Daimler to test using cars to scan for parking spaces

                STUTTGART: German carmaker Daimler is piloting a project to allow sensor-studded, networked cars to share information about available parking spots to save drivers time.

"The daily hunt for a parking space often takes up as much time again as the actual journey," the Mercedes-Benz maker said in a statement, causing "stress and annoyance".

Daimler will work with Bosch - the world's largest auto-parts maker - on the scheme dubbed "community-based parking" in its home city of Stuttgart, capital of southwestern Baden-Wuerttemberg state.

During the project, set to begin "imminently", participating cars will use built-in ultrasound sensors to scan the roadside while travelling at speeds of up to 55kph.

Information about free parking spaces will then be sent via a "secure connection" to Bosch's cloud computing service to be processed. One technical challenge will be identifying which gaps in the roadside are genuine parking spaces and which are exits from parking garages.

But with enough cars travelling down the same street, spaces that are repeatedly registered as empty can be identified as likely exits, Daimler explained.

The first iteration of the technology will simply provide drivers information about the probability of finding a parking space on a particular street.

With a larger base of users in the future, it will be possible to display available parking spaces in real time on a dashboard map or in the carmaker's smartphone app, Daimler said.

Connected cars and their associated services are becoming one of the biggest areas of research and development for manufacturers and component suppliers, fitting into the wider "Internet of Things".


Ford rolls out new Mustang Convertible

                DETROIT: Proving that the best time to strike is when the iron's hot, Ford has officially unveiled the new droptop Mustang, just three days after the 2018 hardtop model made its global debut.

But like the coupé, the new soft-top has been created with just one thing in mind, to build on the phenomenal recent success of the resurrected pony car.

The Mustang ended the year as America's best-selling sportscar. However, for the first time in history it's also the best-selling and the most in-demand sportscar in Europe, stealing customers away from the Audi dealership where they would have otherwise been putting down a deposit on the latest-generation TT.

Ford knows it needs to build on this foundation both at home and aboard and so the new model promises to be the most technologically advanced yet. So, it's the company's first series production to come with a digital dashboard.

A 12-inch LCD screen nestles in the main instrument binnacle and by default shows speed, revs per minute and fuel levels. However, it's customisable to suit the driver's preferences and the type of driving being undertaken. So select sport mode and suspension settings and performance data come to the fore.

The digital aspect means that if you have to share your Mustang with other family members, the car will be able to remember your preferences for the next time it's your turn to take a spin.

Just as with its hard-top sibling, the new convertible retains the option of a 5-litre V8 calling the shots, but it's been joined on the options list by a 2.3-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost engine that Ford insists meets or betters the performance benchmarks set by the outgoing 3.7-litre V6 option.

Also new for the 2018 model is a choice of 12 distinct alloy wheel designs and a 10-speed automatic transmission alongside the standard six-speed manual gearbox.

The Mustang is also bang up to date in terms of safety and comes with pre-collision assist and pedestrian detection systems as standard.

To make sure that as many fans as possible catch a glimpse of the new convertible in the flesh, the Mustang will be hitting the road and attending 50 regional US auto shows over the course of 2017.

ch/cm - Relaxnews


Aston Martin boss distances himself from questionable EV report

                LONDON: Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings Plc is reviewing how a report was commissioned that researchers criticised for making inaccurate comparisons of the climate harm caused by cars powered by batteries and combustion engines.

Tobias Moers, Aston Martin’s chief executive officer, said the report the carmaker compiled along with some of its peers predated him joining the company in August.

One claim it made that was widely reported by British media outlets in the wake of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s 2030 ban on vehicles lacking a plug was that it takes 78,000km for EVs to be cleaner than conventional cars.

The figure is more like 25,749km, according to Auke Hoekstra, a researcher at the Eindhoven University of Technology.

He said the report underestimated emissions from combustion-engine cars by roughly half and didn’t take into account fuel production. It also bases its approximation of the carbon footprint of EVs on one model built by Polestar, the carmaker jointly owned by Sweden’s Volvo Cars and China’s Geely Holding Group.

“I am concerned about the media coverage relating to the recently published Decarbonisation of Road Transport report,” Moers said in an emailed statement.

He said he was not aware of the contents before it was published and that Aston Martin is “fully committed to the development of both hybrid and battery electric vehicles.”

The incident reflects the strain automakers are under to meet government mandates that fundamentally reshape their industry.

The UK and state of California have set targets to phase out combustion engines entirely by 2035, while China is drawing up plans for the majority of vehicles sold in the world’s biggest market to be electric by then.

“The momentum for EVs is being powered by governments and manufacturers investing billions in batteries, vehicles and associated infrastructure,” said David Watson, chief executive officer of EV-charging company Ohme Technologies UK Ltd.

“That’s a juggernaut that won’t be stopped by the odd piece of misinformation, especially when the claims is so easily disprovable.”

Aston Martin contributed to the report with the intention of exploring the best approach to achieving the UK government’s goals to reduce road-transport emissions, a spokesman said earlier in an email. Other companies listed on the report include Honda Motor Co. and McLaren Automotive Ltd.

Honda said it supports a multi-pathway approach to decarbonisation. McLaren contributed information pertaining to its expertise with regard to reducing vehicle weight.

Johnson’s gas and diesel car ban poses a serious threat to Aston Martin. The Gaydon, England-based company put off the launch of an all-electric Lagonda marque by three years, to 2025, and paused work on its first battery-powered model, called Rapid E, in January. It announced a deal with Daimler AG in October to access the Mercedes-Benz maker’s electric and hybrid powertrains through 2027.

To meet stricter emissions standards for passenger cars in Europe this year, Honda has joined Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV in pooling its fleet with Tesla Inc.’s EV lineup.

While McLaren plans to start rolling out gas-electric models next year, the company has said it won’t launch a fully electric car until the second half of this decade.

Michael Liebreich, a clean-energy and climate adviser and founder of the consultancy now known as BloombergNEF, which Bloomberg LP acquired in 2009, wrote in a blog post that Hoekstra had “comprehensively debunked” the carmakers’ report.

“Myths and misinformation” about EVs “slow down attempts to address climate change, they cause public money to be wasted and they destroy good investments,” Liebreich said.


Toyota teams up with rival Mazda to build US$1.6b US plant

                WASHINGTON/DETROIT: Toyota and rival Mazda are expected to announce plans today to build a US$1.6 (RM6.9bil) US assembly plant as part of a new joint venture, a person briefed on the matter said.

The plant will be capable of producing 300,000 vehicles a year, with production divided between the two automakers, and will employ about 4,000 people when it opens in 2021, the person said.

A new auto plant would be a major boost to US President Donald Trump, who campaigned on promises to increase manufacturing and expand employment for American autoworkers.

The source, who was not authorised to speak to the media and requested anonymity, said the plant in a yet-to-be-determined US location was expected to build Toyota Corolla cars and a Mazda crossover utility vehicle.

Japan's Nikkei reported earlier on Thursday that Toyota would take a roughly 5 percent stake in Mazda to develop key electric vehicle technologies and jointly build a factory in the United States.

The source confirmed the Japanese carmakers planned future joint efforts on electric vehicles.

Toyota said the two companies have been exploring various areas of collaboration under a May 2015 agreement, and added that the group intended to submit a proposal to its board on Friday regarding Mazda. It did not comment further.

"The industry pace of electrification has really picked up," Toyota chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada, widely known as the father of the Prius hybrid, said at an event outside Tokyo on Friday, declining to comment on the US plant or a Mazda deal.


Have you heard of Nissan Navara - Black Series? Well, you have now

                KUALA LUMPUR: Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd has issued the Navara with darkened parts, calling it the Navara - Black Series.

Available for SE, V and VL variants, the Black Series refers to all blacked-out componentry, including a new matte black front grille, headlamp eye lid covers, blackout front bumper, matte black fog lamp covers, side mirror covers, front and rear overfenders, and sport bar in black finish for the cargo bed; while seats are covered in combination black leather.

Prices of the SE, V and VL variants are RM108,800, RM115,800 and RM124,800 respectively.

Underneath the bonnet is an engine that remains unchanged. The VL variant has a 2.5 litre turbocharged intercooler diesel engine that produces 187hp and 450Nm of torque, and fitted with a first-in-class seven-speed automatic transmission with manual mode. It is the first Japanese pickup in Malaysia with multi-link rear suspension system that promises SUV levels of driving comfort and handling.

It is also the only pickup with Zero Gravity Inspired Seats that is said to minimise driver fatigue on long distance drives. According to Nissan , such "fatigue-free” seats were developed in a weightless environment, creating a setting for the ideal posture to make long drives more pleasant while maintaining seat comfort.

The Black Series kit are factory-fitted and includes a three-year or 100,000km warranty (whichever comes first).

