Man found dead inside rented McLaren outside nightclub

Police said initial checks revealed the man did not have any visible sign of injury on his body. — Photo from Bomba KL
KUALA LUMPUR: A man was found dead in a car parked in front of a nightclub along Jalan Gelang Off Jalan Sungei Besi here.

The body was that of a 28-year-old man from Klang.

City Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Najilan Che Pa said they dispatched 11 personnel and a fire engine to the scene at around 6pm and found the Mclaren parked in front of the nightclub.

"We used special tools to open the vehicle doors.

"Medics confirmed that the man had died at the scene and handed over duties to the police for further action," he said.

Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Noor Dellhan Yahaya said they were alerted by concerned members of the public who saw the man in an unconscious state in the car.

"Initial investigations revealed the Mclaren car the man was found in was rented.

"We are investigating the case from all angles and have classified the case as sudden death for the time being, as no criminal element was found.

"The body has been sent to the Hospital Kuala Lumpur for post mortem," he said when contacted today.

He added that initial checks revealed the man did not have any visible sign of injury on his body.

Those with information on the case should contact the City police hotline at 03-2115 9999 or go to the nearest police station.


Use a hairdryer to get rid of stickers on your bumper or windscreen

                BERLIN: to pay for road tolls, some countries require drivers to pay for a small sticker that goes on their windscreen. But when they start to collect and become an eyesore, or if you regret putting a silly bumper sticker on your car, what’s the best way to get rid of them?

In most cases, if a sticker has been on a car or its windscreen for a few years or less, it can usually just be peeled off. For older stickers, a powerful hairdryer can help loosen them up. “This way, the sticker gets warmed up enough that you can grab hold of it well,” says paint care specialist Christian Petzoldt.

The heat softens the adhesive and makes the plastic flexible, which you can then pull off diagonally. When removing the heated sticker, a plastic ice scraper can also come in handy, but be sure to scrape carefully on the windscreen to avoid scratches.

Mineral oil can be dabbed on any glue residues or pieces of stickers still stuck to the car’s finish – after a few minutes, these can simply be rubbed off. For adhesive residue on the windscreen, commercial brake cleaner with acetone can help. Avoid spraying it directly onto the pane, however, and instead spray it sparingly onto a cloth before wiping down the glass.


BMW electrified cars get vocal, courtesy of composer Hans Zimmer

Zimmer (right) and Vitale at work.
MUNICH: With electric cars running silently by default, it's essential to create synthetic sounds in the interest of public safety. The sounds also add emotionality to the driving experience.

With that in mind, BMW has roped in Hollywood soundtrack composer Hans Zimmer for the job. Together with BMW Group sound designer Renzo Vitale, he has created the sound for the BMW Vision M NEXT, which had its world premiere today. The Vision M NEXT coupe, inspired by the i8 plug-in hybrid, offers a glimpse at the electrified future of the BMW M brand.

Zimmer and Vitale composed the drive sounds and sound signs for the electric car at Zimmer’s studios in London and Los Angeles.

“When the driver interacts with the accelerator pedal it is not only a mechanical touchpoint but also a performative element," said Zimmer. "Accelerating becomes an experience during which the driver moves through a series of gradually morphing sound textures.”

The German car maker aims to market such synthetic sounds under the brand name "BMW IconicSounds Electric" for future electrified vehicles.

“We want to get BMW IconicSounds Electric in position for customers who value emotional sound. With BMW IconicSounds Electric they will be able to experience the joy of driving with all their senses", said BMW Brand senior vice president Jens Thiemer. "The sound of the BMW Vision M NEXT gives a glimpse into the future of BMW IconicSounds Electric."

BMW has been developing sound for electric mobility for 10 years now.

In 2009, with the introduction of the MINI E test fleet, BMW acoustic engineers were already working on artificially generated sound, which was intended to contribute to the better perceptibility of vehicles with barely audible drivetrains. Since the launch of the BMW i3, customers have been able to choose acoustic pedestrian protection as optional equipment.

The sound of the acoustic pedestrian protection has since been further developed in line with new legislative requirements and is now gradually being rolled out as standard in all plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles from BMW (requirements for acoustic pedestrian protection as well as operating times vary worldwide).


RHB ups TIV forecast to 650,000 for 2022

                KUALA LUMPUR: RHB Research has raised its 2022F total industry volume (TIV) to 650,000 from 615,000 in light of the strong year-to-date (YTD) TIV and easing supply chain bottlenecks.

“Note that the YTD TIV of 447,000 does not include July/August figures for marques that report numbers each quarter.

“Our new TIV estimate has factored in the ongoing component shortage and potential worsening conditions from Europe’s energy crisis,” RHB said in a report.

The TIV for the first eight months of 2022 stood at 447,209 units, according to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

MAA also noted that the TIV for August was at 66,614 units, up 36% from the 48,922 vehicles sold and delivered in July 2022.

RHB said orders were gradually recovering month-on-month and should continue to do so, as consumers adapt to the post-sales and services tax prices.

“With Budget 2023 coming up, we expect the Government to provide greater clarity on the excise duty reform that is meant to be implemented in 2023.

The research house said that in line with its sustainability agenda, the Government may also introduce incentives to spur the domestic adoption and production of EVs, which may include:

> INCENTIVES to spur EV charging;
> INCENTIVES  to spur original equipment manufacturers’ local assembly of EVs; and
>  A LONGER tax-free period for the purchase of EVs.


Toyota edges past 9.1 million vehicle output goal, warns chip shortage lingering

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp set a global annual output record in the business year ended in March, just edging past its target of 9.1 million vehicles as factory disruption from global chip supply woes and pandemic lockdowns eased.

But the world's biggest automaker by sales warned it continued to see impacts from the long-running global chip shortage, saying it remained hard to predict its effect going forward.

Toyota said today it produced 9.13 million vehicles in the 12 months through March 31, a fraction ahead of its target, though that goal was downgraded twice from an initial goal for the year of around 9.7 million amid industry disruption.

In the previous year, vehicle output was 8.57 million.

Global sales for the 12 months ended March rose to 9.61 million vehicles from 9.51 million in the prior year, setting another annual record for the company.

The company didn't release new sales or production targets for the current business year that started in April.

It disclosed it has so far sold just 17,473 battery electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide, including those of its luxury Lexus brand, for the first three months of 2023.

That compared with 24,466 battery EVs sold by Toyota worldwide for the whole of 2022.


Tesla fatal crash details revealed in Texas fire marshal report

The remains of the Model S are seen after it crashed near Houston on April 17. — Scott J. Engle via Reuter

HOUSTON: The fiery crash of a Tesla sedan that killed two people in Texas earlier this month involved a front-end collision that caused extensive damage and may have ignited the car’s powerful battery cells, according to a local fire authority’s report.

The report provides more clues to the April 17 incident involving a gray 2019 Model S that hit a tree and caught fire in The Woodlands, a wealthy neighboUrhood in greater Houston.

Tesla is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, two US agencies that are probing the bizarre crash.

The vehicle sustained "a significant front-end collision” that may have damaged the battery, power distribution system, or battery-temperature control systems, causing the lithium-ion cells in the Tesla to ignite, according to the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office.

The fire was caused by the collision, investigator Chris Johnson concluded, ruling out factors not specifically related to the crash - although he was unable to determine the first heat source.

Tesla’s vice president of vehicle engineering, Lars Moravy, said Monday on an earnings call that the company found the steering wheel of the vehicle to be "deformed, leading to the likelihood that someone was in the driver’s seat at the time of the crash.”

The company didn’t have an immediate comment on the report. It’s cooperating with investigators.

Police with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office initially said that "no one” was in the driver’s seat, which led to speculation that the vehicle’s autopilot technology may have been a factor. Chief executive officer Elon Musk took to Twitter to refute that notion.

William Varner, 59, and Everette Talbot, 69, were both found dead when first responders arrived on scene.

Talbot was seated in the right front passenger seat with his upper torso "in a forward-leaning position, with both arms rolled forward.” Varner was seated in the left rear passenger seat with his upper torso "in a rear-leaning position, with both arms rolled back and in a pugilistic pose.”

There were signs of "extensive mechanical damage” and a "large debris field” of exterior trim parts and mechanical components was found to the west of the car, the report stated. It didn’t specify the vehicle’s speed on impact or whether air bags and seat belts were used and deployed.

The "front left wheel appeared to have separated from the suspension/steering assembly and folded inward towards the engine compartment,” and the tyre was melted from the heat, the report said.

"The front right wheel separated from the vehicle entirely.”


Volvo starts ‘Drive Me’ public driverless trial in home city

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo on Friday kicked off Drive Me, the world’s most ambitious and advanced public autonomous driving (AD) experiment.

The autonomous Volvo XC90 SUV was prepared in Volvo Cars’ plant in Torslanda and is the first in a series of autonomous cars that will eventually be handed to families here to be driven on public roads.

Volvo said it believes the introduction of AD technology promises to reduce car accidents. Furthermore, AD technology promises to free up congested roads, reduce pollution and allow drivers to use their time in their cars more productively.

Volvo currently offers a semi-autonomous functionality called Pilot Assist on its 90 series cars. Pilot Assist gives gentle steering inputs to keep the car properly aligned within lane markings up to 128kph without the need to follow another car. The Drive Me cars will add hands-off and feet-off capability in special autonomous drive zones around Gothenburg, powered by what Volvo calls the Autonomous Driving Brain.

The Swedish company is pioneering the development of autonomous driving systems as part of its vision that no one will be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo by the year 2020.

Volvo aims to further fine-tune its autonomous driving technologies and make its offering as relevant as possible to customers ahead of a commercial introduction around 2021.

“This is an important milestone for the Drive Me project,” said Erik Coelingh, Senior Technical Leader Active Safety at Volvo Cars, as he observed the final touches being put to the car. “Customers look at their cars differently than us engineers, so we are looking forward to learn how they use these cars in their daily lives and what feedback they will give us.”

After rolling off the production line, the Drive Me customer cars will undergo a rigorous testing phase to ensure that the cars’ advanced autonomous driving technologies function exactly as they should. Once this testing phase – overseen by Volvo engineers – is finalised, the cars will be handed over to the customers participating in the Drive Me pilot.

