How to spend US$100,000 on a car while in line at the grocery store

A red Porsche Speedster seen on BAT, just not the one Kogen snapped up for US$500,000. —
NEW YORK: Eli Kogen lives the type of life about which many auto fanatics dream.

The twentysomething Arizona resident owns a members-only car club and a dozen special toys, including a big black Mercedes-AMG G 63 SUV, a Porsche 997 RS track-ready sports car, and a Lago Green 1956 Porsche 356, plus many high-powered and beloved Ducati motorcycles. He knows a prize when he sees it.

Kogen just spent US$500,000 on a car he’d been coveting for years, a cherry red 1956 Porsche Speedster. It’s not an unusual purchase for him, but how he bought it is a first: online, sight unseen, and undriven.

The medium for his indulgence was the San Francisco-based website called Bring a Trailer. (As in that old classifieds gem: "The car’s not running-so bring a trailer.”)

"The Speedster was a passion buy, an emotional buy,” Kogen says. "I’d hunted a Speedster forever. It was the colour I wanted. It was the build I wanted. It checked every box. At the end, I got into a little bit of a bidding war to get it, but I couldn’t stop.”

He’s not the only one spending big bucks buying cars he’s never seen in person, let alone driven.

Bruce Meyer, the Rodeo Drive real estate mogul and a prominent collector who was the founding chairman of the Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation in Los Angeles, recently used Bring a Trailer (or BAT) to find a 1935 Bugatti Type 57 in black, with rich golden sides that give it the poise of a monarch butterfly. It cost him almost US$1 million.

"I had tried to buy it 20 years before that, but I missed it,” Meyer says. "I never would have known about it and found it again had I not known about Bring a Trailer.”

Kogen and Meyer are the type of big-money buyers the unassuming online auction company has attracted in the years since Randy Nonnenberg co-founded it in 2007. (Michael Strahan is another prominent fan; most notably he used it to buy a rare 1994 Porsche 928 GTS manual coupe.) The site has become so successful that the online used-car classifieds Hemmings has announced an upcoming version of its own, called Hemmings Auctions.

Nonnenberg, a former mechanical engineer for BMW of North America, started BAT with a college buddy as an easier way to share links about cars they wanted rather than emailing them back and forth the way they had for years. After tag-teaming to find and buy a long-desired Corvette, they got to thinking.

"Whether I was in the market for a car or not, I was always looking at cars on EBay and Craigslist, and I’d help friends find cars, too, sending them links and stuff,” Nonnenberg says. "So the start of it was a very basic blog format. It was a very immature experiment to just start writing about cars.”

Turns out more people wanted help finding cool cars to buy than he expected. In its first year of offering cars to the public, 2014, BAT listed 450 cars for an average sale price of US$21,000 and a sale rate of 72%. Last year, it listed 7,718 auctions with an average sale price of US$28,000 and the sale rate was 74%.

In the first half of this year, BAT listed 5,131 cars for sale, vs. 3,224 for the first half of 2018, a 60% increase that came with a sale rate of 73%.

More than 200,000 people receive a daily email message that lists auctions closing that day. All told, more than 15,000 people have won an auction on BAT at least once.

"I find it so entertaining,” says Meyer, 78. "The guys that are running it are honourable. They’re really doing a good job of presenting a car correctly and honestly and without outrageous reserves. It’s a whole new paradigm.”

 Nonnenberg. — Image from facebook.com/Randy NonnenbergCurated for cool

In its simplest description, BAT lists classic and collectible cars for sale online that users bid on over the course of seven-day sales. (Some premium listings last as many as 21 days.) Everyone can follow the sale as time runs out on the very visible clock ticking down at the top of each page.

Those who want to place a bid must register with the site, including providing a credit card number. Whoever has the highest bid when the auction ends wins the car, pays the (unusually low) 5% buyer’s fee, and is connected with the seller to arrange for pickup. If more than one person places a bid within the last two minutes of a sale, a special function extends the auction until they reach a détente.

BAT is not the first company to sell used cars online-just look at the millions of cars listed on EBay, Craigstlist, and Hemmings. (A Hemmings spokesman did not respond to requests for comment for this story.) But using BAT feels different from other auction sites that sell cars online.