In other developments, Edaran Tan Chong Motor has kicked off the second round of its year-end sales promotions, offering customers who buy a Nissan car the chance to win a Star Wars: The Last Jedi-themed holiday trip to Croatia. It is also organising test-drives of its models and roadshows nationwide.

Find out more at www.nissan.com.my.


Toyota Dream Car Art Contest concludes

                SHAH ALAM: The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest, organised by Toyota Motor Corporation and in its ninth consecutive year, has concluded its Malaysian National Phase, which saw 1,358 entries vying for one of nine places to compete in the World Contest Phase.

The contest, which ran from Nov 5 2014 ended on Feb 13, looks to allow young Malaysian budding artists a chance to get noticed in three main categories of Under eight years old, eight to 11 years old and 12 to 15 years old.

On a global scale, there are currently 75 participating countries with over 662,000 entries.

The final nine young local participants from Malaysia from throughout the country submitted their entries that was themed “My Dream Car” and have been submitted in March.

The World Contest Phase phase is due to take place in Tokyo, Japan on August 2015 and judging will be carried out between April and August 2015.

For each category at the National Phase, the Grand Prize is one iPad Mini, the 1st runner up receives an iPod Nano and MPH cash vouchers, while the 2nd runner up wins an iPod Shuffle along with MPH cash vouchers.

In the Under 8 years old category, seven-year old Liew Wei Teng was the winner for his "My extreme MPV can travel to any mystery planet as it can avoid and survive in any natural disasters” piece.

For the eight to 11 years old category, it was 11-year old Evonne Tan Wei Ni who impressed the judges most with her futuristic car called Beyond Bounds Vehicle that takes its passengers to uncharted territories on earth and beyond.

In the final category (for ages 12 to 15), it was 13-year old Lee Sin Yin who emerged the victor for her Earth Saver Car piece, which helps to forecast the occurrence of natural disasters as well as help to locate missing flights while being a role model for recycling.

According to UMW Toyota Motor president Datuk Ismet Suki, the children’s art pieces exuded confidence as well as the feeling of joy and freedom in creating something that goes beyond one’s imagination.

“When our children are carefree and non-restrictive in their creative mind, it will help them feel the joy to etch a dream in their beautiful minds. It is very true that the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” he concluded.


VW to decide Bugatti's fate in H1, says weekly

                FRANKFURT: Electric hypercar maker Rimac Automobili and Volkswagen’s supercar brand Bugatti are a good technological fit, Porsche AG’s CEO told German weekly Automobilwoche, fuelling hopes that a deal between the two could happen soon.

British automotive magazine Car last year reported here that Volkswagen was on the verge of selling Bugatti to Rimac Automobili, citing sources.

In exchange, Porsche AG, also owned by Volkswagen, would raise the 15.5% stake it owns in Rimac Automobili, founded by Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac, Car said.

“At the moment there are intense deliberations on how Bugatti can be developed in the best possible way. Rimac could play a role here because the brands are a good technological fit,” Porsche AG CEO Oliver Blume said.

“There are various scenarios with different structures. I believe that the issue will be decided by the group in the first half of the year,” said Blume, who also sits on the management board of parent Volkswagen AG.

Rimac has developed an electric supercar platform, which he supplies to other carmakers, including Automobili Pininfarina.

Blume also confirmed higher savings targets for Porsche, saying the carmaker plans to support results by €10 billion (RM49bil) of cost cuts by 2025, up from €6 billion (RM30bil) previously.


You can book 1.5-litre Mazda2 sedan and hatchback, priced at RM103K

                SHAH ALAM: Bermaz Motor is taking orders for the 2020 1.5-litre Mazda2 sedan and hatchback in High trims, priced at RM103,670 on-the-road without insurance.

The 2020 Mazda2 is imported (CBU) from Thailand and has a Skyactiv-G 1.5-litre engine, producing 114hp at 6,000rpm and 149Nm of torque at 4,000rpm and paired with a Skyactiv-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission with Manual Shift mode.

The 2020 Mazda2 features enhancements in terms of styling and driving dynamics as well as comfort and convenience.

The Mazda2 has a updated front grille design that is akin to newer 7th generation products such as the Mazda3 and Mazda CX-30.

The Mazda2 also has front LED headlights with new signature styling coupled with new 16-inch alloy wheels with enhanced texture and high-brightness paint.

The Mazda2 receives an updated Mazda badging and fonts.

The interior features a a new blue gray interior trim, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

It is accessible via its Mazda Connect Infotainment display. There are integrated apps such as Waze, Google Maps, and Spotify.

As for driving dynamics, the 2020 Mazda2 has G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus).

In addition to improving handling in emergency collision avoidance manoeuvres, GVC Plus offers a reassuring feeling of control when changing lanes on the highway and when driving on slippery road surfaces.

Driving comfort has also been enhanced with a tuned suspension system for smoother vehicle movement and comfortable ride.

New structured front seats improve the driver’s sense of balance.

The transmission has been tuned for smoother acceleration.

Standard features are:

- SKYACTIV-G 1.5L DOHC 16-Valve 4 Cylinder With VVT engine
- all-round disc brakes
- MacPherson Struts front, torsion beam rear
- Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS)
- 185/60R16 tyres
- LED headlights with auto levelling and Signature Illumination
- Mazda Advance Keyless Entry
- rear Parking Sensors
- Engine Start / Stop Button
- Active Driving Display (Heads-Up Display)
- MZD Connect Infotainment System With Voice Command
- Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Function
- 7-inch Infotainment Display
- Bluetooth Hands-Free
- CD & MP3 Player
- 6 audio speakers
- GPS Navigation System
- 2 USB ports
- Reverse Camera With Distance And Width Guide Lines
- Mazda i-Stop Idling Technology
- Mazda G-Vectoring Control Plus Technology
- 2 Airbags
- Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
- Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
- Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD)
- Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
- Traction Control System (TCS)
- Emergency Stop Signal (ESS)
- Hill Launch Assist (HLA)
- Walk Away Lock
- ISOFIX Child Restraint Anchor Points and Top Tethers
- Engine-Immobilizer Anti-Theft System
- Seat Belts With Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)


Blueshark R Series electric scooters launched from RM7,200

                SHAH ALAM: Blueshark, a subsidiary of Sharkgulf Technologies Group and provider of advanced electric scooters, has officially launched the Blueshark R series comprising the R1 and R1 Lite.

The Blueshark R Series smart scooter features cutting-edge patented battery technology, class-leading features and diverse ownership options to promote electric two-wheelers usage in Malaysia.

The R1 is priced at RM9,390 while the entry-level R1 Lite comes at RM7,190 where owners will also get a charger with two charging cradles and one Bluetooth key.

Buyers will also need to pay a monthly rental of RM79 for two lithium iron phosphate battery packs.

For Corporate Rental Package that covers the two-wheeler plus two battery packs and scheduled maintenance and wear-and-tear parts replacement, the R1 costs RM547 per month and the R1 Lite RM487.

They will also come with one Bluetooth key, a SIM card and an optional home charging kit with RM250 refundable deposit.

The BlueSwap Battery Subscription Plans where:
> BlueSwap Lite costs RM59 per month with up to 36 battery swaps,
> BlueSwap Standard costs RM99 per month with up to 70 battery swaps,
> BlueSwap Pro costs RM139 per month with up to 120 battery swaps,
> BlueSwap Flex costs RM1.95 as pay-per-swap

The R1 features a vibrant 10-inch full-colour IPS high-definition screen running on the company’s proprietary ArkRide operating system.

Powering the scooter series are two battery packs that deliver a total capacity of 2,880Wh for a riding range of 110km.

The battery packs can be fully charged in 3.5 hours and are capable of more than 2,000 full charging and discharging cycles.

They can be easily swapped with fully charged packs at the Blueshark battery swap station (BlueStation).

Meanwhile, the electric motor delivers 5kW and 201Nm of torque to allow quick acceleration and a top speed of 80kph.

The scooters' ArkRide OS supports 4G/5G with Bluetooth connectivity, GPS navigation, media playback, Over-The-Air updates and a riding recorder.

Aside from the Advanced Driver-Assistance System and five driving modes, the scooters also come with connectivity via a mobile app where owners can locate the nearest battery swapping stations, make a service appointment or track the vehicle's location in real-time, among others.

EP Manufacturing Bhd (EPMB) CEO Ahmad Razlan Mohamed said, “As we move up the value chain from an original equipment manufacturer to a brand owner, the Blueshark R series is just the beginning as we have a responsibility to continue innovating and improving our products and how they are made to meet the needs of a changing world.”

EPMB is the local assembler and distributor of Blueshark electric scooters.

 Ahmad Razlan (centre) at the launch with (from left) Blueshark Ecosystem Head of Product & Aftersales Thevaraj Bala, Chan, Sharkgulf Technologies Group Head of Finance and Legal Affairs Jessie Lei and Blueshark Ecosystem CEO (Asean) Jeff Chong.