The Drive Me pilot project in Gothenburg is the first in a number of planned public trials with autonomous driving Volvo cars. A similar project will be launched in London next year, while Volvo is also assessing bids from interested cities in China to launch a Drive Me project there within the next few years.

Earlier this week, Volvo revealed it will set up a new jointly owned company together with leading automotive supplier Autoliv to develop next-generation autonomous driving software.


Hertz accuses thousands of car renters of theft, court papers show

                WASHINGTON: Hertz Corp, facing lawsuits from hundreds of car renters who say they were falsely arrested for auto theft, files thousands of related criminal complaints each year against customers, according to claims in newly released court documents.

In one four-year period, the company filed nearly 8,000 theft reports annually, advocates for the falsely arrested customers said in a federal court filing in Wilmington, Delaware Thursday.

The advocates cited internal data from Hertz that a judge ordered the company to release.

A breakdown of the theft reports isn’t public, so it’s not yet possible to know how many complaints were against customers and how many were for other types of theft.

Under certain circumstances, Hertz will tell police that a customer may have stolen a car. Many of those people turn out to have valid contracts and allegedly have been falsely arrested, according to the lawsuits.

Messages left for Hertz representatives weren’t immediately returned.

CBS, which hired lawyers to help get the documents unsealed, previously reported Hertz said the "vast majority” of cases involve renters who were weeks or months overdue on returns and authorities are brought in only after "exhaustive attempts” to reach a customer.

Court order

In a court hearing Wednesday, US bankruptcy judge Mary Walrath ordered the annual theft numbers to be made public, siding with advocates for 220 people suing Hertz who argued that more details about Hertz’s internal anti-theft program should be public.

Court documents show that some of the customers who rented cars were jailed, some years after they rented and returned the cars.

At least one allegedly was held at gunpoint just hours after paying for a rental.

"Hertz now admits that it reports thousands of its own customers for auto theft each year,” lawyers for the people suing said in court papers. The problem can be traced to company-wide, systemic problems, they allege.

Bankruptcy claims

The false arrest claims often involve long-term rentals, some set up directly by the customer, others through an auto insurance company, according to court documents.

Those who claim Hertz had them wrongly arrested have filed claims in bankruptcy court demanding to be paid like other creditors of the company.

Walrath oversaw Hertz’s Chapter 11 re-organisation, which ended last year with a plan to pay creditors in full.


Lightning Motorcycles teases electric motor that competes with petrol engines

                SAN JOSE: Lightning Motorcycles followed up last month's electric motorcycle teaser image with a new pic of its high-performing, fully liquid-cooled electric motor.

Over the years, Lightning Motorcycles has made its name in the motorcycle industry by developing electric bikes that outrun some of the most high-performing petrol-powered models.

In response to wide public interest, the company announced last month that it was sending its first model off to be mass-marketed and on Thursday, Lightning Motorcycles published a teaser image of its electric motor accompanied by a few details.

The Lightning Strike's electric motor resembles that of their LS-218 sportbike which the company says, "is currently the only electric motorcycle in the world with the technology and ability to run flat-out at qualifying racing speed, pull in for a pit stop to fast charge and continue racing - all without ever overheating."

It has a 240km range, a 240kph top speed and charges up in 35 minute via DC charging.

Though the upcoming bike is a street legal model, its engine is also fully liquid-cooled and ready to compete on the track.

The official launch of the bike is slated for March, but you can already reserve the standard model for US$500 (RM2,043) or a "Carbon Edition" for US$10,000 (RM40,845) on the Lightning Motorcycles site.


Brembo sets up venture capital arm to invest in tech startups

                MILAN: Premium brakes maker Brembo said today it had set up an internal venture capital unit, called Brembo Ventures, to accelerate the development of technologic solutions to be applied to the automotive industry.

The move of the Italian group mirrors similar initiatives by other companies including Stellantis and CNH Industrial with the common purpose to spur innovation in a fast changing environment as the automotive industry moves towards electrification and autonomous driving.

A spokesman for the group said Brembo Ventures was a unit and not set up as a proper venture capital fund with an initial financial endowment. Investments and funds needed will be assessed as opportunities arise, the spokesman added.

Brembo Ventures will invest in startups globally, focusing on artificial intelligence, big data, sensors, mechatronics, energy efficiency and sustainability, it said in a statement.

"With Brembo Ventures, we are even more structured to seize the market opportunities that can contribute to our goal of redefining future of braking systems and mobility," Brembo's Chief Business Development Officer Roberto Grazioli said.

Brembo Ventures' portfolio already includes a recently acquired 6.8% stake in PhotonPath, a company developing integrated photonics-based products, and a 20% stake in integrated photonic systems company Infibra Technologies which the brakes maker bought in 2020.


Some Toyota Avanza units recalled over faulty fuel pumps

                SHAH ALAM: UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT), distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Malaysia, has announced a Special Service Campaign (SSC) to replace the fuel pump in the Toyota Avanza.

This SSC is an expansion of an earlier campaign and other existing Toyota models are not affected.

Based on the information received from Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), 3,923 units of the Avanza manufactured from October 2017 to June 2019 and distributed by UMWT are involved in this recall.

The fuel pump in affected vehicles may stop operating.

Warning lights and messages may be displayed on the instrument panel and the engine will encounter power hesitation, possible stalling and be unable to restart.

UMWT will officially notify all owners of the affected vehicles and replace the fuel pump unit at no charge.

"The safety of our customers is always Toyota’s top priority," it said in a statement.

For further information, owners of affected cars may contact any authorised Toyota Service Centre or call the Toyota Freephone at 1800-8-TOYOTA (869682).


Ducati entices with racing accessories for Panigale V4

                ROME: Ducati has a racing accessories package for its enthusiastic fans that ride the venerable Panigale V4.

Contained within the extensive Ducati Performance catalogue, the accessory package was designed by the Ducati Design Centre and created in collaboration with important companies in the sector.

Inside there are accessories designed to ensure maximum performance, lighten the weight and enhance the typically racing look of the Panigale V4.

On the Italian bike builder's website (Ducati.com) there is also the "Configurator" section, a tool that offers all Ducatisti the opportunity to customize their motorbike, selecting accessories and special parts.

The Racing accessories package for the Panigale V4 offers a complete exhaust system, lower and upper racing fairings, oversized headlight fairing, swingarm cover, carbon protection for generator cover, mirror hole covers, license plate holder removal set, frame cover set, carbon chain guard, brake lever protection, brake lever protection adapter and side stickers for the tank.

Complete titanium exhaust system
The most advanced complete racing system available on the market, developed by Ducati Corse technicians based on the exhaust mounted on the Panigale V4 R bikes ridden by Chaz Davies and Scott Redding in the World Superbike Championship.

Each part of this system is made from a special titanium alloy ensuring not only considerably lower weight but also great resistance to the high temperatures that can be reached.

The exhaust system significantly improves the already high weight/power ratio of the Panigale V4 bikes.

Equipped with a racing-derived polyester air filter that, besides being more permeable, guarantees excellent filtering power and easy maintenance.

Top performance not just thanks to the racing materials but also the map supplied, which adapts all the parameters of DTC - DWC - DPL and Slide on demand to the bike's new performance.

The racing exhaust system enhances the unmistakable look of the Panigale V4, giving it an additional touch of aggressiveness - a true race-replica also for the typical sound.

Upper racing fairing kit & Lower racing fairing kit
A set of fairings, headlight fairing and headlight covers, made of high-quality unpainted plastic material to ensure strength and stability. is available which can be mounted in combination with the complete exhaust system or Akrapovič silencers for track use.

Oversized headlight fairing
This exclusive accessory derived directly from the one used in the SBK world championship and is the result of the collaboration with Ducati Corse.

Made of transparent plastic material, its dimensions have been increased in both height and length which helps to significantly improve aerodynamic protection.

Carbon and titanium swingarm cover
A fine accessory with a unique design that combines the lightness of carbon fibre with the resistance of titanium to offer effective protection in the event of a slip; it also enriches the bike's look with an element that enhances the aggressive and distinct race-ready lines.

Carbon protection for generator cover
The lightness and strength of carbon fibre and aramid fibres combine with an attractive design and distinctive racing finishing in an accessory that offers protection in the event of a slip and enhances the motorcycle's sporty and elegant soul.

 DU 2018-09-17 ACCESSORIATE V4 M1200 RMirror hole covers
Ideal for closing holes in the headlight fairing left after the removal of the rear-view mirrors. They allow for the use of the bike on the track. Manufactured in partnership with Rizoma.

 DU 2019-08-06 PANIGALE V4S FL ACCESSORIATANumber plate holder removal set
Special cover to close the hole left by the removal of the number plate holder for the use of the motorcycle on track. It adds an aggressive style to the rear end of the bike.

Carbon frame cover
An exclusive accessory made of carbon fibre, created to ensure maximum protection of the frame from accidental scratches and give the bike an even more aggressive look, enhancing its racing spirit.

Carbon chain guard
The iconic Ducati design is combined with the strength and lightness of carbon fibre in an essential racing accessory, which is mandatory on some tracks and for some championships. Its lines perfectly tie with the bike lines and enhance its strong racing character.

 DU 2019-08-06 PANIGALE V4S FL ACCESSORIATABrake lever protection
The unmistakable Ducati design is combined with Rizoma's experience in an accessory that was developed to improve rider safety, preventing accidental front brake activation. Equipped with a left counterweight to ensure maximum stability. The high quality anodising maintains its original appearance over time and the refined design enhances the bike's sporting spirit.

Brake lever protection adapter set
The Ducati experience is combined with Rizoma's skilful workmanship in an accessory designed for mounting the brake lever protection set and left counterweight. The very high quality and finely CNC machined anodised aluminium guarantees high resistance.

Anti-slip side stickers for the tank
Protections made with high definition rubber (HDR) technology featuring superior grip. The exclusive design of the hexagons increases the grip with the rider's suit, thus ensuring excellent stability. The excellent technical characteristics combined with a design that goes perfectly with the bike's look make it the ideal accessory for riders seeking maximum feeling on the track without sacrificing comfort on the road.


The road to World Car 2022: Finalists announced

                TORONTO: The World Car Finals Powered By Brembo began on Feb 8 with the announcement of the top ten and top five finalists in six World Car Awards categories and ends on April 13 when the winners will be announced live at the 2022 New York International Auto Show.

The vote results have been tabulated by KPMG.

