eye ex' and not 'nine' like the Roman numeral) off-roader is roughly the size of an X5, but it's also the first BMW to roll off its own dedicated electric platform since the i3.

BMW has announced that prices in its home market in Europe are set to start at €77,300 (RM380,000), while the more powerful iX xDrive 50 costs about an extra €20,000 (RM98,000) at €98,000 (RM481,000).

The iX xDrive 40 is set to arrive with flagship specs including 300hp and a 70-kWh battery allowing a sprint from 0 to 100kph in less than 6 seconds.

Range is said to be over 400km, and if you pay around 25 per cent more, you can get the xDrive 50 version with more than 500hp and a battery with more than 100 kWh.

This then enables a slightly faster sprint of less than 5 seconds. In the best-case scenario, you'll only need to recharge this one after more than 600km. Both models have one motor per axle.

The iX charges at up to 200kW in the top model and 150kW for the iX 40, and BMW says both models hit 80 per cent in less than 40 minutes.

READ MORE: BMW teases all-electric i4 Gran Coupe with up to 590km range

Ten minutes at a charging point is enough for more than 120km for the iX 50 and more than 90km for the iX 40.

The iX also wants to set new standards in assistance and connectivity, and comes with 5G as well as new, automated driving and parking functions.

There's a new curved digital display consisting of one 12.3-inch display and a 14.9-inch touchscreen under a frameless glass surface. The next generation of the rotary control called iDrive is found on the centre tunnel.

Unfortunately, however, BMW has abandoned its plans for level-3 autonomous driving in the iX for the time being.


Car vandalised: Condo resident suspects neighbour with bad attitude

(From left) Yee, condo resident Tang Siew Chui, Ng and Teh next to the car with the broken mirror.
KUALA LUMPUR: A homeowner at Villa Crystal Condominium in Segambut here is crying foul over an alleged vandalism incident involving his car on the premises.

Ng Foon Hwee said the incident happened after he asked the security guard to clamp the car that was parked illegally at his parking space.

“As I was driving towards my parking space, I saw a BMW parked there, so I asked the guard to clamp the car.

“When I returned to the carpark half hour later, the guards were unlocking the clamp with the car owner present.

Ng said he then noticed that the left side mirror of his car was broken and badly damaged, and he suspected it was the BMW owner’s doing.

“When I asked the owner, he said it wasn’t him and that he only parked there for 10 minutes.”

From the CCTV footage, Ng said he saw two men kicking his car, but it was too blurry and he could not recognise the faces.

Villa Crystal Condominium joint management body (JMB) chairman Deric Teh said this incident had happened before, where the same tenant had parked his car at other owners’ parking spaces since last year, and had his car clamped so many times. He paid the penalty.

“Last year, it happened again. He went berserk and removed the clamp by himself and threw it away.

“In another incident, the guard asked him to move his car but he refused. His car was clamped for four days and caused inconvenience to lot owner. “He paid the penalty of RM200 with only coins,” added Teh.

Teh said there were no rules by the Commissioner of Buildings (COB) Department and the Housing and Local Government Ministry for action to be taken against homeowners or tenants with bad attitude.

Kepong Community Service Centre head Yee Poh Ping is urging the authorities to investigate this case as it might pose a threat to the residents.


Videos of the exploded remains of a Lamborghini to be sold as NFTs

                PARIS: An unconventional art project has just seen an artist blow up a Lamborghini Huracan and then collected 999 more or less burnt pieces.

After filming them one by one, he decided to put these little video clips up for auction in the form of NFTs.

For the successful bidders, it will be a possibility to own one of these videos, accompanied by its unique and nonfungible digital certificate, illustrating a spare part burned, deformed or even unrecognisable.

More than 100 people participated in the project, all of whom were awarded an NFT.

That's why there are actually only 888 left to sell.

To participate in the auction, you will have to log in from your cryptocurrency wallet and then bid exclusively in Ethereum.

Note that the sale, which was initially scheduled to take place on Feb 25, has been postponed to a date yet to be announced, given the events taking place in Ukraine.

This performance is the work of a protest artist, Shl0ms, whose aim is to denounce through this work the dizzying speculation which at the moment surrounds the world of NFTs.

It remains to be seen if the artist will be able to pay back his expenses; the Lamborghini Huracan cost US$250,000 (RM1mil).


Toyota Vios Challenge 2018 race series (Kuala Terengganu) Round 1 - Day 2

                KUALA TERENGGANU: The final race day of the Vios Challenge Race series, being held at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Kuala Terengganu had heated action with racers taking to the 1.65km street circuit in a last ditch effort to take home more points during the start of the season.

The race starts with each category's top half finishers switching positions from Day 1, putting Diana Danielle down in fifth position for the Promotional Class while Wany Hasrita gets the opportunity to lead the pack.

Additionally, Shawn Lee started down in eighth position as Patrick Tam takes the lead for the Sporting Class while William Ho gets relegated to sixth place and Syafiq Ali is placed at the top for the Super Sporting Class.

Also, the starting order of each class was reversed with the Super Sporting Class becoming the first category to start the race day.

As the four red lights went out, third-place starter Keifli Othman (63) - in trying to defend his starting position,  squeezed fourth-place starter Kenny Lee Wan Yuen (38) into the wall and out of contention causing the safety car to be dispatched for the next two laps.

The collision held up fifth-place starter Boy Wong (21), who managed to avoid the incident, but allowed sixth-place starter William Ho (39) into third place as Syafiq Ali (7) lead the pack with Mark Darwin (16) following closely behind.

It was back to racing on lap five and as soon as the safety entered the pits, Mark made an attempt to take the lead, but a mistake allowed William by and was subsequently relegated to third.

Two laps later, William managed to close the gap and apply pressure on Syafiq, who remained unphased, while the rest of the pack began to spread out and settle into their respective race pace.

After the full 22 laps of racing, Syafiq managed to cross the line to pick up his first win for the season with William coming in second 1.805 seconds later and Mark settling for third 4.38 seconds from the winner.

Next up was the Sporting Class with beatboxer Shawn Lee (6) starting in the middle of the pack in eighth place.

At the start of the race, pole sitter Patrick Tam (13) made a good start to maintain his lead, but it wasn't the same for second place starter Vincent Ng (68) as Dannies Ng Khai (93) in third slipped by down the startstraight.

By lap six, Shawn had managed to move up the ladder into fifth place, but Brendon Lim Boon Yew (86) fought back hard and outbraked the beatboxer on the inside going into turn 11 (the last corner before the start-finish straight) which forced him wide to clip the wall.

The manoeuvre allowed Kenneth Koh Keik Lun (28) to pass Shawn back into seventh place.

Up front, the dramatics continued as Vincent tries to take the lead from Patrick on lap 14. The attempt allowed Dannies to close in on the duo and on the street circuit's last turn, the trio came together, causing Dannies to almost spin out.

By this time, as the dramatics began to build - so did the clouds, which came down hard a lap later and prompted the safety car to be dispatched.

With no overtaking allowed during the safety car, it was pretty much status quo for all the racers who had no choice but to finish in their respective places once the 30-minute time limit was up to complete 21 out of the 22 laps.

This meant that Patrick took the top spot with Dannies in second and Vincent in third.

With the Promotional Class due to start at 3.40pm, the race was delayed by an hour and 20 minutes to allow the track to dry out, while the crew relentlessly worked to clear any large puddles of standing water.

By 5pm, it was back to racing with an almost dried off track and only a few sectors still possessing a small amount of standing water.

This time it would be Wani Hasrita's (8) opportunity to show her mettle by leading the pack for the first time.

But as the red lights went out, Wani's car stalls, allowing second place Akio Takeyama (1) to take the lead with Akim Ahmad (46) close on his tail and Janna Nick (18) in tow.

Meanwhile, crowd favourite Diana Danielle (15) starting in fifth, unfortunately carried too much speed into a turn and hit the wall hard, but managed to limp back into the pits to retire.

By the second lap, Akim and Jana had managed to find a way past Akio, who loses his third place a lap later to Nabil Ahmad (83).

With a cold track and certain sectors still wet, but Akim finds a way to slowly build up his momentum during the race.

Thankfully, Janna was kept busy by Nabil who was hot on her tail with plenty of pressure on the fifth lap.

Somehow, Aiman Tino (77) too had found a way past Akio and even manages to get in on the battle for second place.

Eventually, the pressure made Jana run wide - clipping a wall, and allowed Nabil to go through. The mistake was further compounded when Aiman, who had more momentum out of the corner, managed to get past her as well and now sets his target on Nabil.

From lap eight onwards, there was intense nose-to-tail action coming from Aiman, who made quick work of Nabil to pass him after two laps on lap 10 to move up into second place.

Meanwhile, the scuffles had allowed Akim to build up a considerable lead over the rest and manages to finish the race with a considerable lead with Aiman taking second and Nabil in third.

The Vios Challenge Race series now prepares to continue the much-heated action at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) from Oct 19 to 21. (Day 1 and Day 2).