Blueshark Ecosystem Sdn Bhd Group COO (Asean) Jin Chan said the Blueshark R series is the culmination of the efforts to bring sustainable and innovative solutions to the urban mobility market.

“With swappable battery technology and best-in-class technology, we are introducing a superior yet affordable product that will make smart electric scooters more accessible to a wider audience,” he said.

For details, visit https://blueshark.com.my/

Blueshark R Series


80% of public transport frontliners to be vaccinated by Oct 31, says Wee

                YONG PENG: At least 80% of frontliners in the public transport sector must be vaccinated by Oct 31, according to the target set by the Transport Ministry.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said since kicking off the Covid-19 vaccination programme for the maritime industry on June 25, about 10,000 port and maritime workers had been inoculated.“About 22,000 doses have also been given to those working in the aviation industry at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The process is still ongoing.

“Similarly, those working in the rail sector such as the Light Rail Transit, Mass Rapid Transit, monorail and bus drivers under the Prasarana Malaysia Bhd umbrella are also in the process of receiving their vaccinations.

“Also not forgetting licenced taxi and e-hailing drivers. We are in the midst of identifying those who have yet to be vaccinated to see how we can further assist them,” he said.

Dr Wee said the names of about 120,000 licensed taxi and e-hailing drivers in the country had been submitted to the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force to hasten the vaccination process.

“We want to get it done as soon as possible because they are considered front line workers. The same goes for those in the logistics sector.

“Those in the logistics sector can submit the list of names to us and we will try to help them get vaccinated at vaccination centres or under the Public-Private Partnership Industrial Covid-19 Immunisation Programme,” he said.

Separately, Dr Wee, who is also Ayer Hitam MP, said his constituency would keep giving food aid to those in need, including stocking up supplies at food banks in the area.


US auto suppliers oppose setting gas-powered phase-out date

                WASHINGTON: Auto suppliers told U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday they opposes setting a firm date to end the sale of new gasoline-powered passenger cars and warned that a quick shift to all electric vehicles could cost thousands of jobs.

The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (EMMA), which represents more than 1,000 vehicle suppliers, told a Senate Commerce subcommittee on transportation that the Biden administration should continue to set regulatory requirements that ensure suppliers keep working to improve internal combustion engines.

"If we move too quickly to a fully electrified fleet we could lose 30% of the supplier jobs in this country," said Ann Wilson, MEMA's senior vice president of government affairs.

Auto parts manufacturers employ about 560,000 people in the United States.

Wilson told the panel new gasoline-powered vehicles "will likely be on the road for an additional 20 years."

"Engines, transmissions, after-treatment systems, and other parts will simply not be manufactured for battery electric and fuel cell vehicles," she said.

The governors of a dozen US states including California, New York, Massachusetts and North Carolina, and many US lawmakers have called on President Joe Biden to back ending sales of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035.

Biden's infrastructure plan seeks US$174 billion in spending and tax credits for electric vehicles and charging networks but does not call for phasing out gasoline-powered passenger vehicles.

California said in September it planned to end sales of new gasoline-powered passenger vehicles by 2035. Biden's campaign said last fall he did not support California's phase-out plan.

Last week, White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy said the administration had not set any specific EV adoption targets.

"We're not making any demands right now because this is about basically using the market to generate the kind of reductions we need," McCarthy said.


BMW M2 CS heads for world premiere in LA

                MUNICH: The new BMW M2 CS is set to add more excitement into the bevy of M models coming out of Garching near here.

The new model will debut at the Nov 22-Dec 1 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The special-edition M2 CS brings the successful recipe embodied by the track-focused M3 CS and M4 CS models into the premium compact segment for the first time.

And the new M2 CS follows the lead of its larger siblings in setting new standards in its class for dynamic ability, agility and precision.

It therefore also provides the basis for the new entry-level model from BMW M Motorsport. Designed for amateur racing and the new Clubsport segment, the M2 CS Racing will be available from 2020.

Model-specific design elements also showcase the car’s distinctive character on the road. Foremost here are the carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof, an array of other CFRP components and the newly designed bonnet, under which resides the twin-turbo six-cylinder in-line engine developing a maximum 331 kW/450 hp – up 29 kW/40 hp on the output of the M2 Competition.

The overall package of bespoke performance-maximising features on the road and track also includes Adaptive M suspension and 19-inch forged light-alloy wheels with Cup tyres.

The new M2 CS accelerates from 0 to 100kph in 4.2 seconds when equipped with the standard six-speed manual gearbox – or 4.0 seconds with the optional seven-speed M double-clutch transmission (M DCT).

Likewise on the options list for the new M2 CS are M Carbon ceramic brakes. Highlights of the pared-back cockpit design, meanwhile, include the centre console and door panel trim in CFRP, super-lightweight M Sport seats, Alcantara armrests and an interior trim strip with red “CS” badging.


Tesla closes an office as layoff hits Autopilot jobs, including hourly ones

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla has shuttered its office in San Mateo, California and laid off roughly 200 employees working on its Autopilot driver-assistant system there, one of the people told Reuters, in a move seen as accelerating cost-cutting.

Most of the laid-off people had been hourly workers, that person said.

Early this month, Tesla chief executive Elon Musk told top managers he had a "super bad feeling" about the economy and that the maker of electric cars needed to cut staff by about 10%.

Later, the billionaire said that the 10% cuts would apply only to salaried workers and that hourly staff numbers were still expected to grow.

"Tesla clearly is in a major cost-cutting mode," said Raj Rajkumar, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.

"This (staff reduction) likely indicates that 2Q 2022 has been pretty rough on the company due to the shutdown in Shanghai, raw material costs and supply chain problems."

Anti-pandemic measures in Shanghai have depressed Tesla's production there.

The laid-off person who spoke to Reuters said employees at the satellite office had previously been told that they would move to an office in Palo Alto in stages beginning this month after the San Mateo lease expired. But most of the workers were laid off on Tuesday.

"It was definitely kind of numbing," he said. "Yeah, we're definitely shocked; we're definitely blindsided."

Some workers expected Tesla to shift some of the jobs to lower-wage workers in Buffalo, New York, to save costs.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Many people in Tesla's San Mateo office work on data annotation - reviewing and labelling various visuals collected from Tesla vehicles to teach the cars' Autopilot system how to handle certain kinds of road scenarios.

A number of Tesla data annotation employees said on Linkedin on Tuesday that they had been laid off.

"So kind of a disappointing day today. Myself along with almost the whole San Mateo branch at Tesla just got laid off," Caeser Rosas, a data annotation specialist, said on a Linkedin post.

Bloomberg first reported about the San Mateo job cuts.

Musk has also said Tesla's new factories in Texas and Berlin are "gigantic money furnaces" losing billions of dollars.


New Mitsubishi 3S centre opens in Bayan Lepas

The Triton, a key selling model for Mitsubishi in Malaysia, should help boost sales for dealers.
GEORGE TOWN: EON Auto Mart Sdn Bhd, a member of the DRB-Hicom Group of companies and Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, have launched a new Mitsubishi 3S centre in Bayan Lepas, near here, today.

Head of Automotive Distribution and Manufacturing & Engineering of DRB-Hicom Bhd Rohime Shafie said the 3S centre would cater to nearby residential townships such as Bayan Baru and Bukit Jambul to the north, and Batu Maung to the southeast.

"This centre aims to provide top-class service for Mitsubishi owners and to better serve our growing customer base," he said in his speech at the opening of the 3S centre.

Rohime said the 3S centre would also set the benchmark for further improvements within its network, both in sales as well as after-sales services.

Covering a built-up area of 1,199 sq meters, the 3S centre has six service bays, a washing bay and a reception area, as well as a showroom that is able to showcase five vehicles alongside a customer lounge.

EON Auto Mart Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Shamsul Haq Md Noh told a press conference the company is targeting eventual sales of about 25 units monthly.


German bike accessories maker Touratech set to expand in Malaysia

Lim (right) and Khoo with Route 77 sales team.
PETALING JAYA: Touratech, a global German brand, is going big in Malaysia. Touratech offers adventure and touring motorcycle parts and accessories such as riding apparels, panniers, top cases, crash bars, skid plates, headlight guards, dry bags and many more.

From June 1, Touratech products are available at Route 77 centre here, taking up 2,000 sq ft of space and giving biking fans plenty to browse through.

Touratech Malaysia CEO Tony Lim said exciting times are ahead for Touratech Malaysia as the company would be able to better serve its customers in the new facility.

“Touratech has been around in Malaysia for the last seven years and we have built a strong customer relationship over the years. Now the time has come for me to take it to the next level.”

Route 77 co-founder Ronny Khoo is looking forward to the partnership between Route 77 and Touratech Malaysia.

"Route 77 is well-prepared to assist any touring and adventure motorcycle owners with accessories, repairs, service and technical advice,” he said.