A jury of 102 automotive journalists from 33 countries selected the finalists by secret ballot based on their evaluation of each eligible vehicle as part of their professional work.

The 2022 World Car of the Year (WCOTY) winner will be selected from the following Top Ten finalists chosen from an initial list of 28 contenders:

- Audi Q4 e-tron
- Cupra Formentor
- Ford Mustang Mach-E
- Genesis G70
- Honda Civic
- Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Hyundai Tucson
- Kia EV6
- Lexus NX
- Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ

A new highlight of the 2022 awards program is the debut of the World Electric Vehicle of the Year award.

This new award is intended to recognise, support and celebrate the global transition to electrically-powered vehicles that is now under way and to acknowledge the efforts of automakers around the world in developing these climate-conscious vehicles.

The five finalists in this new award category are:
- Audi e-tron GT
- BMW iX
- Ford Mustang Mach-E
- Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Mercedes-Benz EQS

The 2022 World Urban Car will be chosen from these top five finalists:
- Dacia Sandero
- Opel Mokka
- Renault Kiger
- Toyota Yaris Cross
- Volkswagen Taigun

The 2022 World Luxury Car class has the following top five finalists:
- Audi Q5 Sportback
- BMW iX
- Genesis GV70
- Mercedes-Benz EQS
- Volvo C40 Recharge

The 2022 World Performance Car top five finalists are:
- Audi e-tron GT
- BMW M3/M4
- Porsche 911 GT3
- Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ
- Volkswagen Golf GTI/R

All cars competing in these five categories are eligible for the 2022 World Car Design of the Year award.


Mitsubishi Motors overstated fuel economy on eight more models, says Nikkei

                TOKYO: Mitsubishi Motors Corp overstated the fuel economy on eight of its vehicle models, in addition to four others the embattled Japanese automaker admitted to earlier this year, the Nikkei newspaper reported today.

Japan's transport ministry, which had been investigating the fuel economy on Mitsubishi models including the Pajero SUV, would report its findings as early as today, the Nikkei said, citing an unnamed source.

The Nikkei said the company would likely withdraw the affected vehicles from the market to revise its catalogues, a process which could take about two to three weeks. Compensation to customers was a possibility, it added.

Both Mitsubishi and the transport ministry declined to comment on the report. Shares in the automaker slipped 0.8 percent in early trade.

Japan's sixth-largest automaker has been struggling to recover after admitting in April that it had falsified the fuel economy on two of its minivehicle models, along with two similar models produced for Nissan Motor Co.

The scandal led to a suspension of sales for nearly three months, and prompted a slump in Mitsubishi's market value. The company sought financial assistance from Nissan, which agreed to buy a controlling one-third stake for US$2.2 billion.

An internal investigation has uncovered poor communication, slack governance and pressure on resource-starved engineers at the root of Mitsubishi's problems.


Musk quibbles with German court over adverse Autopilot ruling

                MUNICH: Tesla Inc.’s promotion of Autopilot was rebuffed by a German court, which said the carmaker has misled consumers about its its driver-assistance system.

The Munich Regional Court on Tuesday ruled Tesla can no longer advertise vehicles the way it has in Germany and faulted the carmaker for improperly claiming they have “full potential for autonomous driving.”

The judges also said the company wrongly promoted its cars as being able to self-navigate in cities by the end of 2019.

“Using the term ‘Autopilot’ and other phrases suggest the cars were technically able to drive completely autonomously,” the court said in an emailed statement. “Additionally, it is claimed that would be legal in Germany, which isn’t the case.”

READ MORE:
Countries agree regulations for automated drivingTesla claims 'very close' to Level 5 autonomous driving technology

The carmaker can appeal the ruling. Chief executive officer Elon Musk quibbled with the determination Tuesday on Twitter, writing that Autopilot was named after a term used in aviation to refer to systems that aid but don’t replace pilots.

Musk, 49, has long offered optimistic views on the capabilities of his cars, even going so far as to start charging customers thousands of dollars for a “Full Self Driving” feature in 2016. Years later, the company still requires users of its Autopilot system to be fully attentive and ready to take over driving at any time.

The suit was brought by the Center for Protection Against Unfair Competition, a German non-profit financed by companies and industry groups. It argued that Tesla is promising customers more than its Autopilot system actually delivers.


Peugeot 208 PureTech tested

                The new 1.2-litre turbocharged Peugeot 208 PureTech B-segment hatchback is generously kitted, and promises a lot in lowering your petrol costs.

We took the car for four days, and found it to be a very competent and well-packaged machine.

Like the previous naturally 1.6-litre VTi engined 208, the new 208 PureTech is equipped with nice kit.

These include front and rear LED lights, automatic headlights and wipers, "Follow Me Home" security lighting, automatic dual-zone air-conditioning, auto dimming rear view mirror, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, four one-touch up/down powered windows, steering wheel controls for infotainment system, as well as a barnful of safety features that earned it a maximum five-star Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) safety rating.

There's also a seven-inch touchscreen mated to a six-speaker Arkamys 3D Sound audio system with USB and Bluetooth connectivity.

Owners of the previous 208 would know how impressive this audio system is, as it provides exceptional sound clarity and detail.

The touchscreen can also display driving data such as fuel consumption, distance travelled, average speed and distance remaining before refuelling.

There's no centre storage box between the front seats, but you do get adequate storage space for small items with seat back pockets, four cup holders and pockets on all the doors.

Like the previous 208, rear cargo room can be up to 1,152 litres with the 60/40 foldable rear seats.

There is also adequate rear leg room with its 2,538mm wheelbase.

Another carryover from the previous 208 is the Peugeot i-Cockpit where the steering wheel is rather small, and the driver looks at the meter cluster from above the steering wheel, rather than through it.

As we have said before, this is something that one gets used to quickly, and we feel this gives us better steering control.

The cabin has a sporty look with metallic surfaces, a black-themed interior and 3D Techmat fabric seats that were supportive and comfortable.

Now, let's take a look at the main highlight here, namely the Peugeot PureTech 3-cylinder petrol engine which has won top honours, including the 2015, 2016 and 2017 International engine of the year award in the 1.0-litre to 1.4-litre category.

The 1.2-litre PureTech engine can provide the power and performance of a 1.6-litre engine, but the fuel efficiency of a smaller engine.

It uses an aluminium cast-iron-lined block (for quicker engine warm up), low friction materials and a revised cooling system to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

It's billed as being able to achieve a miserly 4.2 litres per 100km (extra-urban cycle - highway driving); and with a 50-litre petrol tank, that can translate into an incredible 1,190km driving range.

On the mixed driving cycle, fuel consumption is rated at 5 litres per 100km.

However, in reality, over the course of four days and 505km, driving at an average speed of 41kph on mixed city-highway routes, the car's trip meter showed our fuel consumption at 8.2 litres per 100km.

We were quite impressed with this, as we are heavy-footed drivers who get impatient in slow-moving traffic, and we performed a fair bit of hard acceleration with the car when checking out its driving behaviour.

It's worth noting that at 1,080kg, the 208 PureTech is about 70kg lighter than its predecessor.

The improved fuel economy is also partly due to its Auto engine Stop-Start feature, which deactivates the engine at standstill and restarts when the accelerator is pressed.

The Auto start-stop function is smooth enough, although we felt response could be better by being a tad quicker on engine re-starts.

If you don't like it, you can choose to turn off the Auto engine Stop-Start feature.

This feature is also subject to external temperature conditions, as it deactivated and could not be switched on, during a hot day; we think it's because the engine is needed to maintain a comfortable temperature within the cabin.

The Aisin-sourced 6-speed automatic gearbox is a smooth and quick shifter, and we noted that tachometer showed 1,600 to 1,700rpm at 80kph and 2,300rpm at 110kph.

Although it is a punchy powertrain, we did note some turbo lag when we stepped hard on the accelerator pedal.

Also, we noticed some judder and vibration at parking speeds, as well as when the transmission is shifting up from 5th to 6th gear as the car picks up speed.

Regarding the driving experience, the 208 PureTech runs on Michelin Energy Saver tyres sized 195/55 R16 and delivers marvellous handling, and impressive road holding at high speeds.

The electric power steering is precise, and the car has a smooth ride quality.

In summary, the 208 PureTech is a nicely packaged set of wheels, although we feel that the powertrain could use some refinement.

Priced at RM87,245 on-the-road without insurance and with a five-year or 120,000km (whichever is first) warranty, it provides great value for money.

Peugeot 208 PureTech

Engine: 1,199cc turbocharged, direct petrol injection, 3-inline cylinders, DOHC 12 valve, VTI (variable valve timing)
Maximum power: 112ps at 5,500rpm
Maximum torque: 205Nm from 1,500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with Quickshift
Features: Six airbags, ABS, emergency brake assist (EBA), electronic brake distribution (EBD), electronic stability programme (ESP), anti skid regulator (ASR), dynamic stability control (DSC), hill start assist, all-round disc brakes, anti-whiplash front seats' headrests, ISOFIX points for child seats
Fuel tank: 50 litres
Acceleration (0 to 100kph): 9.8 seconds
Top speed: 190kph
Price: RM87,245 on-the-road without insurance; five-year or 120,000km (whichever is first) warranty, three-year free 24-hour Peugeot Roadside Assistance, access to Peugeot Lounge at Subang Airport, Peugeot Privilege membership


Some Chinese electric car makers mull alliance to save money, time

Shen of Singulato. — Reuters
BEIJING: A handful of China's many electric vehicle (EV) start-ups are considering setting up an alliance to pool resources, develop joint technology and bring cars more quickly to the world's biggest autos market.

In a sign that the country's fledgling EV industry is already consolidating as rules get tougher and competition fiercer, Shen Haiyin, co-founder and CEO of Singulato Motors, said his company and four others - CHJ Automotive, Hongxing Automobile Manufacturing Co, AIWAYS and WM Motor - have discussed an alliance for months.

Keen to push for cleaner energy cars, in part to combat air pollution and a dependence on imported oil, Beijing wants 8 percent of automakers' sales to be so-called new energy vehicles (NEVs) - battery electric or plug-in hybrids - by next year, rising to 12 percent in 2020, according to latest draft proposals released last month.

Sales of NEVs this year are forecast by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers at around 700,000, roughly 3 percent of the overall Chinese autos market.

 A concept design by WM Motor.