Hybrids, electric cars and hydrogen-driven vehicles race to dominate future

                It’s still arguable which future mobility system is the best. Malaysian Green Technology Corp analyses the issue and offers its take.

The recent prolonged spell of haze in Malaysia and around the region generated widespread concern over the pressing need for healthy air quality.

The recurrent crisis of air quality forced the closure of schools nationwide for days, disrupted airport operations for hours, and contributed to a severe hike in respiratory disorders. Air pollution, be it from forest fires, industrial or transport-related emissions has been an ongoing concern for years.

In fact, in 2012, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that outdoor air pollution led to approximately 3.7 million premature deaths worldwide, with 88% of these deaths occurring in low and middle-income countries particularly within the South-East Asia region.

Here in Malaysia, road transport is the second highest contributor of carbon emissions, with over 22.7 million registered vehicles spewing out tens of millions of tonnes of air pollutants each year.

This statistic is further compounded by an annual increase of road vehicles at 6% on average, which is faster than the rate our population and the economy is growing.

Clearly, there is a pressing need to alter the way we travel and reduce our dependence on fuel-guzzling, air-polluting vehicles in favour of cleaner, more sustainable forms of transport.

 The Prius hybrid.The options
In general, there are three main contenders vying for pole position in the race to be the future of mobility. These are, hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs).

Hybrids, such as the Honda Civic Hybrid, combine different sources of energy to achieve propulsion, typically by employing a tradition fuel-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) together with an electric motor.

Meanwhile EVs, such as the Tesla Model S, do not have traditional ICEs, instead relying solely on an electric motor powered by a battery pack which is charged through a plug-point or EV charging station.

FCVs, such as the Toyota Mirai, do not rely on conventional petrol or diesel-based ICEs but instead uses compressed hydrogen stored in fuel-cells and oxygen from the air to power its electric motor.

Exploring the options
To get a rough idea of the most viable option, we compared one vehicle from each category with similar or comparable specifications.

Points of comparison include the vehicle’s carbon emissions, its electric driving range and its affordability.

We can see that the EV and FCV are significantly cleaner options with zero contribution to air pollution when driving.

However, EV falls just short of the superior driving range provided by the FCV.

Nevertheless, both lose out to the hybrid when it comes to affordability.

However, if we are truly looking for the future of mobility, hybrids would have to be seen as only a stepping stone towards cleaner and more technologically advanced options. So if the race is between EVs and FCVs, which of the two will be more feasible?

Narrowing it down
When it comes to charging or refuelling time, FCVs are clear winners, taking less than five minutes to fill a full tank as compared to the nearly 30 minutes it would take a Nissan LEAF to fully charge using a direct current fast charger.

However, FCVs could prove to be even more expensive in the long run. Based on Malaysia’s current tariff, it would only cost RM8.70 to fully charge a LEAF  as compared to a full tank of hydrogen for the Toyota Mirai which costs around RM210.

 The NIssan LEAF.

On the practicality of refuelling, with only 625 publicly accessible hydrogen fuelling stations around the world as compared to the over 1 million EV charging stations available worldwide, FCV drivers will find it difficult to travel long distances despite the superior range.

Adding to this, is the exorbitantly high cost of setting up hydrogen fuelling stations (which can cost up to RM6mil per station) compared to an EV charging station (which cost in the range of RM10,000 per station) .

On top of that, FCVs can only be refuelled at a station as hydrogen is not readily accessible elsewhere whereas an EV could even be charged using your conventional three-pin plug point that can be found at home.

With regards to diversity of models available, EVs have FCVs beaten at the moment with over 30 models of EVs available worldwide as opposed to the less than five models of FCVs commercially available.

 A range of electric vehicles.The winner
With these considerations in mind, while there is a bright future ahead for FCVs, as it stands, EVs certainly look poised to be the future of mobility.

The key challenges of wide-scale adoption of EVs, namely price and range, are already being addressed, with developments in battery technology set to reduce the price of EVs substantially while increasing driving ranges of EVs to well over 400km.

At the same time, the introduction of economic incentives such as tax exemptions, could see EVs become even more affordable.  Meanwhile, there is already local interest and investment in increasing the EV charging station network in Malaysia through programmes such as ChargEV being led by Malaysian Green Technology Corp (GreenTech Malaysia) which aims to install 300 stations by this year.

 Not many electric cars are around but their numbers are growing.

In line with global trends, Malaysians from all corners of the transport landscape are quickly realising that there is an urgent need to transition away from high polluting vehicles and that we all can play a role.

With the many benefits EVs have to offer, they are the most viable way forward for a cleaner and healthier nation.

Since EVs appear to be the more viable option for future mobility, what is holding us back from fully adopting this more sustainable mode of transport?

> In the next article, we will be exploring the challenges EVs face in gaining a foothold in the Malaysian market. GreenTech Malaysia is an organisation under the purview of the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology & Water (KeTTHA) charged with the development and promotion of green technology as a strategic engine for socio-economic growth in Malaysia.


Epicor: 6 ways AI can help the automotive industry

                SINGAPORE: Car companies have been leaders in the Industrial Revolution since Henry Ford invented the assembly line.

Today, it's common to see robots working next to autoworkers on the factory floor.

The industry's latest advancements come from machine learning that improves the manufacturing process as well as the vehicles. New cars are both digital and mechanical.

Vincent Tang, who is regional vice president (Asia) of global business software company Epicor, talks about how machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) can help the automotive industry in six exciting ways.

"Technology is pushing the future of the automotive industry by helping manufacturers build better, safer vehicles. Cars are no longer just vehicles that get you from one place to another. They're tech-powered devices that can enhance your life, and machine learning is behind the wheel of innovation," he says.

Improve Factories

Auto machine learning can make factories more efficient. Robots and equipment used to build the cars have sensors that send alerts about defective parts.

This can help the manufacturer make a repair before it shuts down the assembly line or causes damage.

A study by Capgemini found that by 2023, smart technology could add up to $160 billion each year to the global auto industry with gains in productivity.

Quality control in a factory is also improving due to machine learning. Workers who are tasked with the job have the potential for human error.

Systems run with artificial intelligence (AI) can also miss issues if they weren't programmed correctly. However, machine learning can improve the process by gathering feedback and updating the system.

Audi uses cameras that can detect cracks in sheet metal that aren't visible to the human eye. And GM uses sensors to monitor factory conditions.

If the paint area is too hot or cold, for example, the paint won't set, and the equipment could fail.

Predict Inventory Demand

While all companies wish they had a crystal ball to predict sales, few do more than auto companies. Cars are expensive to build, and inventory has a major impact on profits.

If a car has higher demand than expected, auto manufacturers can miss sales. On the flip side, if a car has lower demand than anticipated, it may have to be sold at a loss.

Machine learning can monitor and analyze market conditions to forecast demand.

Volkswagen uses economic, political, and even weather data to predict car sales in 120 countries.

Generate Customer Sales

Machine learning can also help car companies sell more vehicles. It can collect data about a customer like demographics, past transactions, and online activities.

Using this information, it can create personalized promotions. Cars.com uses machine learning to help customize the car search process.

It matches buyers with cars based on a quiz that measures the shopper's lifestyle preferences.

Prevent Problems

AI in the automotive industry also helps the car owner. For example, car maintenance used to be preventative—something you did on a schedule.

Drivers got their oil changed about every 3,000 miles and their tires rotated every 8,000 miles.

With machine learning, maintenance becomes “predictive."

Instead of basing service on mileage or waiting until a car breaks down, sensors can detect damage and predict problems before they happen and notify drivers via the dashboard or their phones.

Drivers can then schedule service at a convenient time for them.

With predictive maintenance, it's possible that recalls or roadside service become things of the past.

Communicate With Customers

Machine learning also improves communication with customers.

If a car needs service, an automated chatbot can set up and confirm appointments and send reminders.

Chatbots can also conduct surveys after service is done to help auto manufacturers and dealerships personalize service.

They can even answer customer questions. A study by McKinsey found that a well-designed chatbot could resolve about 80% of customer interactions—reducing costs from call centers.

Avoid Collisions

Perhaps the most exciting thing machine learning can do is improve driver safety.

Sensors monitor the car's activity as well as vehicles that are traveling nearby.

The car can warn the driver of a dangerous situation or even take action.

Infiniti offers Predictive Forward Collision Warning and Forward Emergency Braking features.

The technology analyzes the speed and distance between the driver's car and the two cars in front of it.

If the two vehicles in front of the car slow down or brake suddenly, the system alerts the driver.

It can even take over and slow or stop the vehicle if the driver doesn't have time to respond.


Toyota, Isuzu revive capital tie-up with focus on connected trucks

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp and Isuzu Motors Ltd announced a capital alliance today, reviving a partnership to bolster their competitive edge in connected, commercial vehicles.

Toyota truck unit Hino Motors Ltd will join in the pact to jointly develop commercial trucks of the future, including connected vehicles and fuel cell technologies, the automakers said.

Toyota and Isuzu in 2018 dissolved a previous, 12-year capital tie-up, which had focused on diesel engines.