Route 77, which specialises in Harley Davidson aftermarket parts and accessories, is opening another outlet in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, to meet the growing business needs. The 8,000 sq ft facility in Ampang is scheduled to be operational from Aug 1.

Touratech Malaysia plans to open more shops nationwide within three years, including outlets in Sabah and Sarawak.

For a start, Touratech Malaysia is planning to open an outlet in Penang serving the northern market by the end of the year.

For details on Touratech and Route 77, call tel: 03-7785 7777.

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Ford F-150 Lightning Pro SSV: America’s first electric pickup truck for police

                DETROIT: Ford Pro has launched America’s first electric pickup truck purpose-built for police: the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro Special Service Vehicle.

Ford has been providing police departments with the vehicles they need to protect and serve communities for more than 70 years.

Currently, Ford Pro customers include more than 12,000 police departments across the United States and its police vehicle lineup outsells all other police vehicles combined.

The company attributes this success and customer loyalty to the automaker’s close collaboration with its customers, specifically the Ford Police Advisory Board.

“We're proud to offer America’s first electric police pickup truck to local government customers who can use the truck’s game-changing technology to help improve their productivity,” said Nate Oscarson, Ford Pro national government sales manager.

“Pro Power Onboard can serve as a mobile power source to light up evening accident scenes on the highway, the electric powertrain helps to potentially reduce costs associated with fuel and scheduled maintenance needs and the Mega Power Frunk provides extra lockable storage on top of purpose-built police additions our customers have come to expect from the leader in police vehicles.”

The 2023 F-150 Lightning Pro SSV blends familiar Built Ford Tough power and performance, including available sub-four-second 0-60100kph acceleration capabilities, with the vehicle’s high-tech electric platform and innovation with Ford Pro’s real-time software and support.

The F-150 Lightning Pro SSV is designed to handle specialised departmental needs outside of pursuit situations, such as assisting at an accident or crime scene or giving departments the ability to tow a boat or trailer.

Purpose-built features from F-150 Police Responder include:

> Police-grade heavy-duty cloth seats with reduced bolsters to help holstered officers enter and exit the vehicle more easily;

> Built-in steel intrusion plates in the front seatbacks.

> Available red/blue, amber/white roof-mounted LED warning beacons

> An upfit-friendly reinforced instrument panel top tray for easy mounting of police equipment

As part of Ford Pro’s platform of connected vehicles, software and services, the targeted zero-emissions police truck comes pre-configured to seamlessly connect to a department’s existing fleet of Ford and non-Ford internal combustion engine and battery-electric vehicles, chargers, and fleet management software.

When used together, police departments can proactively manage when vehicles are charged and serviced, resulting in potentially lower operating costs and improved uptime.

More information on 2023 F-150 Lightning, including range, will be released later this summer.


Starting classes later could help reduce risk of road accidents among young people

                BANGKOK: A new study, presented at the CHEST Congress 2019, which opened its doors on Wednesday here, shows a significant decrease in road accidents among teenagers when morning classes start later.

Researchers from the Farwaniya Hospital, Kuwait and Boston Children's Hospital in the USA investigated the impact of a 50-minute delay in the early hours of the school day with students aged 16 to 18 years old.

The study compared extensive data over two consecutive academic years in Fairfax County, Virginia, one of the largest school districts in the United States.

Data from two academic years was compared: 2014-15, when classes started at 7:20 AM, and 2015-16, after the delayed start was implemented (8:20 AM). Data from Fairfax County Youth Survey (annual health and well-being survey of middle and high school students) was used to determine the adolescents' average sleep duration and their attitude to driving under the influence of alcohol.

According to figures taken from the Department of Motor Vehicles of Virginia, there was a 5.25% decrease in the accident rate among teen drivers between the two academic years studied. A significant reduction was also seen in distraction-related accidents (8.7%) and alcohol-related accidents (20%).

During this same time period, there was an increase in teen accident rates by 3.5% in the rest of the state of Virginia.

"Interventions in reducing sleep loss in young drivers such as delaying school start times may significantly reduce needless injuries and deaths due to drowsy driving," said Dr Saadoun Bin-Hasan, lead researcher.


First Berlin Teslas could come next month, Musk tells fans

Musk standing in front of the Tesla plant near Berlin. — Reuters

BERLIN: The first cars to emerge from Tesla's new Berlin factory should roll off the production line as early as next month, CEO Elon Musk said at the site of the plant on Saturday, but added that volume production would take much longer to achieve.

Musk hopes to get the green light in coming weeks to start production at the site. The latest consultation on public concerns towards the site closes on Oct 14, after which the Environment Ministry will make a decision.

"Starting production is nice, but volume production is the hard part," Musk told a cheering audience at a festival at the plant site, many of whom livestreamed the speech on social media.

"It will take longer to reach volume production than it took to build the factory."

He said volume production would amount to 5,000 or "hopefully 10,000" vehicles per day, and battery cells would be made there in volume by the end of next year.

He also defended the factory against critics of its environmental impact, saying that it used "relatively little" water and that battery cell production was "sustainable".

Some local residents and environmental groups are unhappy with Musk's approach, which they say flies in the face of German business culture.

"I would tell him to stop building electrocars but rather fly to Mars," said Manu Hoyer, who led a small protest of locals who oppose the project on environmental grounds, saying it will pollute drinking water.

Brandenburg's economy minister has put the chances of the factory gaining approval to operate at 95%.

Tesla has submitted plans to invest 5 billion euros in a battery plant with 50 GWh capacity next to the site, outstripping Volkswagen's planned 40GWh capacity site in Salzgitter.

Musk said Tesla was worried that recruiting sufficient staff would be an issue, calling for people to apply from "all over Europe".

He said he hoped the battery plant would reach volume production by the end of next year.

The company offered 9,000 tickets to the festival, with residents of Brandenburg state given priority.

"Look, Mummy! A Tesla," shouted an excited 9-year old called Emil, one of many children lined up with parents waiting for a 90-minute site tour.

Fans cheered and laughed when Musk took the stage at sunset, welcoming him like a popstar.

"This day is unique," said Tesla fan Fred Schroeder. "The Tesla factory in Germany will be opened to the public for the first time. That is a very special day."

Another had driven his Tesla from Milton Keynes in Britain, despite not having a ticket. He said it was worth it just to see the site from the outside.


Lamborghini gives 650 reasons to lust after the Urus SUV

Domenicali pictured with the Urus concept.
BOLOGNA: Italian supercar maker Lamborghini has officially confirmed how many horses are going to be under the sloping hood of its latest raging bull.

Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali hit the road this week, addressing an audience of industry experts and students at Stanford University and talking to the automotive press about the company's future.

And during his travels he finally revealed the magic number — 650hp. That is the official output of the twin-turbocharged V8 that will be powering the Urus — the company's long-gestating SUV —when it goes on sale in Europe in early 2018.

That headline figure will make the car the most powerful production SUV on sale, anywhere, and, considering it's being built from ultra-lightweight materials by a company that creates cars that can lap the Nurburgring in under seven minutes, it's also safe to say that the Urus will be the fastest SUV money can buy.

There is a huge amount riding on the Urus' success. It is going to be the vehicle that secures Lamborghini's future and allows the marque to expand sales drastically, but without diluting exclusivity. But only if it can really blow the public's minds in the same way its V10 and V12 supercars do.

The car has been spotted this week, highly camouflaged, flying around the Nurburgring in its final stages of development. And this is because as well as confirming the headline horsepower figure, while taking with Automotive News Europe, Domenicali confirmed that the production car will be revealed before the end of 2017.

The Urus is expected to reach North American shores before the end of 2018 and will be followed in 2019 with a plug-in hybrid version, another first for the Italian marque that until now has shunned engines with fewer than 10 cylinders, forced induction and battery assistance.

But as Domenicali told the audience at Stanford's Center for Automotive Research on Wednesday "Lamborghini embraces innovative thinking, and seeks collaboration with institutions who are the collectors of great ideas. Lamborghini's drive is to improve and continuously pave a pioneering road ahead."


Musk focused on getting self-driving Teslas in wide release by year-end

                STAVANGER (Norway): Tesla chief Elon Musk said today he aimed to get the electric auto maker's self-driving technology ready by year-end and hopes it could be in wide release in the United States and possibly in Europe, depending on regulatory approval.

Speaking at an energy conference in Norway, Musk said his attention was currently focused on his SpaceX Starship spacecraft and self-driving Tesla electric cars.

"The two technologies I am focused on, trying to ideally get done before the end of the year, are getting our Starship into orbit ... and then having Tesla cars to be able to do self-driving.

"Have self-driving in wide release at least in the US, and ... potentially in Europe, depending on regulatory approval," Musk told the audience.

Oil and gas needed

Earlier, Musk said the world must continue to extract oil and gas in order to sustain civilisation, while also developing sustainable sources of energy.