Shen, known as Tiger Shen, said the start-ups aim to finalise the move by end-September with the aim to start developing a common EV platform by the end of this year.

As the industry shifts towards smart, internet-connected, battery cars, with electrified powertrains, it's increasingly hard for automakers to differentiate, he said.

"Just like smartphones, whose gut is the same Android operating system across many brands, smart EVs should compete more on ownership experience and services," said Shen.

The move to pool resources and know-how highlights how Chinese start-ups are scrambling to save time and money in developing products as they face increased pressure from established global automakers shifting into a new market, so far led by Tesla Inc.

Also, Chinese policymakers have put on hold approving new EV ventures because of concern that some start-ups have cut corners on technology or have set up just to access attractive subsidies. Regulators are reviewing licensing procedures and may bring in tougher technical requirements early next year, said three EV start-up founders and executives.

Freeman Shen, co-founder and CEO of WM Motor, reckons the prospect of tougher new technical requirements is a big factor spurring start-ups to consider an alliance to develop basic vehicle technology.

"The government worries about some new start-ups, thinking some of them actually don't have the technology and management expertise to be a legitimate player," he told Reuters. "This shows start-ups need to work together to face competition from traditional automakers."

David Jin, spokesman for

said the Shanghai-based start-up "welcomes cooperation within the industry permitted (under) Chinese law and anti-monopoly law and technical exchanges. We need to make a decision after we get further information." The company's CEO Fu Qiang declined to comment on any alliance talks, referring questions to Jin.

A spokesman for CHJ Automotive and an official at Hongxing Automobile declined to comment.

Despite years of effort to reduce costs for traditional petrol-fuelled cars through common vehicle platform technologies, these are still often designed separately for different car models.

"Gasoline car platforms are often over-designed," said Singulato's Shen. "Who needs cars with platforms that allow you to do a high-speed U-turn or slalom? While we want to design an advanced platform for plug-in battery cars, we don't want to make platforms excessively over-spec'd."

WM Motor's Shen said he supports the idea of an alliance, but is unlikely to be part of it, for now, as his company's first vehicles are to be based on vehicle architecture it has already developed itself.

Singulato's Shen said combining resources would allow alliance members to develop a far more advanced vehicle technology, and for less money.

"Let's say each player planned to spend 200 million yuan (RM128mil) to develop a next-generation platform; if four players each threw in 100 million yuan, we'd all save money but end up with a 400 million yuan platform rather than a 200 million yuan platform," he said, "the benefits are clear."

He said that if the alliance does take shape, it would set up a separate company to oversee platform development, and ask independent automotive engineering companies around the world to bid for a contract to help in advanced vehicle technologies that could be shared among alliance partners.

Alliance partners would also share, and possibly jointly procure from outside suppliers, basic car platform parts like axles and suspension.

"We plan to ask component suppliers to join the joint venture, too," Tiger Shen said.


BMW X1 sDrive20i M Sport: A capable runner

                The X1 sDrive20i M Sport (F48) may be among the BMW Malaysia’s entry-level sports activity vehicle (SAV) model that’s locally-assembled but that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked.

Its SST exempt price of RM216,780 (on-the-road, without insurance) has managed to bring attention to those looking to own a BMW for the first time.

It comes with a newly enlarged and redesigned kidney grille, front bumper with integrated fog lights, larger air intakes and hexagonal automatic LED headlights and BMW even added a Light Package that includes a Welcome Light Carpet as well as a projected “X1” logo from the driver’s side mirror.

Even the rear light cluster fully sports LEDs.

Dressed in Alpine White, the body colour is paired with perforated Black Leather Dakota upholstery for the seats for a nice monochrome effect.

Because this SAV has the “M Sport” moniker, it gets an M Sport Suspension to cruise around with 10mm shaved off its ride height - a welcome addition indeed.

The lowered stance helps it look somewhat hunkered down in an attempt to close the unsightly gap between the wheel arches and the 18-inch M lightweight Double-Spoke Style 570 M Bicolour alloys wrapped by 225/50 series tyres.

It could do with a little more “drop” and a larger and fatter set of 19-inch wheels but that’d just take too much of a toll on comfort, so perhaps not.

Although the overall shape might seem “vanilla”, the front end is where it makes itself stand apart with those large gaping intakes at its lower half and combined with those slightly slanted LED headlights and dual 90mm (+20mm) diameter exhaust tips - it sure does look rather aggressive.

And even though the BMW Individual High-gloss Shadow Line trim and M Aerodynamics Package does add to this effect, the question beckons as to whether it has got what it takes to back it up? Oh yes indeed.

You see, under the hood lies a capable 2.0-litre turbocharged mill that’s been transversely mounted - due to it being front-wheel driven, while a seven-speed Steptronic Dual Clutch Sport transmission manages its 192hp from 5,000 to 6,000rpm and 280Nm from 1,350 to 4,600rpm.

This transpires into a 0 to 100kph sprint time of 7.6 seconds before reaching a top speed of 224kph and while at that, the brakes are capable enough of holding dominion over the “land of speed”.

There’s enough braking power to dial things down quickly if needed and the gearshifts are smooth.

Moving inside, the cabin isn’t exactly spacious nor cramped.

It’s more cosy than one might expect due to the “blacked-out” interior which helps to mask the lack of spatial offering.

At least the front seats are powered with driver-side memory function and plenty of bolster for the thighs, waist while the cockpit provides a nice driver-centric setup with a more upright driving position.

The controls here are easily in reach and provides a good amount of tactility and the 8.8-inch full-colour touchscreen, as well as the digital instrument cluster, are simply crisp, clear and comprehensible - all while the combination of horizontally-brushed aluminium and Pearl Chrome accents add contrast to the “dark” interior.

Moving to the rear, there’s simply plenty of headroom thanks to the tall roofline, but although now it has a front-engine front-wheel-drive (FF) setup - which should have freed up some room, it still feels on the tighter side of the spectrum even if it is an improvement at the end of the day.

Regardless, there’s still plenty of practicality to be had with the powered-tailgate opening up and swallowing up to 1,550 litres of luggage if needed with the rear seat’s backrests folded down.

But as a people mover, it would be more ideal to seat four rather than having the maximum capacity of five.

Alone with no one else, the X1 simply breezes along highways in relative comfort as the notes and nuances of the road’s surface gently reaches your senses.

Once the route begins to wind tightly, the X1 will show how much it relishes the situation as it carves up corners skillfully with plenty of agility and panache thanks to its sharp steering response that’s accompanied by weighted steering feel to help its driver “aim” from one apex of a corner to another.

If the X1 was able to choose its owner, it’d prefer taking aim at young urban families who have a sizeable stash of “coin” to satisfy its asking price with at least one of them - if not both, able to appreciate its road-holding manners.

And if the proverbial “shoe” fits, then the X1 sDrive20i would be worthwhile exploring and if not, there’s always a tamer X1 sDrive18i to consider. —JAY WONG

SPECIFICATIONSBMW X1 sDrive20i M Sport Engine: 1,998cc, B48 turbocharged, direct injectionMaximum power: 192PS from 5,000 to 6,000rpm
Maximum torque: 280Nm from 1,350 to 4,600rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch Sport transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters, front-wheel drive
Acceleration (0 to 100kph): 7.6 seconds
Top speed: 224kph
Features: Automatic LED headlights with integrated daytime running lights and turn signals, full-LED taillights, LED foglights, M Sport suspension, twin tailpipes, USB-A (under centre armrest), two rear USB-C ports under rear air conditioning vents, perforated Black Dakota leather upholstery, brushed aluminium trim with Pearl Chrome highlights, 8.8-inch touchscreen with navigation and iDrive Operating System 6, powered front sports seats with driver-side memory, dual-zone automatic climate controls, cruise control 5.7-inch multi-information Black Panel instrument cluster, keyless entry with push-start button, hands-free powered tailgate, auto-dimming mirrors, Parking Assistant, six-speaker sound system, reverse camera and 18-inch M lightweight Double-Spoke Style 570 M Bicolour alloys with 225/50 series run-flat tyres
Price with SST: RM225,170 (on-the-road without insurance)
Price without SST: RM216,780 (on-the-road without insurance)


Lexus CT 200h gets revised looks

                NAGOYA (Japan): Lexus has updated its CT 200h by re-arming it with a refreshed interior and new aggressive looks for the masses.

There's now an aggressive front fascia, thanks to a new mesh pattern for the signature spindle grille - doing away with the integrated bumper that ran across the grille just below the Lexus emblem and the horizontal bars within the grille.

The fog light bezels are now painted metallic grey and are surrounded by an outer frame with a triangular cross-section and sharp edges and the "arrowhead" DRLs have been repositioned above the single-projector headlamps.

The rear of the car now possesses the new wider LED "L"-signature shaped taillights with the turn signals at the bottom of the assembly and the upper and lower lines of the taillights thicken as they curve outwards.

Also, the back door garnish now envelopes the Lexus badge right between the rear glass as the lower part of the reshaped rear bumper is now coated in metallic silver and black.

The rear reflector bezels have also been painted metallic grey to match the fog light surrounds up front.

The CT 200h now rolls on three newly designed wheels - starting with the standard 15-inch set, 10-spoke 16-inch wheels with a machined finish in dark metallic paint and the larger and sportier F-Sport 17-inch dark metallic alloy wheels.

Furthermore, the exterior will also offer new two-tone exterior paint scheme and new colours for the F Sport variant, such as Lava Orange Crystal Sunshine and Heat Blue Contrast Layering.

Inside, the Lexus Navigation System gets upsized from 7.0-inch widescreen monitor to a wider 10.3-inch screen, while the interior's colour palette gets expanded with new combinations that include Sunflare Brown/Noble Brown, Ochre/Light Ochre and Chateau/Fromage

There's also a mix of fabric and long-wearing synthetic leather in Black, Black/Red, Dark Camel/Noble Brown and Chateau/Fromage as well as new all-fabric upholstery in Black/Red, Dark Camel/Noble Brown and Chateau.

To round off the interior, two new accents will be added to the current six and includes Sunflare Brown Film and Bamboo.

"The 2018 CT 200h has been refreshed and revitalized by enhancing its progressiveness. Despite being classified as a minor-change model, the car is more emotional and sporty than before, making it the ideal premium hybrid compact for younger customers who enjoy spirited driving, but still care about the environment," said Lexus chief engineer of Minor Change CT 200h Chika Kako.