The move today comes as traditional automakers face growing competition from tech giants and other rivals developing electric and driverless cars.

Toyota Motor president Akio Toyoda said the push for electric vehicles gave the companies a reason to get together again.

“We had tried to jointly develop small diesel engines together... but we didn’t really identify specific projects much, and we decided to split and find our own ways,” he told a news conference. “But then EV became a new common ground for us again, where common research and development could take place.”

Toyota will acquire 39 million treasury shares in Isuzu, worth 42.8 billion yen, taking a 4.6% stake, they said.

The three companies will set up a new joint venture, with Toyota owning 80% and the others owning 10% each, they said in a statement.


Charging points surge ahead of electric car boom

                FRANKFURT: The number of publicly accessible charging points for electric vehicles (EV) jumped 60% in 2019, the biggest increase in three years and outpacing sales of battery-powered cars, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

In its annual Global EV Outlook, the IEA said the number of public slow and fast charging spots reached 862,118 globally, with China, the world’s largest car market, taking a 60% share.

Fast chargers accounted for 31% of the total. The IEA defines slow charging as providing power of up to 22 kilowatts (kW), taking hours to charge a vehicle battery. Fast chargers, including Tesla’s superchargers, can take minutes.

“China continues to lead in the rollout of publicly accessible chargers, particularly fast chargers, which are suited to its dense urban areas with less opportunity for private charging at home,” the report said.

The increase reflects efforts to build critical infrastructure ahead of an expected boom in EV sales, which accounted for just 1% of global car stock last year, according to the IEA.

While most EV charging takes place at home or at work, the rollout of public infrastructure is key to convincing prospective buyers that there is no risk of them getting stranded on an empty battery.

As part of its economic stimulus plan, Germany announced earlier this month that it would provide €500 million (RM2.4bil) to support the rollout of private charge points, of which there are 6.5 million worldwide.

“I view this as an organic step in the right direction, but not a revolution with big winners or losers,” said Thomas Daiber, founder of e-mobility advisory firm Cosmic Cat, of the German plan.

As well as Tesla, charge point providers include Anglo-Dutch group Shell, France’s Engie, Germany’s E.ON, Volkswagen and ChargePoint, whose shareholders include Daimler, BMW and Siemens.


Karma claims its silicon carbide inverters will revolutionise EV charging

                LOS ANGELES: Californian luxury EV builder Karma Automotive announced that it has entered the final stage of development for its two new silicon carbide (SiC) Inverters to enhance charging for electric vehicles.

The new SiC has been engineered in-house by the company's Powertrain Power Electronics team, in collaboration with the Power Electronic System Laboratory at the University of Arkansas.

Touted by the company to deliver enhanced efficiency and performance, the SiC is expected to be used in both future vehicles by the company and its partners.

Featuring a flexible architecture design in a 400-Volt system, it can be customised to fit various vehicle platforms and is also available in 800-Volt power levels in order to leverage on higher voltage for fast charging.

The new inverters will also be compatible with a variety of industries including automotive, aircraft, train, agriculture and industrial applications and is said to be ready for market release.

The development of the company's new SiC power inverters come hot on the heels of its E-Flex Platform initiative which is a series of highly versatile platforms that will offer new electric vehicle mobility solutions ranging from autonomously-driven utility vans, to ‘every-day’ driver vehicles as well as high-performance supercars.

The platform is said to allow manufacturers a fast-track into the electric vehicle market with greater speed and efficiency.

“Electrification represents a pivotal shift in the mobility industry, which is why Karma is focusing company efforts on our technology capabilities and solutions for our partners”, said Karma CEO Dr. Lance Zhou.

“Our SiC inverters, coupled with our upcoming Karma E-Flex Platforms, are a testament to the revolutionary performance and efficiency we are proud to bring to the electric mobility industry.”


Tesla plugs older Model S as new buyers turn to Model 3

                SAN FRANCISCO: Electric-car maker Tesla Inc reported first-quarter revenue that more than doubled, and while saying the upcoming Model 3 was on schedule for July, it downplayed the mass-market vehicle to give a sales pitch for its more expensive Model S.

Chief executive Elon Musk's bold approach to cars, space exploration and clean energy has fuelled investor enthusiasm for Tesla. But sceptics are waiting to see if Musk can fulfil his promise of producing 500,000 cars per year in 2018, or six times Tesla's 2016 production.

The automaker's comments underscored the additional challenge of keeping up demand for its older models.

"We have seen some impact of Model S orders as a function of people being confused" that Model 3 is the upgrade to Model S, Musk said on a conference call.

Tesla said it had US$4bil (RM17.3bil) of cash on hand as it headed into the second quarter and expects year-to-date capital expenditures to be slightly over US$2bil (RM8.85bil) by the time it starts Model 3 production - within its previous targeted range of US$2bil (RM8.65bil) to US$2.5 bil (RM10.81bil) .

 The Model 3.

That cushion should give the company some near-term breathing room from needing to tap Wall Street for cash, said CFRA Research analyst Efraim Levy. Tesla in March raised US$1.2bil from the markets.

Record deliveries helped Tesla boost its revenue to US$2.7bil (RM11.68bil) in the quarter, but a net loss net widened to US$330.3mil (RM1.4bil) from US$282.3mil (RM1.2bil) a year earlier, largely driven by its SolarCity acquisition.

Tesla has much riding on the Model 3, which could finally make the cash-hemorrhaging automaker profitable. But while much of the company hype has focused on the car due in July, Tesla on Wednesday made a sales pitch for its overshadowed Model S.

Tesla is anxious that the US$35,000 (RM151,380) Model 3 – which will likely not be delivered in volume until 2018 – avoids cannibalising the higher-margin Model S, which lists at about double the starting price.

Tesla said a key challenge for the company would be to eliminate misperceptions about the differences between the Model S and the Model 3.

"We want to be super clear that Model 3 is not version three of our car. Model 3 is essentially a smaller, more affordable version of the Model S with fewer features," Musk said on a conference call, adding buyers erroneously thought the Model 3 would be more advanced.

"The Model S will be better than Model 3," he added. "As it should be, as it's a more expensive car."

Tesla needs to ramp up for a deluge of Model 3 customers, and the company said it would be adding nearly 100 retail, delivery and service locations worldwide, representing a 30% increase. Tesla also said it was also working to improve efficiency, citing vehicle repair times that have fallen by 35% due to the use of remote diagnostics.

The company reiterated its forecast of delivering 47,000-50,000 Model S and Model X cars in the first half of 2017, a target it announced earlier this year.

Still, customer deposits fell 7% in the quarter, which could suggest interest in Tesla's current product line, the Model S and Model X, is decreasing.

The Silicon Valley-based automaker last month became the most valuable US carmaker by market capitalisation, pulling ahead of Detroit's auto heavyweights Ford Motor Co and General Motors Co.


Italy's Lancia car brand planning return to Euro market

                BERLIN: Celebrated automobile brand Lancia is limbering up to start selling cars outside of Italy from 2024 onwards

The marque plans a comeback with three electric vehicles, starting with an electrified version of the Ypsilon runabout to be followed by a zero-emission Delta hatchback and an unnamed crossover.

Lancia is one of Italy's most famous car brands and became a part of Fiat in 1969. It is now owned by the Franco-Italian-American Stellantis group.

No Lancia models have been offered outside Italy since 2015 and the brand's only badged product is the combustion engine Ypsilon which has been selling in Italy only.

Lancia's CEO Luca Napolitano confirmed the comeback to the motoring trade paper Automotive News and said deliveries would begin to Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and Spain in 2024. There was no word on the US or Asian markets.

Designer Jean-Pierre Ploue is in charge of the visuals for the new cars and Napolitano promised these would embody "Italian elegance with soft lines and a high quality finish."

Lancia was famous for its rally-proven Fulvia and later Delta Integrale models.

It later failed to make much headway in competing with premium saloons from BMW and Mercedes-Benz premium with the upmarket Thesis limousine.

The model was deleted from the range in 2009.


Get 30% savings on car-sharing round-trip with GoCar's Chinese New Year campaign

                PETALING JAYA: GoCar has unveiled a Chinese New Year (CNY) promotion that offers 30% savings on GoCar Share Round Trips.

Valid from now until Feb 11, the CNY campaign is applicable across GoCar’s entire car-sharing fleet for round trip bookings only with rates starting from as low as RM68 per day (capped at RM80). Rates are inclusive of unlimited mileage.

GoCar is an on-demand mobility-as-a-service platform.

Members can redeem this festive offer by applying the promo code “GOHUAT” at the checkout section on the GoCar mobile app.

The promo code is valid for one-time use only for a minimum booking of three days and above.

New GoCar users can sign up via the mobile app with a one-time membership fee of RM20 and membership is open to all drivers above 18 years old, including P-License holders.

GoCar Malaysia CEO Wong Hoe Mun said people are still wary about the safety of public transportation as the Covid-19 virus is still circulating within the community eventhough travel restrictions have been relaxed.