"Realistically, I think we need to use oil and gas in the short term, because otherwise civilisation will crumble," Musk told reporters on the sidelines of the conference.

Asked if Norway should continue to drill for oil and gas, Musk said: "I think some additional exploration is warranted at this time."

"One of the biggest challenges the world has ever faced is the transition to sustainable energy and to a sustainable economy," he said. "That will take some decades to complete."

He said offshore wind power generation in the North Sea, combined with stationary battery packs, could become a key source of energy. "It could provide a strong, sustainable energy source in winter," he said.


Kia tops J.D. Power rating

                IRVINE (California): Kia Motors reached historic new heights this week when J.D. Power recognised the brand as the top scorer in its 2016 Initial Quality Study (IQS) out of all 33 makes in the US.

Marking the first time in 27 years that a non-premium brand has topped the rankings, Kia’s rise to the top was driven by segment-leading performances from the Sportage and Soul, while Rio, Forte (also known as Cerato in Malaysia and some regions) and Sorento all ranked in the top three of their respective categories.

 Kia Sportage GT Line

Over the years, the Korean brand had transformed itself into an industry leader in design, quality and technology.

“Ranking number one in the entire industry for initial quality is the result of Kia’s decade-long focus on craftsmanship and continuous improvement, and reflects the voice of our customers, which is the ultimate affirmation,” said Michael Sprague, chief operating officer and EVP, Kia Motors America. “As the highest ranked brand in the industry, there is no doubt Kia is a world-class automaker.”

 Kia Sorento

With Kia’s US sales having consistently grown over the last four years to surpass the 600,000 annual unit mark, so too has the brand’s performance in J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study.

After entering the overall top 10 for the first time in 2013, Kia placed second in the industry and led all non-premium makes in IQS in 2015.

 Kia Rio

Now in its 30th year, the annual J.D. Power IQS analyses responses from vehicle owners in 26 segments.

IQS is determined by vehicle owners evaluating the driving experience, engine and transmission performance, and a broad range of quality-related problems within the first 90 days of ownership.


2019 Lexus ES hybrid launched in Japan

                TOKYO: The seventh-generation 2019 Lexus ES hybrid is built on the new GA-K platform which has high torsional rigidity and a low center of gravity.

The new front-wheel drive ES is said to exemplify the Lexus"Yet" philosophy ― the successful pairing of two contradictory ideas―with its "smooth, silky ride yet sharp handling."

It is powered by a 2.5-litre, inline 4-cylinder engine with Lexus Hybrid Drive and can achieve 23.4km per litre.

A new, more compact hybrid battery is located beneath the rear seats, contributing to ideal weight balance and low center of gravity, while enlarging cargo space.

The new ES 300h also comes in a F Sport variant and a high-spec Version L with Parking Support Brake (for pedestrians in the rear), electric reclining feature for rear seats and door armrest upholstery in a material that incorporates Viscotecs TM technology.

With the F Sport appearance and performance package, the ES gets sharper handling response and a more aggressive appearance.

The F Sport variant gets 19-inch alloy wheels with low-profile tyres for exceptional handling, high cornering stability, and new solenoid-type Adaptive Variable Suspension, which provides precise damping force in all driving situations, and performance dampers at the front and rear to further increase body rigidity.

The F Sport grille features a new F-mesh pattern, yielding a sportier front fascia, as well as sports seats and a customised steering wheel and instrument gauges.

To convey the F Sport's razor-sharp, on-road character to the interior, Lexus takumi craftsmen adorned the cabin with an exclusive aluminum ornamentation that undergoes a process called hadori, used in the finishing of samurai swords.

By employing the latest polishing technologies, craftsmen were able to lend a distinct impression of traditional Japanese sword artistry throughout the interior of the ES F Sport.

Also, the new ES has the world's first production Digital Side-View Monitors, as well as the brand's innovative active safety package Lexus Safety System+.

Digital Side-View Monitors use exterior cameras mounted on the front doors to transmit images to two 5-inch monitors inside the cabin at the base of each A-pillar.

The cameras are resistant to raindrop stains, and because the monitors are located inside the vehicle, the driver always has a clear view of the transmitted image, no matter the weather.

Replacing conventional mirrors with small cameras gives the driver virtually unblocked forward views out the side windows, and wind noise is significantly reduced, resulting in a quiet cabin.

Main Features of Lexus Safety System+

- Pre-Collision System uses an in-vehicle camera and front-grille-mounted millimeter-wave radar to help spot bicyclists and pedestrians during low-light conditions.

- Dynamic Radar Cruise Control together with Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) help ensure the new ES stays in its own lane. If the system detects a potential lane departure while Dynamic Radar Cruise Control is activated,

LTA alerts the driver with a visual warning and either an audible alert or steering wheel vibration; it may also apply a small active steering correction.

-  Adaptive High Beam System (AHS) automatically controls light intensity to safeguard oncoming vehicles or those in front of the ES from glare.

- Road Side Assist (RSA) acquires road sign data via a camera and the navigation system, and displays information using the head-up display and multi-information display, thus reducing driver failure to recognize signs.

- Parking Support Brake System eases burden when parking and tight maneuvering is carried out in restricted spaces such as parking lots. The system detects pedestrians using a rear camera, and in case of a possible collision, helps to mitigate damage through use of alerts and active brake control.

- Panoramic View Monitor provides a bird's-eye view of the surrounding environment.


Myanmar to draft policy for setting up foreign auto assembly plants

                YANGON: Myanmar will draft a comprehensive policy in months to enable foreign automakers to establish assembly plants in the country, Xinhua news agency reported Thursday, citing reports.

A committee is to be formed to develop the policy involving the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Myanmar Engineering Society and Myanmar Automobile Manufacturers and Distributors Association.

The setting up of the automobile policy drafting committee will be made in cooperation with the Ministries of Industry, Commerce, Finance and Rail Transportation, the report said.

The formulation of the policy is drawing attention from foreign countries, especially East Asian countries, seeking opportunities to set up such plants in Myanmar, officials said, adding that standard in the policy will prevent Myanmar from becoming a dumping ground for old cars when the ASEAN Economic Community is launched this year.

The policy would also include safety standard as well as rules phasing out old cars.

Since September 2011, Myanmar has laid down a programme to substitute private-owned vehicles of more than four decades of age with new ones, cancelling the validity of such registered vehicles which amounted to over 55,000, according to figures.

According to the Department of Road Transport Administration, there was a total of 4.76 million registered motor vehicles as of the end of September 2014, of which 449,089 are passenger cars while 169,685 are trucks, 23,173 buses, 4.053 million motorcycles and 74,063 others.


China slowly squeezes global carmakers out of its massive market

                OSLO/HONG KONG: Legacy automakers have been sounding optimistic lately about vehicle sales in China heading higher following the great reopening.

Volkswagen boss Oliver Blume seemed to come away bullish from his visit in February, and others like BMW have offered similarly positive sentiment.

That near-term swagger hides an uncomfortable point for established automakers: Many of them are slowly but steadily getting squeezed out of the Chinese auto market.

International legacy automakers have watched their share of the market shrink from 61% in 2020 to 41% in the final quarter of last year. There should be a slight bounce back in the first half of this year, as these manufacturers clear out old inventory, but BloombergNEF expects their overall share this year to be well below 50%.

There’s quite a bit of variation between legacy automakers in terms of how well they’ve fared.

Toyota’s sales in China have held up reasonably well, but its Japanese peers Nissan and Honda have seen big drops in the last few years. Premium brands have generally fared better than mass market ones.

The rise of electric vehicles is the most important factor upending the automotive pecking order in China. As I wrote last month, automotive product planning cycles are long, and many legacy automakers misjudged how fast the Chinese market was shifting to EVs.

International legacy automakers had just 8% of China’s plug-in vehicle market in the final quarter of last year, and many of their EV offerings are not competitive with local ones on price, range and features. Their share of the Chinese EV market has steadily declined as companies like BYD and Tesla took the initiative and local automakers launched a flurry of electric models.

Electrification has been fastest at the top and bottom of the Chinese auto market so the next phase of growth will have to come from the middle, where EV penetration is lower. This could bring further losses in market share for legacy automakers, unless they can quickly correct course.

Early sales data for 2023 shows this may already be playing out. Japanese brands were down 39% overall in January and February, while the Germans were down 21%. By contrast, BYD has already sold over 300,000 vehicles in that span, up more than 70%.

Founder Wang Chuanfu said last week that the company aims to be China’s top-selling automaker by the end of the year.

Other factors are also at play. In-vehicle connectivity and software offerings are often stronger from Chinese brands and has been another point of differentiation. Chinese consumers tend to adopt new technologies faster than new-car buyers in Western markets, where the average buyer skews older.

Some of what’s happening has also been part of the Chinese government’s long-term goals for the sector for many years.