Updates for the performance oriented F-Sport variant starts with black metallic paint and an updated exclusive mesh pattern for the spindle grille.

The new mesh pattern has also been added as a backdrop for both the fog light inserts and surrounds to match.

Its headlights now feature a single projector high/low-beam headlamp and exclusive jet-black plating used on the upper and lower front grille molding as well as a metallic black centre lower trim garnish at the rear.

Within the F-Sport's cabin, there's new exclusive interior combinations including two-tone leather in Flare Red/Black, White/Black and Chateau/Black; fabric in Black/Red and Chateau/Black.

Fabric and synthetic leather is offered in Black/Flare Red, Black/Orange and now adds Naguri accent to the options list.

In terms of safety, the Japanese luxury brand has included it latest Lexus Safety System + that offers enhanced safety with the inclusion Pre-Collision System (PCS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with steering wheel control function and Automatic High Beam (AHB) headlights as well as Road Sign Assist (RSA) as an added option.

"The F Sport attracts younger customers, so we've strengthened the vehicle's exclusive black items to reinforce its sporty nature, namely the rear bezel and the rear lower garnish. The rear bezel has the same mesh design as the front grille, and the lower garnish is painted metallic black here while the normal grade color is silver," said Lexus chief designer of CT 200h Tetsuo Miki.


50% discount for police traffic summonses draws huge crowd

                KUALA LUMPUR: Police traffic summonses payment counters offering 50% discounts have always received overwhelming response from the public.

Today, at the Road March 2022 programme, in conjunction with 215th Police Day celebrations at Dataran Merdeka, people started lining up as early as 7am, even though the counters only opened at 9am.

Abu Kassim Karim, in his 40s, said he chose to pay the summonses at Dataran Merdeka despite the long queue, as he could enjoy some savings by doing so.

“I queued as early as 7 am, but it doesn't matter because I can save a lot, especially in the current economic situation. It's worth it,” he said here today.

Student Asyraf Mustafa, 18, said the discount given can indeed ease the burden of all parties and he is very grateful for the reduction.

“Giving this discount has actually given space to road users to settle their respective summonses that may have been overdue for a long time," he said.

Earlier, the police, in a post on its official Facebook and Twitter accounts, announced that a 50% discount for selected traffic offences would be given to members of the public who make payment at the celebration.

However, offences involving accidents, summonses with arrest warrant status, cutting on double lines, beating the red light, overtaking dangerously and using the emergency lane were not among the discounted list.

In addition, it also does not involve offences in the non-compoundable (NC) category, with trial status, as well as offences related to heavy vehicles and vehicle exhaust modifications.


Thai auto exports up in January, domestic sales down

                BANGKOK: Thailand's automotive vehicle exports in January rose 14.09 per cent year-on-year to 92,440 units, boosted by increased exports to markets such as Europe, Australia as well as North, Central and South America.

In value terms, exports rose 10 per cent year-on-year to 41.151 billion baht, and total exports including of engines and auto spare parts increased by 5.84 per cent to 59.281 billion baht, said Surapong Paisitpatanapong, deputy chairman of the Automotive Industry Club of Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

Meanwhile, the domestic sales volume in January fell 12.9 per cent to 59,669 units with the country's economy yet to fully recover, he said at the monthly press briefing on Tuesday.

Other contributing factors to the low sales included low prices of agricultural products, strict loan conditions from financial institutions and  private investment that had also yet to recover, he said.

Surapong said Thailand targets car and truck production this year of 1.2 million units for export and 950,000 units for the domestic market.

He said the total production in January increased by 2.22 per cent year-on-year to 166,260 units.

Production for export increased to 106,278 units, or 13.81 per cent higher, but production for domestic sale declined 13.4 per cent to 59,892 units.


First Alcraft car revealed

                LONDON: As electric and driverless vehicle technology becomes increasingly mainstream and important, smaller manufacturers have an opportunity to punch way above their weight. That's what Alcraft, which is a British electric vehicle startup business, is looking to do as it now reveals its very first vehicle, the Alcraft GT.

The Alcraft GT is a high-performance electric car the company is planning to put into production in 2019. To help achieve this, the company is launching a crowdfunding campaign where contributors are being offered the chance to play a part in the development of the car and what is an entirely new British brand.

The car itself is not another of those exotic electric supercars though. In fact, it's an extremely sporty but practical model with a shooting brake-style rear that allows easy access to a 500-litre luggage area, and which, perhaps more importantly, has a 482km range on a single charge. The basic fundamental concept is of a battery-only car, but the Alcraft GT has been designed and engineered so that a range-extending gas engine could be added if there was demand for it. The car has also been designed so that it can be produced as a 2+2 rather than as just a two-seater.

Where things get really exciting though, are the numbers associated with the car's power and performance. The three-motor, four-wheel drive powertrain sounds extremely impressive as the virtual engineering has suggested expected figures of 600hp and 1,142Nm of torque. The car will feature four-wheel drive, torque vectoring, and is very light weight, which should result in 100kph coming up from a standing start in as little as 3.5 seconds.

Alcraft Motor Company was founded by businessman David Alcraft, and its engineering partner is none other than Silverstone-based Delta Motorsport, which is an electric drivetrain and battery system specialist that works with global automakers as well as at the very highest levels of motor sport.

If you want to get involved, the crowdfunding bands start at £10 (RM56) and go up to £25,000 (RM139,000), with rewards including VIP days at Silverstone with rides in a development model of the GT. What the eventual production model will cost to buy has yet to be revealed.


Double win for grand prize winner of Naza Kia CNY campaign

                KUALA LUMPUR: A father of two was doubly blessed as he collected the keys to his new Kia Picanto, the grand prize of the Naza Kia Malaysia ‘More Ong, More Huat’ Chinese New Year campaign.

Lew Chee Yuan, 39, qualified to enter the contest with his purchase of a Sportage GT-Line. His name was also randomly drawn from the pool of entries for a Weekly Prize, earning him a Touch N Go card preloaded with RM200.

“I really did not expect to win the grand prize, especially since I was already announced a winner for the Weekly Prize," said Lew.

“This is really great timing because my wife was also planning on getting a new car. I’ve never been this lucky before and I still can’t believe that I’ve won a Picanto!”

The campaign was held from Jan 7 to Feb 29.

Naza Kia Malaysia also gave out eight petrol vouchers for the monthly winners worth RM1,000 while another eight weekly winners received Touch N Go cards preloaded with RM200 each.


Volkswagen and Hermes begin trial for in-car delivery service

                MILTON KEYNES: Volkswagen’s We Deliver car-boot delivery service is now entering its trial phase in the UK with leading consumer delivery company Hermes.

Customers piloting the scheme will receive a text or email when one of their parcels arrives at the Hermes depot, giving them the option to have it delivered to their car.

Once they accept and authenticate themselves using their unique Volkswagen ID log-in, the courier is then able to see which packages have been converted to in-car deliveries.

The Hermes courier is given a single-use, time-specific digital access to open the car which can only be used by them, and GPS co-ordinates for the car are sent to the courier to carry out the delivery. Once successful, couriers provide photo evidence of the delivery and confirm that the boot is securely locked afterwards.

We Deliver is part of the Volkswagen We range of digital services which allows users to register their parked Volkswagen as a delivery location for a parcel or service with a courier or service partner being granted one-off access to the boot of the vehicle.

Once the Milton Keynes trial has been completed and feedback collated, the service will be rolled out gradually across the UK.


TECH tyre repair solutions celebrates 80th anniversary

                BANGKOK: Technical Rubber Company (TRC) which is renowned for pioneering a cold vulcanising technology that repaired tyres without heat, recently had a 80th anniversary celebration in Pullman Bangkok King Power.

Founded in 1939 by Charles Cornell, TRC’s global business is headquartered in Ohio, United States with group offices in Northern Ireland; Belgium; Italy; Shanghai, China; Tokyo, Japan; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and South East Asia.

The glamorous event was attended by TRC chief executive officer Daniel Gene Layne, senior executives and distributors throughout Asia.

The company provides TECH-branded tyre repair materials and solutions, and is a leading manufacturer of rubber, industrial material solutions and recycling equipment.

TECH tyre repair materials and solutions are invaluable in resolving tyre punctures and damage, which can result in costly downtime for commercial vehicle operators.

TECH also offers a wide range of brands such as Truflex Pang, Salvadori and Quik Fix.

TECH products are renowned for quality materials that extend the lifespan of the tyre.

TECH has developed products and create new innovations continuously, especially Gray Gum Technology, and the Uni-Seal Ultra which are recognised as the best and safest for permanent tyre patching for damage and holes caused by nails.

In addition, TECH also the first company to develop professional tyre repair training courses for tyre technicians.

The courses aim to train tyre technicians to be able to analyse and repair tyres correctly, in order to reduce the problem of leakage and reduce cases of accidents due to tyre explosions caused by improper tyre repair.

TECH International (SE Asia) based in Thailand, is the headquarters of Southeast Asia, headed by general manager Pairote Suttiprapa.

TECH distributes more than 10,000 items for customers in Southeast Asia.

When a nail or other debris damages a tyre, tyre repair shops rely on products from TRC.

Millions of miles of road are traveled globally on passenger and light truck tyres that have been repaired by TECH products, which are distributed in 95 countries.


BMW M240i M Performance limited to 750 units

                MUNICH: With the new BMW M240i M Performance Edition, BMW M has launched a special customised series.

Carbon fibre or black detail parts provide distinctive contrasts to the Alpine White paintwork.

The BMW M240i M Performance Edition is powered by a 340hp inline 6-cylinder engine with M Performance TwinPower Turbo Technology.

The compact sports coupé gets large 19 inch light alloy wheels, fitted with 225/35 R19 (front) and 245/30 R19 (rear) mixed tyres.

The double-spoke forged wheels are finished in bicolor Orbit Grey; at the front the special edition features air guides, splitter and bumper front section, whose spoiler lip is finished in matt black.

The partly painted rear diffuser and a carbon-fibre rear spoiler add to the car’s expressive appeal.

There is also carbon fibre tailpipe trim with embossed M logo, carbon fibre outside mirror caps and side sill attachments with foiled M Performance inscription.