“At GoCar, we are constantly looking for ways to deliver more value-add to our users and we hope this CNY promotion will provide some savings and additional peace of mind,” said Wong.

For details, visit https://hi.gocar.my.

To book a GoCar, download GoCar mobile app.


German environment ministry says no to car toll plans

                BERLIN: Germany's environment ministry today rejected proposals drawn up by the transport minister which aim to clear the way for a highway toll for cars across Germany and Europe, saying a system of CO2 pricing was preferable.

"It is not sensible," said a spokesman for the environment ministry when asked about the proposals for cars which Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer had hoped to get agreed by all German ministries.

The proposals had envisioned that within eight years, almost all vehicles on highways, including lorries, vans and cars, would have to pay toll..

“As regards member states that have already established a charging system, tolls or user charges shall be levied upon all vehicles except coaches and buses,” draft documents showed.

That would make it Germany’s official proposal for its presidency of the bloc which started on July 1 and runs until the end of the year.


EP Manufacturing gets approval for 2-wheel EVs

                KUALA LUMPUR: EP Manufacturing Bhd (EPMB) has secured approval from the Malaysian government to register and license its first-ever two-wheel electric vehicles (EVs).

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, EPMB said the national committee for vehicle type approval (VTA) and homologation, Road Transport Department (JPJ) had approved the VTA for Blueshark SG3000DT model, or Blueshark R1 under the Malaysia Road Transport Act 1987.

Certificate for the VTA has been issued to EP Blueshark Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of EPMB, it said.

It added that the VTA allows EPMB’s electric bike Blueshark R1 to be road registered and licensed by JPJ.

Executive chairman Hamidon Abdullah said with the VTA approval, the company is one step closer to capturing the projected demand for two-wheel EVs in Malaysia.

“Simultaneously, our partners in other ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam have also applied the equivalent VTA for Blueshark R1 in their respective countries, and this will complement EPMB’s manufacturing activities.

“Our venture into the two-wheel EV business is well supported by the technical know-how of China-based Sharkgulf Technologies Group Limited. This is in conjunction with a strong funding base from international investors who are focused on ESG. This should set us on a sustained growth path, moving ahead,” he said.

In addition to the manufacturing plant and a sales and distribution centre in Malaysia, EPMB will also establish a research and development centre, which will share technical know-how and resources to Sharkgulf’s Gigafactory in Qingdao West Coast New Area.

Hamidon said a manufacturing base with shared R&D efforts in Malaysia would address cost structures to make EPMB’s two-wheeled EVs cost effective.

On July 25, EP Blueshark received conditional approval from the International Trade and Industry Ministry on its application for assembly of electric bikes under the Industrial Co-ordination Act 1975 [Act 156].

This is subject to the conditions to be fulfilled by EP Blueshark within six months from the letter of approval.


New window tinting standard facing resistance

                PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Window Film Association (MWFA) is concerned over the implementation of a new standard on tint film for automotive windows that is set to take effect from Jan 1, 2018.

“We are urging the respective government ministries and agencies to review the MS2669 standard which was developed without industry players’ input and to defer the implementation of testing and QR code security labels through QAV Technologies.

"Any future discussion on this matter ought to include representatives from MWFA as industry representative,” said MWFA president Syed Hafiz Jamalullail.

The MS2669 standard was set by the Department of Standards Malaysia and will feature the implementation of QR Code security labels, which, when scanned with a compatible phone app, provide certain information to enforcement officers such as specifications of the film.

“There are already two government bodies (JPJ and Sirim) and one private company (Puspakom) to monitor and approve the window film before it goes on the road.

"Why don’t we strengthen these three bodies with vital input from the industry players rather than having a new set up, namely AAA and QAV Technologies just for this purpose?” Syed Hafiz queried.


Updated Modenas Kriss 110 and Kriss 110 Disc Brake start from RM3,900

                SHAH ALAM: Motosikal & Enjin Nasional Sdn Bhd (Modenas), a subsidiary of DRB-Hicom Bhd has updated the Kriss 110 and Kriss 110 Disc Brake variants for 2023.

The all-time favourite two-wheelers received several new features such as a redesigned headlamp and a built-in USB charging port.

The Kriss 110 comes in Blue, Black, and Yellow, and is priced at RM3,917 while the Kriss 110 Disc Brake is available in Blue, Black and Red, with a price of RM4,437.

 Kriss 110 Disc Brake.

Both variants feature a single-cylinder EEV, four-stroke, SOHC, 108cc engine, that produces 4.9kW (6.57hp) and 6.7Nm of torque.

They are available at all Modenas dealer showrooms from this week.

For details, visit the Modenas official website at https://modenas.my/v2/, or contact the Toll-Free Line at 1-800-880-008 or WhatsApp Careline at +6019-570 8135.


Honda HR-V e:HEV RS: Fun and frugal

                THE latest Honda HR-V has certainly been expanded in its model range to cater to a more diversified clientele and a notable one is the hybrid version, the e:HEV RS.

While those familiar with hybrid technology would visualise an engine that is assisted by electrical power as and when strong acceleration is required, Honda has taken this hybrid development further.

The Honda hybrid system now uses more electrical power to propel the vehicle and the engine only comes into play at certain times of the drive, either to charge the battery, run on its own or with battery assist.

To keep things simple, the Honda hybrid is more electrically driven by a motor than the engine, which was the case with earlier hybrids.

Thus, the battery pack located at the rear is bigger and it keeps the vehicle on electric mode longer.

Once the battery level falls to a certain point, the engine is automatically started to run the vehicle and charge the battery at the same time.

When the battery is charged up to a certain level, the engine would be switched off and you are back on electric power.

This power operation could be seen via the changing graphics on the instrument panel, particularly in the spot where the tachometer is normally located.

There is instead this constantly changing graphics that indicate the flow of power – electric or engine output – as you drive along.

This new Honda development gives a fresh perspective to hybrid motoring to make it a lot more economical to drive in town while holding its own on long-distance runs.

As a result of this fresh hybrid arrangement, the 1.5-litre i-VTEC dual cam engine in the new HR-V is an Atkinson Cycle unit that delivers the least power output against the normal petrol and turbocharged variants of the same engine displacement.

It delivers 107PS while the electric motor churns out 131PS; likewise, the torque is 131Nm from the engine and 253Nm from the electric motor.

While the engine output might be the lowest among the variants, it is the combined engine-electric motor output that makes hybrid motoring practical and more fuel efficient.

That explains why the HR-V e:HEV RS hybrid provides the best combined mileage of 4.1 litres per 100km against 5.9 litres per 100km for the normal 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine variant and 6.1 litres per 100km for the 1.5 VTEC Turbo variants.

In fact, Honda is so confident of the more efficient 1.5-litre engines across the range being more fuel miserly, it has fitted the new HR-V with a 40-litre tank, against a 50-litre one for the old model.

A drive from the Klang Valley to Kuantan revealed how competent the new HR-V e:HEV RS hybrid model is in urban driving, motoring up Genting Highlands and lapping up the kilometres on the highway at robust speeds.

Taking off on electric power with the immediate delivery of strong torque was effortless for the new HR-V hybrid that tips the scales at 1,393kg (kerb weight).

The graphics also indicate the level of battery strength and we could see the engine charging the battery every time we lift off the accelerator pedal to slow down.

During our drive up to Genting Highlands, our fear of a lack of oomph was soon put to rest as the HR-V hybrid took to the gradients easily on a combination of mostly electrical and engine power.

In performance, Honda says the HR-V e:HEV RS would accelerate from rest to 100kph in a pretty good 10.7 seconds and a top speed of 170kph.

Complementing the Genting drive were the good dynamics of the latest HR-V; we hardly felt the body lean as we took the corners with some abandon and the Continental tyres didn’t squeal much either.

With front MacPherson struts and a rear torsion beam set-up, Honda has the suspension well designed and tuned to handle winding road drives well up to expectations.

It also has a roomy interior and we enjoyed the ride as the three of us took turns to check out all aspects of this Honda sports utility vehicle (SUV).

Bumpy sections, speed humps and rumble strips were taken with hardly a jolt to add to the ride comfort that we enjoyed as driver and passenger.

It might run on the same 2,610mm wheelbase as the previous model but its body is 39mm longer at 4,385mm, and this has given it a noticeably roomier interior, especially for the rear seat passengers.

On the highway, the body is so well designed aerodynamically, we hardly heard the wind rustle at high speeds. The ‘silence’ was broken though by the intrusion of road roar that was generated by the tyres over the rough road surfaces.

There was also the constant engine whine that indicated its operation, mostly in charging the battery, according to how electric power was required to propel the car.

Another chink in the new HR-V’s armour is the relatively small luggage area that didn’t quite complement its bigger body dimensions.

Overcoming that is the flexibility of space with the folding of the 60:40 rear backrests; Honda continues to employ the Ultraseat design featured in the previous HR-V, Jazz and new City Hatchback.

This Ultraseat design has the seat cushions being moved forward along with the seatrests when they are folded and this frees up a lot of space for carrying a variety of items.