Global automakers were required to produce vehicles with local joint-venture partners until very recently, a move that was designed to speed up transfer of technology and manufacturing know-how. Electrification is now creating a lane for them to leap ahead.

It’s hard to overstate just how important China’s rise has been for global automakers over the last several decades. Indeed, much of the growth in global vehicle sales in the last 20 years has come from the expansion of China’s middle class.

There’s no other growth story like China on the horizon, and with dynamics shifting quickly there now, legacy automakers are being forced into the electric age. It’s not clear if all of them will make the jump successfully.


VIDEO: BMW reveals 500hp M4 GTS ahead of Tokyo

                MUNICH: BMW M GmbH has launched a special edition M4 GTS that lapped the infamous Nürburgring-Nordschleife with a time of 7 minutes 28 seconds.

The new performance car is limited to 700 units and is to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the BMW M3, which has been in production since 1986.

The BMW M4 GTS uses a titanium exhaust system that's 20% lighter and is connected to a turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine found in the BMW M3/M4, but adds water injection technology to boost the 3.0-litre powerplant's output to 500hp and 600Nm - giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 3.0kg/hp.

With a seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission managing power to the rear wheels, it means the 1,585kg (kerb) M4 GTS is able to catapult to 100kph from standstill in 3.8 seconds while top speed is limited to 305kph.

Furthermore, its Drivelogic shift programs and Launch Control have been retuned specifically to the engine’s increased output.

The front feature two sets of twin circular headlights with four corona rings that combine LED technology with BMW's Selective Beam (dazzle-free high beam assistant) and Adaptive Headlight, while the rear L-shaped lights uses OLEDs that light up over their full surface with a very homogeneous effect.

Inside, there are a pair of carbon-fibre M bucket seats with Alcantara/Merino leather, which weighs 50% less than standard, while graced with the signature M stripes in the backrests.

Also following the lightweight carbon fibre ways are the centre console, rear seat panelling, boot area partition and side panel door trims, while the instrument panel bracing tube uses carbon-fibre-reinforced-plastic (CFRP).

CFRP has also been applied to the newly designed bonnet, boot lid, roof, rear diffuser, adjustable rear wing and adjustable front splitter.

In place of a rear seat bench, the BMW M4 GTS features a glass-fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP) shelf and the M sports steering wheel with a "12 o’clock” marker has been exclusively wrapped in Alcantara.

It rolls on polished forged light-alloy wheels in star-spoke 666 M Styling are and come in Acid Orange, while wearing 265/35 (19-inch front) and 285/30 (20-inch rear) Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres specifically for the M4 GTS.

Partially hidden by the wheels are the lightweight M carbon ceramic brakes

Suspension is a three-way M coilover that's also specially tuned for the M4 GTS and can be adjusted to individual tastes at different race circuits.

There's an optional Clubsport Package for avid track-goers and includes a roll bar in Acid Orange behind the front seats, a race-specification six-point harness (not availanle in the US version) and a fire extinguisher.

"We’ve taken a radical route with the set-up of the BMW M4 GTS to create a sports machine for the race track that delivers top-end dynamics and inspirational performance. It allows us to demonstrate what is possible today with a road-legal car," said BMW M CEO Frank van Meel.

The BMW M4 GTS will debut at the upcoming 2015 Tokyo Motor Show along side the German carmaker’s flagship 7-Series and the X1 Sport Activity Vehicle.


GM recalls 140,000 Chevrolet Bolt EVs over fire risks

                WASHINGTON: General Motors Co said Tuesday it is recalling 140,000 Chevrolet Bolt EVs in North America because the carpet could catch fire after a crash where a front seat belt pretensioner deploys.

The US automaker said the recall covers various 2017 through 2023 model year Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles due to rare instances of front seatbelt pretensioner exhaust gases coming in contact with floor carpeting fibers, after a vehicle crash, which could cause a fire.

About 120,000 US vehicles and 20,000 Canadian vehicles are affected by the recall.


Audi confirms electric SUV coming

                INGOLSTADT: Audi will be introducing an electric coupe-style SUV called the Q6.

All four wheels will be powered by electric motors and as such will be a competitor as much for the upcoming Tesla Model X as it will be for the BMW X6 or the Mercedes GLC.

During its annual press conference at its company headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany on Tuesday, the premium automobile manufacturer underlined its aim to offer 60 different models before the end of the decade and its determination to take on both the Range Rover and the Tesla Model X in the SUV market.

 The Audi Prologue Avant shown at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

Audi already offers 52 different cars in its current lineup and that huge choice helped it to achieve record sales of 1.74 million automobiles for the financial year. At the moment, that huge selection contains three SUVs - the Q3, the Q5 and the new range-topping Q7, which made its official debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

However, by next year the company is planning to add a baby Q1 model to the line-up which will compete with everything from the Nissan Juke to the Mercedes-Benz GLA.

Although it will resemble the company's A1 premium supermini the Q1 will be more aggressively styled in order to be more attractive to young, affluent drivers and to men. The overwhelming majority of current A1 drivers are women. At the other extreme of this rapidly growing range will sit a Q8 model that will line up alongside the current Range Rover as a competitor.

It will take its styling cues from the Audi Prologue concept car that debuted at the LA Auto Show in November and will be offered with five or with seven seats. It will also have a choice of potent V6 and V8 engines.

The company likens the flagship SUV to one of its premium executive cars, albeit one that will be able to travel as comfortably over a ploughed field as it will along the autobahn.

Across its entire future range, Audi pledged to reduce emissions, improve fuel efficacy and to continue its pioneering work into active safety and semi-autonomous driving technologies. Over the past year it has hired 4,500 new employees with expertise in lightweight construction, connectivity and electric mobility.


Rolls-Royce wears Black Badge with pride

                GOODWOOD: Performance, unbridled luxury and stealth. That's how one would describe the Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge. Rolls-Royce on the other hand, describes it as the the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever – with added attitude.

Rolls-Royce is always ready to deliver a truly Bespoke answer to meet the customer’s desire, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has once again demonstrated its true luxury credentials as the world’s leading super-luxury brand.

Rolls-Royce Black Badge speaks to the darker, more assertive, confident and demanding aesthetic of these customers. As a truly Bespoke response to their desires, the interplay of brand and customer has had a transformative effect on the appearance and substance of Rolls-Royce Wraith.

Already the most powerful Rolls-Royce in the world at 624hp, the Wraith now benefits from 70Nm more torque, tweaked air suspension, an upgraded eight-speed gearbox and extra boost from the two turbochargers helps the 6.6-liter V12 engine to more spirited driving.

The badges have silver script on a black background instead of the normal reverse colour scheme. The Spirit of Ecstasy sculpture perched atop the radiator is also now black, a first for any factory Rolls.

The exhaust outlets are painted black, too, and new 21-inch wheels are partially constructed of carbon fiber, continuing the black-and-silver color scheme.

The car presented at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed is finished in Black Badge Black, with the interior in Black and Mugello Red contrast leather, and the facia in aerospace-grade aluminium-threaded carbon fibre composite surfacing.

Lapping the car on the track has been described as such 'The Wraith is a sledgehammer between corners and easily reaches triple digits on the track’s short front straight'.

Read our own review of the Rolls-Royce Wraith here.


Confirmed: MCO extended a third time to May 12

UPDATE:  Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today announced that the movement control order (MCO) will be extended by another two weeks. This fourth phase of the MCO will be in force up to May 12.The MCO was first enforced on March 18, two days following the announcement by the Prime Minister in the midst of the one-week school holidays as Covid-19 cases started to spike.  It was then extended twice; first to April 14, and then to April 28.

PETALING JAYA:  The people must prepare to stay home longer with the prospect of phase four of the movement control order (MCO) looming, as the government prepares standard operating procedures (SOPs) to cater for Ramadan, say government sources.

Although there has yet to be an official announcement, the government’s preparation for a Ramadan under MCO signals the possibility of a phase four.

The MCO, which began on March 18, is now in its third phase which will end on April 28.

As the first three phases were in two-week stages, phase four is likely to be another two weeks.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to give a special Ramadan speech to the nation tonight to address the worries of Muslims fasting during the MCO.

Business sectors are already bracing for an extended MCO and are making arrangements to cushion the impact. Business owners say they intend to continue operating at below 50% of their capacity.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri said the government was not only looking at allowing students who had been stuck at hostels in higher learning institutions due to the MCO to go back to their hometowns, but it was also discussing the possibility of allowing those who went back to their hometowns during the first few days of the MCO to return to the towns and cities.

“For the early stages, they can apply to the police through the online application Gerak Malaysia, a collaboration between the police and Communications and Multimedia Ministry, from April 25 onwards,” he said.

But he cautioned that the possibility of letting people come back to the cities from their hometowns would only be decided on once the authorities had the complete data.

Religious authorities, under the purview of Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Al-Bakri, are also formulating fatwa (a formal ruling on a point of Islamic law) to ensure that Muslims are not in doubt about fasting during the MCO.