The M240i M Performance Edition is assembled exclusively in the BMW Leipzig plant.

It is limited to 750 units and will be available from July 2017.

 HyperFocal: 0


Entry-level Mazda CX-30 gets power tailgate

                SHAH ALAM: The Mazda CX-30 Skactiv-G 2.0L 2WD variant is now equipped with Power Tailgate.

Bermaz Motors Trading said other features of the variant with model code DGE4RBL remains the same.

The compact sports utility vehicle, fully imported from Japan, is priced at RM144,759 on-the-road without insurance but with 50% sales tax reduction (Peninsular Malaysia private registration).

Other CX-30 variants in Bermaz Motor Trading's line-up are the 2.0L 2WD High (code DGE5RAD) priced at RM159,109; 2.0L AWD High (code DHV2RA6) at RM170,459 and 1.8L Diesel High (code DHW5RAA) at RM167,673.


Pandemic revs up race for US online car sales

                DES MOINES: After years of being part of a future that never quite arrived, the coronavirus pandemic has put US online car sellers on the map.

Now comes a race to spend vast sums on digital commerce platforms specifically designed to handle auto sales. Without deep pockets, many startups and others trying to join the online game will likely be left in the dust.

“The big three (auto) e-commerce players will grow substantially, but it will be hard to be a new entrant,” said Toby Russell, joint chief executive officer of Shift, which will go public to join rival Carvana and Vroom later this quarter.

“The pay to play on this thing is in the hundreds of millions and the early journey is hard, especially building out the technology,” Russell said.

Online sales still only account for around 1% of the roughly US$840 billion Americans spend annually on around 40 million used cars. But after numerous US states went into Covid-19 lockdowns in March, the advantage of socially-distant online sales has come squarely into focus.

“With coronavirus we’ve seen an additional shift in desire to purchase vehicles online,” said Carvana CEO Ernie Garcia, whose company has grown by triple digits for six years running.

More than just an app required

Investors are buying in. Vroom’s shares are now trading at more than double their US$22 launch price on June 8. Carvana’s market value is near that of No. 2 US automaker Ford Motor Co, though it has yet to post a profit.

In a sign of the times, an April survey by CarGurus Inc, an online marketplace for new and used cars, found 61% of people shopping for cars were open to buying online. That compares with 32% before the pandemic.

Selling vehicles online with no physical showrooms requires more than just a nifty app though.

The US$2 billion Carvana has spent since 2013 rolling out its digital network has included payments for technology to evaluate trade-in vehicles, financing for car loans, switching car titles across US states with different rules and a logistics network to recondition, store and deliver thousands of vehicles to customers’ homes.

“It’s expensive to build up an entirely new supply chain that’s nationwide and supports tens of thousands of cars,” Garcia said.

Rival Vroom has spent around US$1 billion on its online platform and inventory so far. It hopes some day to also use the platform to sell auto parts or insurance, or to serve as a marketplace for smaller auto retailers, CEO Paul Hennessey said.

Vroom could provide smaller dealers with reconditioning services, logistics and a vast pool of potential car buyers — for a fee.

Shift’s Russell, meanwhile, also hopes to host other dealer’s vehicles on his company’s platform.

The three main online sellers say they have no interest in new car sales because they are unprofitable and dealer franchise laws make selling across state lines difficult. Of the automakers, only Tesla Inc has avoided franchises and always sold vehicles online.

CarMax, the No. 1 used car retail chain, has spent over US$300 million rolling out a digital platform to accompany its 200 US stores. It is still working through the logistics of serving America’s vast geography.

“It’s not for the faint-hearted,” said CarMax chief marketing officer Jim Lyski.

Lyski and other executives say other major brick-and-mortar auto retail chains will likely roll out online sales, but the huge investments involved will limit digital competition.

“I think the largest players are the only ones that can actually afford to build that capability,” Lyski said.

Industry experts say Amazon.com Inc, which provides auto research for consumers but does not sell cars, has a huge potential in online vehicle sales. But the e-commerce titan, which has seen its profit surge during the pandemic, declined to comment.

“This isn’t something we’d speculate on,” said Amazon spokeswoman Lori Torgerson.

Challenge from dealers

CarMax launched “contactless” curbside pickup during the pandemic, a popular choice for online customers. It also offers free home delivery up to 97km from a dealership, a service available to most customers.

But home delivery is cost-prohibitive in some areas, or state regulations prevent it, CarMax said.

CarMax’s Des Moines store, for instance, does not offer home delivery, though general manager Brandon Parram said some customers have asked about it.

“I know it takes time to figure out how to make it work,” Parram said, “but I’m a fan of any new way to give customers the options they want.”

Major automakers have been pushing for more online new vehicle sales, especially after Covid-19 shuttered many dealerships.

In April, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA) launched online shopping tools allowing US customers to buy a vehicle through a franchise dealer.

But automakers face a big potential challenge from dealers, a powerful lobbying group. Laws restrict direct online sales by auto manufacturers in some parts of the country with franchised dealers.

“The automakers built this system and they have to live with it,” said Peter Bible, a former executive at General Motors Co. “They are trying to turn a battleship on a dime and it just doesn’t work that way.”


London's Tower Bridge closes until year-end

                LONDON: The city’s iconic Tower Bridge will be closed to vehicles for three months from today for its first major maintenance works in nearly half a century.

The 122-year-old drawbridge by the Tower of London - whose roadway leaves are lifted to allow tall ships on the River Thames to pass through - carries 21,000 vehicles and some 40,000 people per day.

"This heavy use has had an effect on timber decking of the bridge, which was last refurbished in 1970," said a statement from the City of London Corporation, which owns the Victorian Gothic landmark.

"To ensure that the bridge continues to serve as a vital river crossing we need to undertake the essential maintenance works."

It will be closed to road traffic until Dec 30.

The bridge's leaves will continue to operate as normal for river traffic. It lifts on average 800 to 900 times a year, a major tourist attraction that can be viewed from a glass walkway above.

The bridge's galleries will remain open during the works, and pedestrians will still be able to pass with the exception of three weekends in November and December.

The bridge is 244 metres long and 65 metres high.

The maintenance includes major work to the bridge lifting mechanisms, replacing the timber decking, resurfacing the road and walkways, and waterproofing the brick arches.


Rolls-Royce Cullinan: At this price, it should come with a driver

                An all-season, off-road, ultra-luxury SUV? From Rolls-Royce? Called what? And for more money than most people pay for their houses? Ridiculous!

Keep snickering. The 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan is here, and it is ridiculous. And rather wonderful.

Tipping the scales at an elephantine 2,714kg, propelled by a massive 6.75-litre V-12 twin-turbo engine, the Cullinan looks like what Rolls-Royce says it is: "The world's first super-luxury all-terrain SUV."

It's enormous - 5.3 metres long, 2.1 metres wide and 1.8 metres tall, riding on 22-inch wheels - and imposing, from the traditional Rolls-Royce grille, across a hood long enough to contain the V-12 engine, all the way to the gaping rear hatchback doors.

The result is one of the oddest-looking vehicles ever built. It incorporates design elements no other car company could possibly attempt. The Cullinan is like a large milk truck, with a cow catcher attached to the front, that is elegant enough to transport members of the royal family to the Royal Albert Hall.

The model I drove was painted Andalusian White, its interior draped in Dark Spice leather with Mandarin piping, accented with Open Pore Mimosa Calamander wood panelling, polished stainless steel knobs, a "technical bespoke clock" and lambswool floormats. Yes, lambswool.

The enveloping front seats were heated, ventilated, endlessly adjustable and included massage functions. The enormous rear seats - the Cullinan can be had in four- or five-passenger versions - offer vast head and leg room, and are also highly adjustable.

They face drop-down "picnic tables," above which are high-definition entertainment screens. The centre console between the rear seats can be fitted with accessories such as a beverage service area that includes a Champagne cooler. Each rear passenger seat also has its own climate control settings.

The front and rear "suicide" doors open and close electronically, and silently, with the push of a button, enclosing driver and passengers in a cozy cocoon. But the enormous windshield and tall, wide side windows create wondrous visibility. The panoramic glass sunroof retracts far enough for a rear passenger to stand up and parade-wave, like a queen, to the multitudes.

Is it drizzling? Open the rear door, push another button and an umbrella glides gently into your hand - or, presumably, into the hand of the staff member entrusted with keeping you dry as you exit the vehicle.

Behind the rear seats is a storage area big enough to accommodate all the golf clubs, gun bags, luggage or picnic equipment you'd need for a proper "Downton Abbey" weekend outing.

The motoring experience is peerless. Never, perhaps, has so much power been combined with so much plush. The Cullinan, whether easing through city traffic or pulsing up the open road, could almost be mistaken for an electric vehicle.

It is silent, throbbing gently and making the faintest purr only when under extreme acceleration, and smoothly indifferent to imperfections in the road, thanks in part to the sophisticated air suspension system. The eight-speed transmission, connected to an all-wheel-drive system that includes rear-wheel steering, is unintrusive and seamless.

I experienced no difference whatsoever - in wind noise, road noise or vibration - between 50 miles per hour and twice that. (The Cullinan boasts an electronically limited top speed of 250 kilometres per hour. I'm sure it's kittenish at that velocity, too.)

The extreme silence - reportedly the result of specialised foam in the front wheels, laminated glass and hundreds of extra kilograms of sound-deadening materials - allows the "bespoke audio" and "rear theatre configuration" to work at maximum perfection.

I cued up Handel's "Water Music" and set the navigation, one of the best I have ever experienced, for a destination 193km to the north. Two movements later, it seemed, I had arrived.

The 113-litre tank allowed me to get there without refuelling - not entirely a surprise for a tank that size, except that the Cullinan consumes fuel at an average rate of 20 litres per 100 kilometers.

It's possible that a bolder driver could have done more with the rough stuff than I did. But I was alone, and off the cellular grid, and a voice in my head kept saying, "Dude, you remember this is a US$400,000 (RM1.7mil) automobile, right?" (That's with various options; the base is US$325,000 or RM1.4mil.)

Perhaps mindful of its own MSRP, and the concurrent high cost of repairs, the Cullinan is equipped with an impressive suite of sensors to help the driver avoid scraping the curb, hitting parked cars or backing into pedestrians.