At the end of the day, the HR-V e:HEV RS hybrid is a persuasive choice for those who want excellent fuel efficiency while enjoying a decent pace on the highway and ‘hill climbs’.

Since the new HR-V was launched in July, Honda Malaysia has delivered almost 7,000 units at the time of the Kuantan drive.

Of this number, the HR-V e:HEV RS made up 12% and we reasoned that the lack of drive experience and knowledge with the hybrid accounted for its surprisingly low sales volume.

For sure, finding out more about the benefits of this RM140,800 hybrid variant, especially its miserly fuel consumption in urban driving and its reasonably strong pace, might just boost its popularity.


JPJ to conduct Ops Sedar from Nov 24 to track down uninsured vehicles

                PUTRAJAYA: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) will conduct Ops Sedar nationwide, starting on Wednesday (Nov 24), to track down vehicles that do not have insurance coverage.

Its director-general, Datuk Zailani Hashim, in a statement today said monitoring and enforcement would be done at roadblocks at selected locations.

"Road users who do not have insurance coverage will cause inconvenience to other vehicle owners in the event of any kind of accident.

"Owner of vehicles that do not have insurance coverage can be fined not exceeding RM1,000, and have their driving licence suspended for 12 months," he said.

Zailani added that JPJ would provide its mobile facility for the public to renew road tax and driving licences.


India proposes mandatory side, curtain airbags in all cars from October

                NEW DELHI: India, which has among the world's deadliest roads, on Saturday proposed mandating at least six air bags in all passenger cars manufactured from Oct 1.

The government wants automakers to provide two side air bags and two curtain air bags, to protect those seated in the rear seats, in addition to the already required two air bags for all vehicles.

The side air bags are to "help mitigate primarily torso injury" during a side crash, while the curtain air bags would "deploy in a side impact crash or roll over to help mitigate primarily head injury", the ministry of road transport said in a notification.

The draft rules are designed to bring down the fatalities on Indian roads. In 2020, nearly 132,000 people died in more than 366,000 road accidents, according to government data.

The additional air bags would increase the cost of vehicles in India's price-sensitive market, where most cars sell for less $10,000.

The low-cost car market is dominated by Maruti Suzuki, majority owned by Japan's Suzuki Motor, and Hyundai Motor.

The government is inviting comments from companies and the public over the next 30 days, after which the draft rules will be finalised.


GM to end Chevrolet Volt production

                DETROIT: As technology advances, older tech is inevitably discarded as better solutions come along. The Chevrolet Volt might be the first casualty of the push towards electrification of the automobile industry.

A report by AutoForecast Solutions has emerged via the authoritative GM Authority website, which claims production of the Volt will end at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant in 2022, to free up production capacity for more battery-electric cars and crossovers.

What's surprising is that the Volt is the kind of technology it would appear we need right now, although it hasn't found favour with buyers in big numbers, as the Volt in North America and Australasia, the Buick Velite 5 in China, or as the Vauxhall and Opel Ampera in Europe and Britain.

Although the Volt is a plug-in hybrid, the first generation only used the petrol engine part of the system as a generator of electricity for the battery, not to directly drive the wheels. The car could thus be driven without the petrol engine being used as long as the battery wasn't depleted, and on longer journeys the petrol engine could kick in to extend the range to something similar to a standard petrol car.

The general consensus in America is that Chevy never really effectively explained the technology of its "range extender" to consumers. Then it diluted the technology for the second generation by turning the Volt into a more conventional plug-in hybrid, where the petrol engine can work to power the wheels directly in certain circumstances.

Sales of the Volt jumped by 60 percent in the US last year with the arrival of this all-new second-generation model, but are down again by 12 percent in 2017 until the end of November. The Volt also faces a further threat from within its own stable as it is now being outsold by the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt EV, launched just a year ago.

The first generation Volt.


15,000th Lamborghini Urus handed over to new owner

                LONDON: Lamborghini reached a milestone when it churned out the 15,000th Urus last month. Guess where that SUV went?

It popped up in London where it was delivered to its new owner.

Wearing chassis number 15,000, this Urus is a Graphite Capsule edition wearing a combination of Grigio Keres Matt grey and Verde Scandal.

These vibrant, gloss-finish colours bring sharp contrast to specific exterior details, accentuated by the gloss black rear diffusor and 23-inch Taigete rims.

The Urus Graphite Capsule’s two-tone interior is finished in Nero Ade and Verde Scandal, bringing the owner’s personal style into focus with the perforated and ventilated Alcantara seats, the signature hexagonal Q-citura stitching, the embroidered logo, plus the matte-finish carbon fiber inserts and the black anodized aluminum details.

The Urus, which began production in 2019, features a 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo engine delivering 650hp at 6,000rpm and 850Nm of maximum torque already at 2,250 rpm. Capable of accelerating from 0-100kph in 3.6 seconds, 0-200kph in 12.8 seconds and with a top speed of 305kph it is one of the fastest SUVs in the world.

Ahead of being delivered to its new owner, the 15,000th Urus embarked on a celebratory night-time tour of London, taking in the sights just a stone’s throw from Lamborghini London’s showroom.

Lamborghini London is one of four H.R. Owen Lamborghini showrooms; London, Pangbourne, Manchester and Hatfield.

Multi-brand luxury car dealership H.R. Owen is owned by Tan Sri Vincent Tan's Berjaya Group. Besides Lamborghini, it sells  cars from Bugatti, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati,  BAC, Puritalia and Rimac.


New Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUVs launched, price starts from RM162K

                PETALING JAYA: The latest Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUVs are launched today, marking a new beginning for the French brand under a new franchise holder.

The refreshed and locally assembled models in Allure specifications are distributed by Bermaz Auto Alliance Sdn Bhd.

The 3008 is priced from RM161,616.66, while the 5008 will retail from RM177,311.90 (OTR without insurance but inclusive of full SST exemption until June 30, 2022 ).

Today's launch followed a media drive of the two models from Shah Alam to Genting Highlands the day before.

Positioned as "upper, mainstream" models, the refreshed 3008 and 5008 is refined further in this outing with a new frameless grille, while gloss black side scoops and a painted treadplate are integrated with the new bumper design as standard.

The front headlights have also been redesigned to be more aggressive and feature LED technology with cornering lamps.

The nose of the bonnet now displays the model's monogram, as does the entire Peugeot range.

 The 5008 is followed by the 3008 on the way to Genting Highlands.

At the rear, new upgraded taillights feature full-LED technology with Peugeot’s iconic 3D-effect claw signature rear lights with scrolling indicator lights.

Other exterior features:
> 18” Los Angeles Wheels on the 3008
> 18” Detroit Alloy Wheels on the 5008
> Hands-free Power Tailgate
> Panoramic Sunroof
> Advanced Keyless Entry
> Front & Rear Parking Sensors

On the interior, the difference between both models is the seating capacity. The 3008 is a five-seater while the 5008 comes with seven seats.

Both models feature Peugeot’s digital i-Cockpit technology which consists of a 12.3-inch digital head-up cluster display, a compact steering wheel for improved driving dynamics, and a new 10-inch touchscreen colour display.

It also comes with seven elegant piano-styled "toggle switches" that allow direct and permanent access to the main comfort functions: audio, air conditioning, navigation with voice command, vehicle settings, telephone, mobile applications and hazard warning lights. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also come as standard. New to both models is wireless smartphone charging located at the centre console.

Other interior features:
> Mood Lighting
> Paddle Shifters
> Dual-Zone Air Conditioning (with rear blower control for the 5008)
> Leather Seats
> Electric Parking Brake
> 6-Way Power Seats
> Drive Mode Selector (Sport mode)

The stylish design of both models is matched by their responsive performance. Both use the same the 1.6L Twin Scroll Turbo High Pressure (THP) engine, which delivers a robust 165hp and 240Nm of torque. The turbocharged engine is paired with a quick-shifting, six-speed automatic transmission and a 2WD drivetrain that sends power to the front axle.

Both models come with a gamut of driving aids and safety features. They include:

> Visiopark 1, which consists of a 180° rear view camera
> Active Lane Keeping Assist
> Driver Attention Warning
> Speed Limit recognition
> Blind Spot Monitoring
> Advanced Grip Control, allowing more optimization of the traction control system with 5 grip modes (Normal, Snow, Mud, Sand, and ESP off)
> Hill Assist Descent Control (HADC) allows you to safely and perfectly control your vehicle and its trajectory on steep slopes.
> Other standard safety features include 6 SRS Airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Anti-Skid Regulation (ASR), & Hill Start Assist.

Each model is available in a choice of four colours. Common to both are Amazonite Grey, Pearl White and Nera Black. Exclusive to the 3008 is Cuprite Brown, while Emerald Crystal is reserved for the 5008.

Both models come with a 3-year free service maintenance with a mileage limit of 60,000km, whichever comes first.

They are backed by a standard 5-year manufacturer's warranty or 100,000km mileage, whichever comes first.