The announcement by Senior Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof yesterday that most applications from construction companies to continue operations during the MCO had been rejected was yet another indication of a potential extension to the MCO.

“The government received 19,000 applications from companies in the construction industry to operate during the MCO. Of these, 1,856 were approved while 7,387 applications were not,” he said.

On a related note, Ismail Sabri said a total of 763 individuals were arrested on Wednesday for violating the MCO, bringing the total number of arrest to 18,498 since the implementation of the order.


Minivans are making a not so mini-comeback - here's why

                BERLIN: Prestige, a premium feel and plenty of space. When Norbert Weber raves about his latest design, the senior interior designer at Audi is not talking about the flagship A8, but while at the wheel of the electric, van-like Urbansphere Concept.

The study paves the German maker's way into a new segment since Audi has set its sights set on a minivan (known as MPV or multi-purpose vehicle), a type of car many previous saloon car owners are also turning towards, especially in Asia.

"Space and privacy are the true luxuries in the densely built-up megacities of China and Japan, and the car is often the only place of retreat," says Weber. After all, the driving enjoyment that German premium carmakers in particular like to preach is only secondary when you're fighting through gridlocked rush-hour traffic.

Large-capacity vans in Tokyo, Seoul or Shanghai have already been filling the coffers of Toyota, Nissan and, with the Staria, Hyundai. Now Audi wants a piece of the action. According to Weber, the new van could be ready by the middle of the decade.

The focus is now on a segment that was recently in steep decline in Europe. Cars like the Chrysler Voyager and the Renault Espace once popularised the idea of the MP while the smaller Opel Zafira, VW Touran and Renault Scénic took it to a wider audience. In the meantime, however, sales of SUVs have long since outstripped those of vans and have pushed many models out of the market.

For Lutz Fügener at the Hof University of Applied Sciences it is only logical that more people are suddenly taking an interest in this supposedly outdated concept. The reasons are mainly social: People long for a private place of retreat in a hectic everyday world.

The academic uses the term "third place" here, meaning a third location where we spend a lot of time away from office and home. It needs to be comfortable and soothing.

There are technical reasons too: Electric cars offer so-called skateboard platforms since the motor and drivetrain components take up less space than a thermal engine. The flat floor leads to a more flexible use of cabin space.

Audi is not the first manufacturer to hit on the idea. US maker Canoo caused a stir with an electric van and probably no other MPV is as high-profile as the born-again camper van ID Buzz from Audi's parent company VW.

The ID Buzz is set to be produced in Hanover soon and hit the road later this year priced at €65,000 ($66,000). That is according to Lars Krause, the VW's board member responsible for commercial vehicle sales.

With a proven platform mated to a new drivetrain, Mercedes is fettling a new van too. The electric EQT will go on sale at the end of the year in two lengths, with five or seven seats and a range of around 300 kilometres.

Customers not ready for electrification can already order the Renault Kangoo-derived van as the Mercedes-Benz T-Class with a combustion engine for €29,314 ($30,000). Both versions are ideal for those who want to go mountain biking and camping.

The downside for some buyers is that in order to bring the next generation of Mercedes compacts into line with the brand's new luxury strategy, the compact B-Class van is being deleted.

BMW remains loyal to its van and the revamped, second edition of the 2 Series Active Tourer is on its way priced from €34,750 ($35,300). Customers can opt for a petrol or diesel version or as a plug-in hybrid with a purely electric range of almost 100 kilometres. Meanwhile, the larger 2 Series Gran Tourer has been given the heave-ho. Until now it accounted for a good one-third of sales.

Oddly enough, MPO pioneer Renault does not see a bright future for vans. The Espace will be phased out in the next few months with no successor in the pipeline. The electric Vision Scénic pencilled in for 2024 has little more in common with the original than its name. It morphs into a SUV on its way into the battery age.

Design guru Fügener believes phasing out vans is a bad idea. Such vehicles offer greater functionality than a comparable full-size SUV for the same weight and carbon footprint.

And according to Fügener, all-wheel drive and thus suitability for poor roads is not a problem for modern vans either.


17 abandoned cars, 50 m-cycles to be removed from govt quarters in Putrajaya

                PUTRAJAYA: The Prime Minister’s Department Property and Land Management Division has identified 17 abandoned cars and 50 motorcycles to be removed from the government quarters here within two months.

The Prime Minister’s Department senior deputy secretary-general, Datuk Mohd Sallehhuddin Hassan, said the abandoned vehicles would be taken to the Putrajaya Corporation Abandoned Vehicles Depot in Precinct 20 and would be disposed of after six months if no claim was made by the owners.

He said the Land Management Division had counter-checked with the Road Transport Department, police and banks before removing the vehicles, which is being carried out to free up parking lots in government quarters.

“These vehicles have been abandoned by the owners and caused problems to local residents. What we regret is that the vehicles don’t belong to the quarters’ residents,” he told reporters here today.

In today’s operation, Mohd Sallehhuddin witnessed the removal of two cars, a Perodua Kancil and Kelisa.

He said if the owners want to claim their vehicles, they have to pay the fine and costs including the towing charge of RM150 and depot fee of RM10 per day.


Toyota to bring a series of off-roading trucks to Chicago

                DALLAS: Like at last year's Chicago Auto Show, Toyota is bringing some off-roading models to the Windy City to show off to its midwestern audience.

On Tuesday, the company published a teaser image of only a wheel of a Tacoma and a fraction of the fender reeling through some dirt.

In the brief text that accompanied the image, Toyota only states that "the forecast for the Windy City looks sporty and outdoorsy, with a touch of nocturnal mischief as Toyota debuts new variants to the portfolio."

In 2019 at the same event, the brand debuted a refreshed 2020 Tacoma along with the 2020 Land Cruiser Heritage Edition. In 2017 and 2018, a refreshed Tundra was revealed as was the TRD Pro package designed to prep trucks of adventures on any terrain.

The new Toyota variants will debut on Feb 6 at the Chicago Auto Show. The reveal will also be live streamed for those unable to attend the press conference.


Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer: Hi-tech and trendy

                The Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer deserves extra attention from those looking for a seven-seater multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) due to its spacious, practical and comfortable interior design, as well as a smooth and responsive turbocharged powertrain.

Many will be familiar with this highly versatile people carrier which formerly carried the Picasso badging for more than a decade.

However, two years ago, the French automaker dropped the Picasso badging and adopted the new SpaceTourer name.

Features and tech

The exterior has a distinctive European chiselled profile, with a panoramic windscreen and low-sloping hood fronted by chrome trim, bi-xenon headlamps and a familiar Citroen double chevron logo.

For a more premium look, chrome trim surrounds the front fog lamps, and the rear has 3D-effect lights.

Regarding safety, occupants get ample protection with six airbags and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) while baby seats can be plugged via three ISOFIX location points on the second row.

To reduce collision risk and damage, there’s also the camera-based Active Safety Brake system which performs automatic emergency braking at speeds of up to 30kph if the system detects an imminent collision.

For infotainment, there’s a 7.0-inch touchscreen armed with Android Auto, Apple Carplay and Mirrorlink connectivity options.

There’s just one 12V socket and a USB port, though, to charge our mobile devices and this is something that needs to be improved on, in an age where practically everyone has a smart device.

Nice features that provide convenience include keyless entry and push-start engine ignition, automatic wipers and headlights, and a hands-free motorised tailgate with height memory (activated by moving your foot below the bumper).

To help you park safely, there are front and rear parking sensors as well as a reverse camera.

Interior and practicality

Stepping into the car, you notice there is plenty of light penetration and reduced blind spots thanks to the huge windscreen and side glass panels.

There’s no sunroof here but we hardly noticed its absence.

Of course, there will be times when you want less sunlight in the car, and this is when you can extend the retractable front covers/panels at the top of the windscreen.

The dark-themed interior feels airy and spacious, and there’s a high quality ambience with chrome door handles, polished surfaces, as well as decent plastic and fabric covers.

The interior is abundantly roomy and well-designed for optimum elbow and leg room, and comes with various compartments to keep small items.

There’s a space-saving automatic electric parking brake, and if you need more room for those outstation trips, the second and third row seats can be folded to expand rear cargo volume from 632 to a massive 2,181 litres.

Both second and third row passengers enjoy reading lights and rear air-conditioning vents with fan control.

The second row passengers can also take advantage of two tray tables with reading lights, affixed on the front seatbacks.

Drive

There is no lack of muscle here with a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injected 167ps/240Nm engine which is pleasingly torquey, as maximum torque is achieved from a low 1,400 rpm.

The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth, and the electric power steering feels direct and responsive.

We took the car on a drive from Klang to Sekinchan via some B-roads, which were rather bumpy and poorly maintained on some stretches, and the suspension soaked up the road irregularities quite well.