The backup camera view can even be adjusted, from the infotainment screen in the dash, to focus on specific areas of concern _ when backing around a tricky obstacle, for example.

But the Cullinan does not park itself, and seemed to be missing some of the driver aids that one would expect from such an advanced, expensive vehicle. Though the vehicle does come equipped with adaptive cruise control, it does not include other semi-autonomous driving technology, now standard on most luxury vehicles, that can make an inattentive or irresponsible driver safer on the road.

READ MORE:Royce-Rolls Cullinan available in Malaysia from Jan 2019

And I was troubled to see that, on the car I borrowed, the lovely Spirit of Ecstasy statuette that sits on the Cullinan grille did not retract and then re-emerge when directed.

On the other hand, the Cullinan comes standard with "self-righting wheel centers," which means the double-R Rolls-Royce emblem is always right side up when the car is parked.

Rolls is coming very late to the SUV game. Having held out long enough to watch the arrival and sales successes of Porsche's Macan and Cayenne, Maserati's Levante, Alfa Romeo's Stelvio, Bentley's Bentayga and even the Lamborghini Urus we reviewed here recently, Rolls is the last luxury brand but Ferrari to put a utility vehicle into its line.

Someone who is not a buyer for this car may ask, reasonably, who is the buyer for this car? BMW-owned Rolls-Royce, which just completed its best sales year ever, says that fully half of the buyers of its new SUV have never owned a Rolls before, and that the average Cullinan customer already owns about five other vehicles. So, potential buyers are probably not asking "How much is it?" but "How good is it?" — Charles Fleming/Los Angeles Times


New Proton 3S centre opens in Lahad Datu, Sabah

                LAHAD DATU: Fook Loi Corporation (Sabah) Sdn Bhd has opened another Proton 3S outlet in Sabah.

This time, the new outlet is located in Lahad Datu and joins the 3S outlet opened by Fook Loi in Sandakan last year.

The Lahad Datu 3S outlet is the first by a Sabah dealer to feature Proton’s new Corporate Identity colours.

As a 3S outlet it offers facilities for sales, servicing and spare parts for all Proton cars.

The renovation and upgrading works undertaken for the new outlet cost approximately RM2 million.

Fook Loi’s new 3S outlet provides a premium ambience and comfortable customer lounge area, and laptop/mobile charging ports as well as a coffee area.

Proton continues to have the most 3S/4S outlets nationwide.

With the opening of the new outlet in Lahad Datu, Proton has grown its lead over other automotive brands in having the most 3S/4S outlets.

The ongoing upgrading exercise, which started in April 2018, has resulted in 91 such outlets in the Proton’s network.

“We are happy with this result. Clearly, the new outlet upgrades coupled with our product improvement strategy has resulted in improvements to Proton’s brand perception and higher sales figures. We can see a shift in consumer preferences where Proton is gaining popularity in terms of brand choice and this has led to a market share figure of 18.1% for June 2019, our best achievement since July 2015”, said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.


Bentley Bentayga SUV to get a pumped-up 'Speed' version

The Bentayga already comes with a 600hp engine as standard.
LONDON: Bentley has confirmed that it is working on a "Speed" version of its Bentayga SUV, according to Autocar, quoting Bentley's head of design Stefan Sielaff.

The "Speed" moniker is generally reserved for the most powerful versions of each of Bentley's vehicle models, as is the case with the Mulsanne and the Continental.

It's therefore fair to expect more power from this upcoming Bentayga, which, even in its standard version, is hardly lacking with its 600-horsepower W12 engine. The SUV already promises 0-100kph in 4.1 seconds and a 300kph top speed as standard, but the "Speed" version is likely to ramp this up even further.

Luxury car makers seem intent on upping the game with their SUVs, raising the bar on performance ever higher with each new model. Bentley is certainly in on the act with its Bentayga, presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2015, not to mention Maserati with its Levante, Jaguar with the F-Pace and Rolls-Royce with the new Cullinan.


Stellantis takes over Gurun plant, ramps up production

                PETALING JAYA: Stellantis cemented its commitment to Malaysia, securing full ownership of Naza Automotive Manufacturing Sdn Bhd and its plant in Gurun, Kedah.

The completed acquisition marks a key milestone for Stellantis in South-East Asia, with plans to invest and dramatically expand its footprint as part of a robust localisation strategy.

“Stellantis is deeply committed to growing our presence in Asean, and taking full ownership and responsibility of the plant in Gurun, Kedah is a very important step towards strengthening our operations, production outputs and workforce in the region,” said Stellantis senior vice president (Asean & General Distributors) Christophe Musy on Monday.

“We have an ambitious growth strategy that will enable us to build on the existing production outputs in Gurun, as well as extend the breadth of brands and models within the Stellantis portfolio built in Asean for Asean. This is a very exciting proposition.”

Stellantis recently restarted manufacturing in Gurun, with the launch of the refreshed Peugeot 3008 and 5008 currently rolling out across the region, two vehicles gleaning international success in Europe.

Furthermore, the much-anticipated Peugeot 2008 will also start production this month in Gurun, bringing to the Asean region a lucrative new compact SUV offering from the high-end brand. It is expected to launch locally in early 2022.

“We are focused on our mission to achieve world-class manufacturing in Gurun, to build high-quality, Malaysian-produced vehicles for South East Asia.

“This includes the internationally-acclaimed refreshed 3008 and 5008 updates and the new Peugeot 2008, three vehicles that will elevate the superior offering of the Peugeot brand in this region,” said Musy.

The Stellantis plant in Gurun has achieved pre-pandemic production rates since it restarted operations, with volumes now ramping up for the remainder of 2021, to re-establish car flow to Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and other Asean markets.

“We are working closely with our partners to increase plant capacity by almost 40 per cent to meet demand, and this combined with our strong product plan and determination to achieve the highest standards in quality and safety has set us up for great success in Malaysia.”

Stellantis secured full ownership of the plant located in Gurun on Oct 28, previously operating as a joint venture with Naza Corporation.

Over 170 employees have returned to work and Stellantis is working with over 50 local suppliers as production increases for the last quarter of 2021.


Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV is ready but how good is it?

                LOS ANGELES: After numerous delays and development issues, the first SUV in Alfa Romeo's 106-year history is finally finished, and if it's as good in the real world as it is on paper, it was worth the wait.

Unveiled on the eve of the 2016 LA Auto Show, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio has been designed to give people who would otherwise be buying a Porsche Macan, BMW X3 or a Range Rover Evoque a serious crisis of confidence.

In its highest specification Quadrifoglio form, the 4680mm long and 2160mm wide vehicle promises an unequalled mix of handling and poise. Alfa says that rather than focus on filler features, such as heated seats, from day one this SUV has been all about "driving dynamics."

So the car has a perfect 50:50 weight distribution over its front and rear axles, power comes in the form of the same wonderful 503bhp 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 found in the flagship Giuila sedan, and stopping is via carbon ceramic brakes that come as standard.

What's more, this SUV will only come with four-wheel drive and a rather clever version of it. In normal conditions, the Stelvio will behave like a typical sporty rear-wheel drive car with all power going solely to the back.

But when things get complicated, the system can dish out engine power and torque to either axle as needed and, for the first time ever, thanks to a new torque vectoring system, also send power to either of the rear wheels independently.

Further highlighting the car's performance aspirations is the fact that alongside the more typical drive modes such as ‘natural' and ‘energy saving' there's also a ‘race' setting that firms everything up, opens the taps on the engine and cuts the time between changes in the eight-speed automatic transmission to 150ms.

All of which should give the car, in Quadrifoglio guise at least, a top speed of around 284kph and the ability to go from 0-100kph in around 4 seconds.

And, for those that love the car's looks but don't need quite so much performance, Alfa has confirmed that a host of more affordable variants with gasoline and diesel engines will be coming in the near future.


Battery issue sparks Honda Malaysia recall of 94,000 cars

                PETALING JAYA: Another round of recalls. This time it's from Honda Malaysia which today announced 93,929 units of vehicles covering seven models must be sent in for inspections over a potential faulty battery.

The "product update" involved the replacement of the 12V battery for the City (2003 - 2014 YM & 2016 YM), Jazz (2009 YM, 2012 & 2013 YM, 2015 & 2016 YM), Civic (2010, 2012 & 2013 YM), Insight (2011 - 2013 YM), CR-Z (2012 - 2013 YM), Freed (2010 – 2012 YM) and CR-V (2013 YM).

Other current selling models are not affected. The company said in a statement that there have been no injuries or crashes related to this issue reported in Malaysia.

All affected customers will be informed via notification letters, which will include details of the recall. Customers who receive the letter are advised to send their vehicles to the nearest authorised Honda dealer for inspection.

Even if the original batteries of older affected models have been changed, they still need to be sent in for inspection.

Should a replacement be required, the replacement of the battery will be carried once the parts are ready. Honda Malaysia said it would bear all parts and labour charges.

Honda owners can also check their vehicle’s recall status by calling Honda’s toll free number 1-800-88-2020 or log on to www.honda.com.my, or visit any Honda dealers.


Ducati MotoGP riders Dovizioso and Iannone autograph limited edition Monster 821

                KUALA LUMPUR: Next Bike, the exclusive distributor of Ducati in Malaysia, welcomed Ducati Corse MotoGP riders Andrea ‘Dovi’ Dovizioso and Andrea ‘The Maniac’ Iannone who autographed two limited edition Monster 821 Ducati Corse MotoGP.

The meet and greet was held for the ‘Ducatisti’ (fans of the Ducati brand) at Publika Hartamas where the riders autographed other merchandise, memorabilia and even riding gear brought by fans.

With the autographs on the tail of both bikes, the new owners will be selected via a random ballot some time in December for the individuals who have expressed interest in purchasing the bikes – furthermore it will be priced normally at RM82,176.

The ABS-equipped limited edition bike uses an 821cc Testastretta engine that’s equipped with ride-by-wire technology for its 53mm throttle bodies and a six-speed manual gearbox to manage the engine’s 112hp at 9,250rpm and 89Nm of torque at 7,750rpm.

With a wheelbase of 1,480mm, it comes in measuring 2,170mm-long, 800mm-wide and 1,045mm-tall.

The front end has a 24.3-degree rake for its adjustable 43mm up-side-down fork suspension with 130mm of travel as well as a pair of four-piston radially mounted Brembo monobloc M4-32 callipers for the two 320mm semi-floating discs.