Peugeot is now part of  Stellantis, a multi-brand automotive group  formed in January from the merger of Italian-American Fiat Chrysler and France’s PSA. The merger resulted in the formation of Stellantis, the world’s fourth largest carmaker boasting 14 brands.

Stellantis has also taken full control of the plant in Gurun, Kedah, with no equity stake from Bermaz Auto Alliance.

 Yeoh and Stellantis senior vice president (Asean & General Distributors) Christophe Musy at the launch of the new 3008 and 5008 in Petaling Jaya today.

Stellantis aims to use the plant as a regional production hub to export the two models to Thailand, Indinesia, Philippines, Myanmar and Cambodia. Other future models would also come from there.

Bermaz Auto Bhd’s executive chairman Datuk Seri Ben Yeoh said the focus for the next year or so was not on sales but to rebuild Peugeot in Malaysia as "we have just taken over the brand."

"Peugeot is a very good brand; the products are excellent. Our main objective is to reinforce confidence in new and existing customers about a new ownership experience and rebuild the brand.

"When the brand confidence is back and the image is much better, the product will be able to deliver its promises. The sales part will come naturally then," said the 47-year automotive veteran, who is known for having turned around Hyundai and Mazda.

Bermaz Auto Alliance managing director Datuk Wong Kin Foo said the 3008 and 5008 are expected to be great additions to the local market, where SUVs are becoming more popular.

Wong said Bermaz Auto Alliance would use a formula of combining Peugeot quality with a pleasant ownership experience to ensure its future success.

Apart from being the sole Peugeot distrubutor, Bermaz Auto Alliance — formerly known as Berjaya Auto Alliance  — is also the non-exclusive Peugeot service and spare parts provider in Malaysia.

Peugeot 5008 Specifications (pdf)Peugeot 3008 Specifications (pdf)
Peugeot SUV FAQs (pdf)

Peugeot 5008

Peugeot 3008


Buy a Mercedes-Benz and stand to win a Ducati X Diavel S

                KUALA LUMPUR: NZ Wheels Sdn Bhd, an authorised dealer for Mercedes-Benz in Malaysia, has a special campaign right now that will see a new Mercedes-Benz owner ride home on a Ducati XDiavel S as well.

The campaign - dubbed Double Celebrations, only requires the purchase of any Mercedes-Benz model from July 13 to Sept 30 to be in the running to own an Italian thoroughbred motorcycle.

The cruiser bike is currently worth RM161,900 after its tax exemption which was recently announced by the government.

A successful booking, purchase or delivery of any of the selected Mercedes-Benz vehicles from any authorised NZ Wheels Autohaus constitutes as a single contest entry.

Participants are required to fill in a contest form with proof of purchase attached to qualify as one entry for the contest.

The details of the grand prize winner will be displayed on the NZ Wheels website and social media channels; Instagram and Facebook, 30 days after the contest period.

The winners will also be notified directly via telephone and will be invited to a prize presentation ceremony held at premises of NZ Wheels.

Customers can visit the nearest NZ Wheels Autohaus to check out the Mercedes-Benz models on display.

All NZ Wheels Autohauses strictly adhere to the implemented health and safety measures under the Mercedes-Benz Star Shield initiative, a safety protocol for its dealers and customers.

The comprehensive safety measure includes the disinfection of frequently touched areas as well as the wrapping of seats and the steering wheel prior to service as well as the thorough cleaning of test vehicles.

“Through the NZ Wheels Double Celebration campaign, we want to encourage our customers to take advantage of the tax exemption period to purchase the car of their dreams while providing
them with further value add rewards on a premium level," said Naza Corporation Holdings group chief executive officer (Automotive Group) Datuk Nik Hamdam Nik Hassan.

He added that the collaboration with Ducati Malaysia as a brand coincides with the values of Mercedes-Benz and NZ Wheels in providing vehicles of premium quality, innovation, style and sophistication.

For more information, log on to NZ Wheels' social media channels - Instagram: @nz_wheels, Facebook: @nzwheels, or call customer service at +6018-204 7763.


Quill Automobiles offers a free Samsung TV for every new BMW purchased

                PETALING JAYA: BMW's authorised dealer, Quill automobiles, together with Samsung Electronics Malaysia, have collaborated to allow new owners to drive home a complimentary TV.

The promotion sees a new BMW owner receive one of Samsung's flagship TVs for free.

A new owner will receive one complimentary Samsung TV per vehicle.

The SeroThe SerifThe Frame

The Samsung TV models include The Sero (43-inch), The Serif (5-inch) and The Frame (55-inch).

The promotion is only available at Quill Automobiles in Petaling Jaya and is available to customers for a limited time only.

For more information log on to www.quill-automobiles.com.my.


World's first titanium supercar is yours for US$2.8mil

                TURIN: It's been called the first titanium supercar and it's for sale at the supercar price of US$2.8mil (RM11.2mil).

If you want a one-of-a kind car, this is it, as only one will ever be made. Meet the Vulcano Titanium,  a car that took 10,000 hours to build by hand. It's from the Italian design house Icona founded in Turin but based in Shanghai.

Its supercharged 6.2-litre V-8 powerplant is swiped from a  C6 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and is located behind the front axle for improved handling and dynamics. The engine churns out 670hp and 841Nm of torque that is routed to the rear axle. Icona said the engine could be tuned to over 1,000hp if its owner demands it. The Vulcano Titanium is said to have a 0-100kph sprint time of 2.8s, and proceeds to reach a top speed of 354kph.

Icona said the shift times, the ratios and differential gear have been optimised and calibrated in order to achieve the best balance in the distribution of power. The car uses paddle shifters only, dispensing with the classic gear lever.

In addition, the shock absorbers are fully adjustable in rebound and compression, and this makes the choice possible between several possible settings in order to identify the most suitable calibration to the drive type.

The fact the car is for sale is the news this year but it has been around since the 2013 Shanghai auto show where it was introduced as a concept. At the time, the body was a combination of aluminum and composite materials. The titanium version was revealed last year in the US at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and it's now for sale.

The video above shows the designers going into uncharted but exciting territory and the challenges they face in shaping a hard and non-elastic material that was, on the other hand, used because it was very light and strong. In addition, Icona can now claimed bragging rights to being the first in the world to successfully create such a car.

The Vulcano Titanium wear Pirelli P Zero tyres and gets 20-inch forged aluminum wheels in front and 21-inch at the rear, with Brembo carbon-ceramic discs and 6-piston calipers at the front and 4-piston calipers at the rear.

The carbon fibre cabin is dressed in a leather-Alcantara upholstery. Bucket seats are also made of carbon fibre. A 12.3-in digital meter cluster in front of the driver is complemented by a larger tablet-size touchscreen that is festooned with jetfighter-style switches below it.

The supercar will be on show again at the 2016 Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance at Blenheim Palace, 100km north-west of here from Sept 1-3.


Girl drifter Leona  Chin picks up a Triton

                KUALA LUMPUR: Leona Chin has become a proud owner of a fifth generation Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure - cloaked in Shadow Black.

The range-topping Triton VGT Adventure is one of five variants available and is imported from Thailand while costing RM122,488 (on-the-road with GST without insurance), which includes a three factory warranty or 100,000km (whichever comes first) and a two-year Free Maintenance package.Under the hood lies a 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine with a Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) providing 178hp and 400Nm of torque and gets mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shifters, sport mode, Easy Select 4WD-system and a Hybrid LSD system.

Features include push-start button with keyless entry, Xenon HID headlights with integrated daytime running lights, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, touchscreen audio system, reverse camera, automatic headlights and wipers as well as dual-zone climate controls.

In terms of safety, there's two airbags, a collapsible steering column, anti-intrusion brake pedal and anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution.

 Yang (right) with Chin and her new Triton VGT Adventure

“What I like about the Triton is that it gives me the balance of power, sportiness and works as a practical utility truck. I will be using the Triton to carry my racing equipment’s such as the jack stand, my toolbox, tyres and canopies when I go for a trial run in our local circuit. Besides that the Triton will also be used for makan-makan (food) trips with my mum!” said Leona.

Leona ventured into motorsports at a sprite age of 20 and was quickly associated with the title ‘girl drifter’ after starting the sport as a hobby, before venturing into circuit and endurance racing.

She currently races in the ‘Clio Cup China Series’ where it provides a platform to share racing passion and culture for car owners and fans formed by Formula Racing Development (FRD) Motorsports.

“Since 1978, over four million Tritons have been sold worldwide. With our unmatched Dakar Rally heritage and reputation for toughness, reliability and performance, we are happy to know that a Malaysian professional drifter such as Leona recognizes the performance and strength of the Triton and is now an owner of the fifth generation Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure,” said MMM chief executive officer Yang Won-Chul.


Penang to fully switch to app-based parking from 2020

                GEORGE TOWN: No more paper-based coupons will be sold from Dec 31 and any stock you have left will be valid only until Dec 31 next year.

This was the reminder issued by city councillor Gooi Seong Kin at the Penang Island City Council full meeting.

“All Penang motorists and visitors who drive must download the Penang Smart Parking (PSP) app and start using it.