Running on Michelin Primacy 3 tyres sized 205/55 R17, we found good ride comfort.

You won’t find an instument cluster right in front of you, as driving data is shown via a large 12-inch panoramic HD colour screen housed on the top centre dashboard.

There’s no traditional gear stick here either - instead, you get a lever behind the steering wheel to select driving modes.

We liked the mixed fabric-leather seats which were firm and supportive, and the powered massage function on both front seats can be somewhat addictive.

While Citroen claims the Grand C4 SpaceTourer can deliver 5.8 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, the car’s trip computer showed fuel consumption of 9.1 litres per 100km after we had driven 516km over a few days.

According to the digital fuel gauge, we still had about a quarter tank of petrol left and the remaining travel range is 195km before refuelling.

Verdict

Despite its size, it’s not difficult to manoeuvre the car through narrow streets in commercial areas.

The engineers and designers behind the Grand C4 SpaceTourer are to be commended for its practical interior design and layout with fold-flat rear seats, comforts for rear occupants, heaps of leg and shoulder room, and abundant storage spaces.

This is a top quality seven-seater family car with a modern, digital infotainment system and stylish looks, as well as a highly responsive powertrain, which feels nice to drive and delivers a very comfortable ride.
SPECIFICATIONSCitroen Grand C4 SpaceTourerEngine: 1,598cc turbo high pressure (THP), direct injection
Maximum power: 167PS at 6,000rpm
Maximum torque: 240Nm from 1,400rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Features: Bi-xenon headlamps, 3D effect rear lights, mixed fabric/leather seats, electric parking brake, panoramic windscreen, hands-free motorised tailgate, 17-inch Boa alloy wheels, keyless entry and push-start ignition, automatic electric folding mirrors, automatic dual-zone air-conditioning, rear air-vents for both rows, second row work table, second row rear sunshade, child monitoring mirror, height and reach
adjustable leather steering wheel, three 12V power sockets and one USB port, 12-inch panoramic HD colour screen and 7-inch touchscreen with MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, six speakers enhanced by Arkamys, reverse camera
Safety features: Six airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake distribution (EBD), emergency brake assist (EBA), electronic stability programme (ESP), programmable cruise control and speed limiter, three ISOFIX child-seat mounts on second row, Coffee break alert, Active Safety Brake, speed limit recognition system
Price (on-the-road without insurance): RM149,888
After-sales: 5-year warranty or 120,000km (whichever is first), 24-hour roadside assistance, SkyLounge by Naza at SkyPark Terminal


Perodua donates 7,700 face shields

                RAWANG: Perodua gave out over 7,700 face shields to 66 primary schools in the Putrajaya and Hulu Selangor which were distributed to the academic and support staff.

“Having contributed some 11,000 face shields to secondary schools in Putrajaya and Hulu Selangor in June, Perodua now extends the same goodwill to primary schools in those areas,” Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said.

Perodua has to date distributed over 30,000 face shields in total. Recipients included the Putrajaya Federal Territory Education Department, the Hulu Selangor District Council, District Education Office and clinics, the Selayang Municipal Council and various morning and night market hawkers in Hulu Selangor and Selayang.

The face shields, manufactured by an associate of Perodua’s, feature a fog-resistant visor made of polyethylene terephthalate for optimal visibility, sponge cushioning that hugs the forehead to act as a barrier against airborne droplets, and an adjustable elastic band for a snug and comfortable fit.

“This Malaysia Day, Perodua, as a caring and responsible People First company, asks all Malaysians not to let their guard down. Please continue to be cautious and comply with all government health and safety guidelines, and we will defeat COVID-19 together as one nation,” said Zainal.


New Porsche Panamera achieves lap record in Nürburgring

                STUTTGART: Porsche has proven the performance potential of the new Panamera even before the car’s world premiere.

In a slightly camouflaged series production car, test driver Lars Kern completed a full lap of the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife over a distance of 20.832km in 7:29.81 minutes.

In the official ranking of the Nürburgring GmbH, this time certified by an independent, expert witness now stands as a new record for a production car in the “executive cars” category.

In accordance with the new rules of Nürburgring GmbH, the lap time is now measured over the complete Nordschleife distance of 20.832 km. For comparison: Kern and the new Panamera passed the 20.6 km mark after 7:25.04 minutes – roughly equal to a 2014 911 GT3 (991.1 generation). The record-breaking car and driver combination was around 13 seconds faster than the Panamera Turbo that was run four years ago.

“The enhancements made to the chassis and the powertrain of the new Panamera were always noticeable during this lap on what is recognised as the most demanding race track in the world,” said Kern.

“In the Hatzenbach or also Bergwerk and Kesselchen sections in particular, the new setup of the electromechanical roll stabilisation system PDCC remains consistently effective and provides the Panamera with incredible stability in spite of the bumpy track surface.

At the Schwedenkreuz, the car benefited from the improved lateral dynamics and the increased grip of the new Michelin UHP tyres. I achieved cornering speeds there that I would not have believed possible with the Panamera.”

A Porsche spokesman said that apart from having more power, the new Panamera's cornering stability, body control and steering precision have been improved to benefit both everyday comfort and performance.


Canada's Snow Lake Lithium to develop world’s first all-electric lithium mine

                TORONTO: Minng company Snow Lake Lithium Ltd has outlined plans to develop the world’s first all-electric lithium mine in Manitoba, Canada developing a domestic supply of this critical resource to the North America electric vehicle industry.

With demand for electric vehicles growing rapidly, the global automotive and energy storage industries will be competing to access raw materials, especially lithium, that are a crucial component of batteries.

North American automotive manufacturers have committed manufacturing capacity to meet the demand for electric vehicles, but the future of the North American automotive industry relies on sourcing lithium hydroxide on the continent rather than importing it from China and Asia as well as creating an integrated domestic supply chain.

To enable the seamless integration of the supply chain, Snow Lake Lithium plans to set up a joint venture to create a lithium hydroxide processing plant and is seeking a partnership with an automotive OEM or a battery manufacturer to deliver this.

Philip Gross, CEO of Snow Lake Lithium said, “We are facing a once-in-a-century industrial pivot as North America accelerates towards an electrified future. If we don’t act now to secure a seamless lithium supply chain from rock to road, the North American car industry will not exist in 10 years’ time.

“Our ambition is to become the first fully integrated, carbon neutral lithium hydroxide provider to the North American electric vehicle industry. We are developing the world’s first all-electric lithium mine, operated by renewable power, and are currently looking for a joint venture partner to create a lithium hydroxide processing plant in the region.”

Based in Manitoba, Canada, Snow Lake Lithium is linked to the North American automotive industry via the US rail network, which reduces transportation from thousands of miles by road and boat to just several hundred by train.

Snow Lake Lithium’s 55,000 acre site is expected to produce 160,000 tonnes of 6% lithium spodumene a year over a 10-year period.

Currently, Snow Lake Lithium has explored around 1% of its site and is confident that this will expand over the course of the next year. Snow Lake Lithium’s mine will be operated by almost 100% renewable, hydroelectric power to ensure the most sustainable manufacturing approach.

The Manitoba region has a rich history of mining giving Snow Lake Lithium access to some of the most talented and experienced miners in North America.


Hyundai reveals world-first driverless fuel cell vehicle

SEOUL: Hyundai is a car maker that's not afraid to try something new, whether its dipping its toe into a new segment of the market or trying out some cutting-edge new technology.

Well, now the South Korean automaker has just achieved a world-first by driving a fleet of Level 4 autonomous vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells completely autonomously on a 190-km journey from here to Pyeongchang.

Until this groundbreaking feat was achieved, driverless vehicles had only been demonstrated at limited speed on specially selected sections of South Korea's roads. This event was therefore the first time driverless vehicles had operated on public roads at speeds of up to 110kph, the maximum speed the law allows on Korean highways.

Although Hyundai has been producing hydrogen fuel cell versions of the Tucson for some years now, the three vehicles used to achieve this world-first were based on the NEXO, which is the manufacturer's next-generation fuel cell model that's going to be released in its home market next month. Each of the three used were equipped with Level 4 driverless technology and also feature the latest 5G network connectivity.

Hydrogen fuel cell technology does seem to have been put on something of a back burner by the auto industry in recent times as the main focus has shifted heavily towards all-electric and hybrid technology.

However, hydrogen fuel cells offer a number of advantages over all-electric vehicles, especially when it comes to driverless technology. The amount of data being processed by the vehicle during autonomous driving uses a considerable amount of power, which inevitably impacts adversely on the range of an EV on a single charge.

Fuel cells produce enough electricity to cope with such demands as well as driving the vehicle, and it only takes around five minutes to refill a fuel cell vehicle with hydrogen.

The NEXO has a target range on a single fill of hydrogen of 804km, it boasts a world-class efficiency of some 60 percent, durability that's equivalent to a combustion-engine powered vehicle, and a total load space of 839 litres.