The rear gets an adjustable monoshock suspension with progressive linkage for its aluminium double-sided 93.2mm swingarm as well as a two-piston floating calliper for its single 245mm disc.

Saddle height is adjustable from 785 to 810mm and with 17.5-litre fuel tank, the 205.5kg (wet kerb) limited edition Monster uses 17-inch 10-spoke lightweight alloy wheels with 120/70 (front) and 180/60 (rear) Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tyres.

For more information, log on to www.ducati.com.my.


Geely Boyue SUV made in high-tech Baoji plant

                With Proton's first SUV (sport utility vehicle) only a few months away from market launch, Geely Auto invited a bunch of Malaysian writers to visit its high-tech vehicle production plant in Baoji, China.

To recap, the Proton SUV is based on the popular 5-seater Geely Boyue, which is selling in huge volumes in China.

The Baoji plant, which has an annual production capacity of 200,000 units, is notable for the fact that it only produces the Boyue.

The Baoji plant is 180km from Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province and home of the famous Terracotta Army clay soldiers.

The other production site for the Boyue is the Chunxiao plant at Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, which also produces the flagship Borui sedan.

Construction of the Baoji factory began in March 2014, with the first vehicle coming off the line in June 2016.

Presently, it has 2,400 line workers and 500 support and operations staff, and aims to assemble 800 cars a day.

The site also includes a powertrain production and development plant, which will produce 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engines jointly developed with Volvo.

READ MORE:

2018 Proton SUV gets automatic emergency brake assist

2018 Proton SUV: facelifted Geely Boyue gets more premium features

2017 Geely Boyue: Quick test drive in Ningbo

Geely Auto: Carsifu visits Geely's Shanghai facilties

Geely group's remarkable rise via tech takeovers

It can house over 2,700 employees and facilities include restaurants, supermarkets, medical facilities, gyms, and recreational centres.

Now, as the Baoji plant is quite new, it uses the latest state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies, equipment and processes including fully automated production lines in the stamping, welding, and paint workshops.

For example, the stamping workshop uses stamping presses from Japan’s Amino Corp, and advanced seven-axis linear robots from ABB (Switzerland).

Meanwhile, the welding workshop with an 80% automation level, has 155 Comau robots from Italy and is fully automated on all production lines, thus ensuring consistent weld quality and accuracy.

For better safety, the welding workshop has robotic CMT (Cold Metal Transition) technology from Austria’s Fronius and to reduce energy consumption by 30%, there are a large number of Bosch (Germany) medium frequency inverter adaptive welding equipment.

Also, the Geely Boyue has the nation's  highest vehicle collision safety score, thanks to a body formed by 27 integrated thermoformed steel parts.

The Baoji plant also uses measuring equipment from Perceptron and Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence (United States) that ensures 100% accuracy when inspecting the vehicle body.

The paint shop adopts the most advanced water-based coating process, and 45 highly advanced robots from Germany’s Durr.

A 360-degree rain seal test also ensures no car with a leak leaves the factory.

The site also includes a 3km test track, with over 20 types of roads such as twisting roads, sharp turns, cobble roads, and long straights.

In the factory, we also noted banners with meaningful sayings (written in Chinese) that are aimed at motivating employees - examples include "Make the impossible, possible"; "Waiting will not get results, only by striving towards the objective will one achieve the desired results"; "Adopt a culture of benchmarking, compliance, problem solving and achievement."


Fuel prices up from tomorrow

                PETALING JAYA: Fuel prices will be higher across the board from Thursday, with a six sen hike per litre for petrol and a three sen increase for diesel.

RON95 petrol will be increased by six sen and priced at RM2.03 per litre (from RM1.97 per litre), while RON97 will be priced at RM2.28 per litre (from RM2.22 per litre).

Meanwhile, the price of diesel will be up by three sen at RM1.99 per litre (from RM1.96 per litre).

The new prices, announced on RTM1 on Wednesday evening, will be in effect from 12.01am on July 27 until August 2.

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

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


Toyota unveils new models in advanced driver-assist technology push

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp unveiled today new models of Lexus and Mirai in Japan, equipped with advanced driver assistance, as competition heats up to develop more self-driving and connected cars.

Toyota’s latest launch comes as automakers, electric car startups and tech giants invest heavily in so-called active safety features.

The Japanese carmaker’s new driving assist technology, or Advanced Drive, features a level 2 autonomous system that helps driving, such as limiting the car in its lane, maintaining the distance from other vehicles and changing lanes under the driver’s supervision on expressways or other motor-vehicle only roads.

The luxury sedan Lexus LS will be on sale from today, costing between about 16.3 million yen (RM614,000) and 17.9 million yen, while the second-generation Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car will be offered on April 12 at between 8.4 million and 8.6 million yen.

The new models are Toyota’s first products brought to the market that provide over-the-air updates and use AI technology centred on deep learning, said Toyota executive James Kuffner, who is also the head of Toyota’s research unit Woven Planet.

“This is really an important first step in our journey towards software-first development,” he said at an online briefing today, adding that the company has tried to design the software to be truly global and to provide re-usability.

In the future, software features on cars will be “upgradable” and “more customisable” much like how people personalise their smartphones, Kuffner added.

Fully self-driven cars are still likely to be years away, but rival General Motors Co early this year made a splash at the virtual Consumer Electronics Show with a fully-autonomous all-electric flying Cadillac concept, while Chinese search engine operator Baidu unveiled a partnership with local car brand Geely.

Toyota’s domestic competitor, Honda Motor Co Ltd, last month unveiled a partially self-driving Legend sedan in Japan, becoming the world’s first carmaker to sell a vehicle equipped with new, certified level 3 automation technology.


Bentley Kuala Lumpur: Our crew the reason for our success

                KUALA LUMPUR: Bentley Kuala Lumpur says it owes its success to its employees who helped shape the marque in Malaysia.

“We recognise talent and those who are dedicated to deliver exceptional service to current and future Bentley owners. We believe it is the people who have made us one of the most celebrated and trusted luxury automobile brands in Malaysia and around the world,” said Wearnes Quest managing director Jerry Lee as Bentley marks 100 years of existence.

Bentley Kuala Lumpur is operated by Wearnes Quest Sdn Bhd, Bentley Motors' retail partner in Malaysia under the Wearnes Automotive Group.

“Bentley is not only a luxury marque; it is a lifestyle that articulates craftsmanship and performance, raw power and refinement. Our people understand the importance of being meticulous, in their day-to-day activities, to ensure that unmistakable Bentley experience is delivered,” said Lee.

Kicking off the series of interviews, senior technician Mohd Nazri Pandak explained his role, the career opportunities he has been provided at the workplace, and why he continues to stay on.

“As a technician for Bentley, we have to pay attention to the finest details that make up this beautiful car. This is to keep to the standard and essence of the Bentley experience,” said Nazri, who has been working at Bentley for 11 years.

Watch the video as he opens up about his work in Bentley.


Exciting finale for Proton and DRB-Hicom University Creative Car Challenge

                PEKAN: The Proton and DRB-Hicom University Creative Car Challenge (PD3C) grand finale saw the showcase of young talents, skills and creativity of students from over 20 local institutions of higher learning (IPTs) in automotive design and technical fields.

Held at the DRB-Hicom University of Automotive Malaysia, the inaugural challenge attracted close to 200 IPTs’ students who vied for top placements in three categories:

- Creative Car Challenge (13 teams)
- Car Modelling Challenge (9 teams)
- Design Battle (33 participants)

In the Creative Car Challenge, Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APIIT) emerged champion with Invictus, and walked away with the gold medal and cash prize of RM7,000.

Invictus is a concept car designed for the Z generation based on the Proton Preve, with futuristic design, sophisticated features and technological innovations such as intelligent touch controls, artificial intelligent system, integrated side view camera and smart door with face recognition system.

University Malaya took second place with Scrumptious Food Car (based on Proton Saga), followed by University Sultan Zainal Abidin (UNISZA) in third place with Deutro (based on Proton Suprima S) and University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) in fourth place with Envysage (based on Proton Preve).

Meanwhile, in the Car Modelling Challenge, which required participants to design a 1:4-scale concept car model, the champion was University Sultan Zainal Abidin (UNISZA) with Tigres.

Second place went to Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan and third place to University Teknology MARA (UITM).

As for the Design Battle - a hand sketch and rendering of a car design, it was won by Mohamed Saiful Abdul Halim of UNISZA.

Second and third place winners went to Ahmad Zul Khairi Mohd Othman of UNISZA and Khoo Wern Sheung from APIIT, respectively.

PD3C was organised in collaboration with Proton as the main sponsor and Malaysia Design Council (MRM) as its technical partner.

It aims to inculcate a creative and innovative culture between automotive students and lecturers of various institutions, and also aspires to be the key platform to spur budding talents in the automotive industry.


Hino concludes latest Total Support Contest

                PETALING JAYA: Hino Motors Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (HMSM) recently concluded its yearly event, the 5th Hino Total Support (TS) Contest 2018, at its head office here.

The event aims to foster greater skills and knowledge among the dealers and uphold a level of excellence in the automotive commercial industry.

The contest saw the grand prize going to Lu & Sons Engineering Sdn Bhd, while second place went to Jong Seng Sdn Bhd, and third place to  Soo Chuan Motor Credit Sdn Bhd.

The Hino TS Contest is a platform where all participants are given constant support in order to perform excellently in engaging customer-related programs.

Apart from that, these activities will allow all contestants to enhance their skills and knowledge in the automotive commercial sector.

The whole day event saw the participation of 38 companies from Hino’s authorized dealers nationwide with a total of 126 contestants.

The contestants are required to partake in the intensive briefing and training held at Hino Total Support Customer Center (HTSCC) in Sendayan, in order to give them optimal preparation prior to the actual contest.

HMSM has officially announced Hino TS Contest as one of the company’s traditions which consecutively gauges contestant’s competency, knowledge, and skills in the three main categories: Sales, Service, and Parts, including theoretical and practical practices.

“The key point of our message here today is to establish 'Trusted People of Excellence teams' with knowledge and highly skilled capabilities to reinforce our Hino Total Support Activity, and with the high level of pride and dignity, to represent customer satisfaction from all categories of Sales, Service and Parts”, said the Managing Director of HMSM, Ken Iwamoto.