“For those who are unwilling or unable to make online transactions to top up credits into the app, the council has appointed five official agents to sell PSP e-coupons other than the council itself.

“They are 7Eleven, Happy Mart, Yang Agency, PH Ocean and Jefferson.

“The e-coupons will have codes for users to punch into the app to top up their credits, ” he said.

Gooi also announced the standardised chargeable parking hours for PSP on the mainland and on the island.

“The chargeable parking hours will be from 8am to 6pm every day except on Sundays and public holidays.”

It was earlier reported that Penang was the first state to fully implement smart parking via an app.

The app allows motorists to pay for parking through their smartphones.

By August 2020, all 36,000 public parking spaces in Penang will have sensors embedded into the road surface that will tell app users if any of the lots near them are vacant.


Lucid to start deliveries of electric cars with range exceeding Tesla's in October

People test-driving the Dream Edition P and Dream Edition R electric vehicles at the Lucid Motors plant in Casa Grande, Arizona on Tuesday. — Reuters
CASA GRANDE (Arizona, USA): US startup Lucid Group Inc said on Tuesday it will start delivering luxury electric sedans with a Tesla-beating driving range in late October, posing a major challenge to the market leader whose sales of premium models have stagnated.

The California-based Lucid began production of its long-delayed Lucid Air cars at its Arizona factory on Tuesday, and said it aims to ramp plant's capacity up to 90,000 vehicles per annum in the next two years.

The top-end Lucid Air Dream Edition will be available in late October, followed by less expensive models: Grand Touring, Touring and Air Pure. The company said it has received more than 13,000 reservations for Lucid Air models, and it has increased the planned total production of the Lucid Air Dream Edition to 520 vehicles.

A version of the Lucid Air Dream Edition, priced at US$169,000 (RM707,000), received an official US government rating of a 837km driving range, over 160km more than its closest rival, Tesla's Model S, which is priced at US$89,990 (RM377,000).

Speaking at the production site, Lucid chief executive officer Peter Rawlinson, a former chief engineer on the Tesla Model S, said his company's cars have an advantage in battery technology and costs over the Model S.

"We've ridden customers of the fear of range anxiety," he said. "The next big obstacle is cost effectiveness of electric cars. We've got to get the cost down."

He said the Air Pure, the least expensive version with a price tag of US$77,400 (RM324,000), will go into production late next year.

Execution challenge

The company, founded in 2007, received funding from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in 2018 before going public via a shell company in July.

"(20)17 and (20)18 were brutal. The company was in a parlous state. And then I've got to say, we met a perfect partner," said Rawlinson.

Rawlinson, who left Tesla in 2012, faces tasks similar to those of Tesla in its early days, including how to address manufacturing challenges and scale up production.

"I think the big challenge for Lucid will be execution," said Sam Abuelsamid, a principal analyst at Guidehouse Insights. "I think that they have a very good car. It's very attractive."

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in June that Tesla has cancelled its plan to launch a Model S Plaid+, with a target driving range of 836km, saying the Model S Plaid itself is "just so good".

Musk reiterated this month that "production is hard".

"Production with positive cash flow is extremely hard," he said, citing carmakers' razor-thin margins.

Tesla's combined sales of Model S and Model X luxury models stood at only 1,890 in the second quarter of this year, down from 22,300 during the same period three years ago. Tesla does not break out figures for the two high-end models.

"The Model S doesn't look fundamentally different from a Model S nine years ago," Abuelsamid said. "In the premium market, customers are looking for the latest and greatest."

Musk in October 2020 cut the price of its Model S, shortly after Lucid announced the pricing of its base model. "The gauntlet has been thrown down! The prophecy will be fulfilled," he tweeted at that time.

Electric vehicle maker Rivian, backed by Amazon.com Inc and now preparing for a public stock listing, earlier this month started production of electric pickup trucks.

That move came ahead of similar expected moves by Tesla, General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co.


Qatar recognises Malaysian driving licence

                DOHA: The Qatar government has agreed to recognise Malaysian driving licence, hence exempting the holders from having to sit and pass the driving test in that country.

Prior to this, Malaysians were required to sit and pass the driving test in Qatar to be able to drive in the left-hand driving country.

The news was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who was here last Saturday for a four-day working visit.

Malaysia Association of Qatar president Ahmad Hasnan Mohd Zaki welcomed Qatar's move. He said Malaysians would otherwise have to wait at least four months and fork out 2,500 Qatari Riyal (RM3,042) to sit for the driving test.

Malaysia started diplomatic relations with Qatar in 1974 and the bilateral ties were strengthened with the opening of the Malaysian embassy in August 2004 followed by the opening of Qatari embassy in Kuala Lumpur in September 2004.

Malaysian ambassador to Qatar Datuk Ahmad Jazri Mohd Johar said there were 5,000 Malaysians in Qatar with most of them working in Qatar Airways, the education sector and the oil industry.


Baosteel says it will fight Nippon Steel's patent infringement claim

                LONDON: China's Baoshan Iron & Steel Co Ltd (Baosteel) said on Thursday it disputes Japanese rival Nippon Steel's claims that it infringed patents.

Nippon Steel said on Thursday it had filed lawsuits against Baosteel and Toyota Motor Corp with a Tokyo district court.

Baosteel said in a statement it had repeatedly approached Nippon Steel about the claim and was rebuffed, calling this "regretful".

The company said it had strictly followed regulations and would respond to the lawsuits and "firmly" defend its rights and interests.


MINI unveils first future design highlights

                MUNICH: A first glimpse of MINI's new design of its upcoming all-electric model family, showed the new round OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display, steering wheel, as well as seats and rims.

MINI says its new Charismatic Simplicity design language focuses on the essentials.

“With our new Charismatic Simplicity design language, we are completely rethinking the iconic MINI. Our purist, progressive approach combines the simplicity of functional elements with the emotionality that MINI is renowned for,” says Oliver Heilmer, head of MINI Design.

The circular central instrument display iconic of MINI, will be reinterpreted as an OLED display in the upcoming model family.

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

The OLED display has a diameter of 240mm and combines the functions of the instrument cluster and the on-board monitor.

The touch control user interface also controls the integrated infotainment and climate functions.

The steering wheel of the next model family was also fundamentally redesigned.

The standard version comes with a two-spoke design.

The optional version adds a distinctive fabric finish.

The range of seats is equally diverse.

Laminated seat side panels show the attention to detail.

Armrests are integrated into the seats for the first time.

The completely redesigned light-alloy wheels feature an illusion of size, which is further emphasised by the outward-pointing spokes.

The pared-back, two-dimensional wheel design contributes to improved aerodynamic qualities and increased range with its somewhat compact, two-dimensional design.


Lamborghini enters 2021 with new Malaysian distributor

                KUALA LUMPUR: Lamborghini has a new distributor in Malaysia.

Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A has awarded the sole distributorship to SunAgata Supercars Sdn Bhd for new vehicles, and the rights to aftersales and spare parts distribution from Jan 1.

The previous distributor was JH Italia Sdn Bhd.

This new partnership seeks to invigorate Lamborghini’s brand presence in the country even further, following the steady growth of the marque in Malaysia over the past couple of decades.

The team at the new Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur Centre from SunAgata Supercars will be led by its chief executive officer Roland Chan. He was previously the head of McLaren Kuala Lumpur.

Lamborghini gave an assurance that it would continue to serve its customers with excellence backed by an experienced automotive team.

The initial workshop operations will be held at a temporary facility at Audi Centre Glenmarie, Shah Alam, until the new workshop is set up in March.

The Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur integrated 3S facility is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2021.

The temporary workshop is located at: Audi Centre Glenmarie, 27 Jalan Pelukis U1/46, Temasya Industrial Park, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor.

For Lamborghini sales and service, contact Nicole Perreau at +60-12-5190380 or e-mail: nicole.p@SunAgata.com.my.


Volvo LifePaint returns for safety's sake

                LONDON: Volvo Car UK has reintroduced LifePaint, the popular reflective spray designed to increase the visibility and safety of cyclists.

Available to buy online in time for the longest night, Dec 21, LifePaint is a product that reacts to a vehicle’s headlights, warning drivers of the presence of cyclists in the dark.

With more than 19,000 cyclists injured on British roads every year, Volvo said the long dark nights were the perfect time to reintroduce this potentially life-saving safety product.

LifePaint is invisible in daylight, but in the dark reflects light in the same direction as the light source, shining brightly to illuminate the objects it has been sprayed on. The spray sticks to dry textiles and is most effective on fibrous materials such as cotton, fleece, linen and certain nylons.

It can also be applied to shoes, helmets, pushchairs and children’s backpacks – and even dog leads and collars.

Volvo is working in partnership with the makers of LifePaint, Swedish start-up Albedo100, to distribute the product online and via its dealer network.

The reintroduction of LifePaint is being supported by an on-street advertising campaign, which includes 183 digital six-sheet sites on some of the most dangerous roads in and around London.

LifePaint washes off, and will not affect the colour or surface of a sprayed material. It will last for around a week after application, depending on what surface it is sprayed onto and how much is applied. Each can of LifePaint is priced at £13 (RM73).


Make BMW S 1000 RR even more agile with carbon fibre wheels

                MUNICH: BMW Motorrad is now offering M Performance carbon fibre wheels for the S 1000 RR superbike.

The M Performance carbon fibre wheels for the S 1000 RR are 1.7kg lighter in total than the standard aluminium wheels, which were already reduced in weight by 1.6kg when the two models were re-launched last year.

All parts such as the 5mm thick brake discs (standard: 4.5mm), sensor rings, wheel bearings and tyre pressure control valves are included in the complete wheel set. The M Performance carbon fibre wheels have been available since Aug 1.

Once developed for the aerospace industry, carbon fibre's high-strength and super-light nature first established itself in racing and now also in BMW motorcycles. BMW Motorrad uses it wherever minimum weight and maximum strength are required.

BMW Motorrad said the M Performance carbon fibre wheels were an ideal area of application for the material, which is processed in a complex process using high-pressure furnaces called autoclaves.

The benefits are immediately felt. Less weight means lower rotational masses leading not only to improved acceleration and braking behaviour but also makes the bike easier to handle. In short: The motorcycles become even more agile and dynamic. In addition, the carbon fibre surface, which is coated with high-gloss clear lacquer, is an eye-catcher thanks to its deep black shimmering structure.


Hyundai previews new Elantra 1.6 ahead of launch

                PETALING JAYA: Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors, the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in Malaysia, recently allowed members of the media to preview its latest Elantra sedan ahead of its official debut.

The seventh iteration of the Elantra sedan is due to be launched in mid-December.

Order books are currently open - requiring a booking fee of RM777, for the mid-sized sedan which is expected to be priced around the region of RM135,000.

Four colour options will be provided including Polar White, Electric Shadow, Amazon White and Intense Blue. All body colours can be paired with either a Black or Light Grey interior.

In the looks department, the front end will showcase its newly styled Parametric Jewel surface design that's flanked by automatic LED headlights with integrated daytime running lights and high-beam assist.

The same design cue is reflected along the side profile that shows off its fastback shape (long front end and a short rear end).

At the rear, the 474-litre hands-free operation boot is flanked by LED light clusters that are connected by a single light bar to form an "H-design" while also acting as a third brake light.

With a 2,720mm wheelbase (+20mm), the new Elantra will come in measuring 4,650mm-long (+30mm), 1,825mm-wide (+25mm) and 1,420mm-tall (-15mm).

Power will come from a 1.6-litre (1,598cc) Smartstream multi-point injection engine that draws fuel from a 47-litre fuel tank.

Power has been rated at 123PS at 6,300rpm and 154Nm of torque at 4,500rpm - all of which gets managed by an Intelligent variable transmission (iVT) with eight virtual gears for the front wheels.

This means that the Elantra will be able to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 10.4 seconds before reaching a top speed of 196kph.

The South Korean carmaker claims that its iVT is an improvement over a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which uses a metallic belt to manage engine speeds.

Instead, the iVT uses a chain belt which improves efficiency by 4.2% while transmission losses have been reduced by 5% to 8%.

This allows the driver to gain better engine response while enjoying a shift pattern that's said to be similar to a manual transmission.

The Elantra's 1,245kg (kerb) body is suspended by front McPherson struts and a rear torsion beam as it rolls on 17-inch alloys wrapped by 225/45 Kumho Ecsta PS71 tyres. No spare tyre is found here, only a tyre repair kit. Stopping power comes from front and rear disc brakes.

Inside, the driver-centric cabin features seats wrapped by perforated leather that comes with front heating and ventilation controls as well as rear air conditioning vents.

The driver gets a 10.25-inch Supervision TFT LCD full-colour instrument cluster while an 8.0-inch touchscreen display houses the infotainment system with Aux input, USP ports, voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity for up to two smartphones as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Other conveniences include wireless charging, electric parking brake with auto-hold function, dual-zone automatic climate controls and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

For safety, the Elantra is equipped as standard with six airbags, antilock braking system, brake assist system, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control system,
electronic stability control, vehicle stability management and hill-start assist control.

This is further bolstered by Hyundai SmartSense - a suite of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), which includes lane-keeping assist, lane following assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-go functionality and forward collision avoidance assist (vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist).

There's also forward collision avoidance assist (junction), blind-spot collision avoidance assistance, driver attention warning, leading vehicle departure alert, safe exit warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist and rear occupant alert.


Hyundai to reveal all-electric Kona in Geneva

                SEOUL: When Hyundai starts to move in a particular direction it doesn't waste time. Having already dipped its toe into the electric vehicle market with the introduction of the all-electric version of the Ioniq, the South Korean manufacturer is now planning to unveil a fully electric version of its new Kona compact crossover SUV at the Geneva motor show next March.

At the Frankfurt motor show, which launched last week, Hyundai Europe's chief operating officer, Thomas Schmid, confirmed that an electric Kona will not use the drivetrain currently used in the Ioniq. Instead, the Kona will feature a next-generation electric system with a more powerful battery for greater range.

Hyundai is now the latest automaker to announce its electrified vehicle strategy for the near future. We now know we'll see 15 "eco" models included in the Hyundai range by 2020, which not only means battery electric vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids, but hydrogen fuel cell vehicles too.

However, Hyundai Europe president, Hyung Cheong Kim, told an audience at the Frankfurt show that only 10 of these 15 models will be sold in Europe. Included in these will be a next-generation hydrogen fuel cell crossover SUV with a range of some 800 km, which is set to be launched as soon as next spring.

The regular version of the Kona made its public debut last week at the Frankfurt motor show, where the company also revealed five-door hatchback and N-badged performance versions of its i30 compact car line.

The Kona compact crossover SUV will be offered with available all-wheel drive, and there will initially be a choice of 1.0-litre and 1.6-litre petrol engines. A 1.6-litre diesel variant is then set to be released in the summer, although how much demand there will be for that in the current climate remains to be seen.

Hyundai had already confirmed it intended to put EVs right to the centre of its ongoing product strategy, and was therefore working on developing its first dedicated all-electric vehicle platform.

The aim is for the new platform to allow Hyundai to be able to come up with a number of different models with longer driving ranges than are available at the moment. The electric Kona is expected to offer a range of 390km when it goes on sale in the first half of next year.


Jaguar's The Art of Performance Tour arrives

                PETALING JAYA: Jaguar's The Art of Performance Tour has arrived in Malaysia as part of its tour across the Asia Pacific importer region.

The tour, being held at Setia City Convention Centre from now to Mar 18, promises to be an unforgettable and thrilling driving experience for members of the public where visitors are able to helm a Jaguar XE, XF and F-Pace and put them through their paces on a short circuit and a unique Smart Cone course.

To participate in The Art of Performance Tour Malaysia, members of the public mustregister at http://www.jaguar.com.my/promotions-events/the- art-of- performance-tour. Existing Jaguar-Land Rover customers are also invited to the event.

The course is inspired by the agility training game known as ‘Batak’, with its wireless technology to produce both a predetermined and a random course of illuminating cones that notifies drivers of their next target with only a moment’s notice.

As the car is driven, its precise co-ordinates are measured in relation to the cones and sent to a central computer system 100 times per second to track its performance.

The short circuit simulates a low friction surface to help demonstrate the electronics of the vehicle in two separate exercises:

1) Low friction acceleration- Many take their traction control (TC) for granted. At this station, you appreciate a standing start with and without traction control.

- With TC on, there's nothing dramatic as the car easily pulls away and prevents the wheels from over spinning.

- With TC off, the engine revs freely, over-spinning the wheels and allowing the car to go nowhere.

2) Dual friction braking- Participants drive a regular car in a straight line at approximately 40kph.

- When they drive onto the vinyl surface, instructors will ask them to stand on the brakes as hard as they can, bringing the car to a complete stop.

- Participants then swap to a car, with all electronics turned off (traction control, ABS or EBD).

- Repeating the same straight line speed and as they brake on the dual friction surface, the car has completely no electronics and it will spin in the direction of the surface with lower friction.

Every driver gets a score report that takes into account the model of the car used and driving conditions.

In addition to the driving experience, participants will also be among the first in Malaysia to preview and test drive the 250PS 2.0-litre F-Pace that's due to be officially launched in April.

The 2017 Jaguar F-PACE has been named the winner of the 2017 World Car of the Year and won the World Car Design of the Year Award at the New York International Auto Show.

In Malaysia, the F-PACE was a winner in the SUV and Crossover category (RM500,001 – RM700,000) at the 2017 Malaysian Car of The Year Awards, which was organised under the auspices of the Malaysian Automotive Institute (MAI).

It was also awarded Editors’ choice for Most Well-Specced Luxury Large-size
SUV/Crossover 2017 from The Star’s Carsifu.

The multi-city tour was first introduced in Europe in 2016 with a unique driving experience that provides consumers with the opportunity to helm and experience the English luxury carmaker's line-up of vehicles.