It’s sorted much more thoughtfully, allowing for easy queries by make and model, and you can filter results based on the status of the auction. Selecting a car and then scrolling down brings up dozens of photos of the car, some so detailed they’ll show tiny corners of the engine or minuscule components in the wheels or windshield wipers.

It’s a steady drip, with auction updates and new offerings listed daily. And the community feels like a special group of like-minded fellows. Users scroll through the auction results to get a sense of the market like they check the Dow Jones every morning.

Parents and children bond over sharing, critiquing, dissecting, and dreaming over the day’s new listings.

The comments section is a big draw, providing humorous and insightful addenda while everyone watches the sale unfold-and especially for the thousands of people who follow along but have yet to place their first bid. It’s also moderated; meanies and know-it-alls are not allowed.

"We want BAT to be a welcoming environment,” Nonnenberg says. "It’s great to have knowledge, but if you’re really arrogant about that or you’re a jerk about it, that can create sort of a firefight online that we’ll go in and address. We try to limit the negative parts of an open microphone on the Internet.”

Quality control

Most important, BAT curates its wares. Whereas EBay and Craigslist present thousands of cars from all backgrounds and conditions, making it tedious to sort the real jewels from what should be used as scrap metal, BAT is selective about what it offers.

It’s like the difference between a high-end vintage store that sells original David Bowie tour T-shirts and the castoffs from the local Goodwill. When you go to the latter, you have to dig through a lot more grit to find a treasure.

"Bring a Trailer tries to present cars that are interesting and to their taste-and it happens to be my taste, too,” Meyer says. "With EBay, it’s just so vast, and there’s no scrutiny whatsoever.”

Vetting is an art as much as it is a science, Nonnenberg says. His team of 22 full-time staff evaluates a vehicle based on uniqueness, rarity, beauty, design, condition, and the reserve price requested by the seller. And speaking of the sellers-they’ve got to qualify, too, he says. (The platform does not personally inspect the mechanics and condition of the cars it offers for sale.)

"The process is a little bit quantifiable and a little bit qualifiable,” he says. "Dealers that overdescribe cars-those are out. So are those who don’t want to say a price, who make setting a price like a fishing expedition. Or somebody who seems like a liar. Those are out, too. People want to just be able to check boxes that you list on a car, and then you’re in. But it’s still very much a human process, and we don’t want to lose that filter.”

BAT accepts only 40% of the vehicles that apply to be listed every week.

Going high-end

Scrolling through Bring a Trailer is indeed addictive and all-consuming. It’s thrilling to see a Lotus Esprit Series 2 like the kind James Bond drove in The Spy Who Loved Me going for US$10,000. It takes just moments after you start scrolling to see something you’ve always had your eye on, maybe even the car you dreamed about when you were in high school, listed for a bargain basement price. After that, you’re hooked.

One user who goes by the name @mmalamut has bought six cars off BAT since February of this year. Another, @chookasd, has bought 30 cars on BAT since March 2015.

In the past 30 days, having never bought anything on it before now, Kogen has actually bought four cars on BAT-two for himself, including the Speedster and a 1974 Jeep, and a Legacy Power Wagon and 1973 Porsche 911 for clients.

The Speedster in particular illustrates why BAT could be prompting a larger shift in the collector car market in general. Kogen bought it from a special new section of premium tiers of sale that Nonnenberg introduced last June. He used a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, which sold for the PR-perfect price of US$1,234,567, as a way to promote the new service.

It’s the new Plus and White Glove tiers that are handling these super high-dollar cars. Plus, which costs US$349 for each car listed, sends BAT photographers to the seller to produce quality photos that will support the auction listing. White Glove, which costs considerably more, though the pricing depends on the car, promises that BAT will tailor the listing via concierge, with professional photos, writing, and curating, and will provide company-sponsored marketing for the car while it’s for sale.

Auction house opt-out

For those who can afford its elite ante, the biggest draw for the extravagant cars now for sale is the fee structure: Auction house fees can reach 20% on one individual sale, but BAT caps the buyer’s fee at US$5,000 regardless of the price of the vehicle.

So instead of paying a US$50,000 commission on his Speedster, as he would have if he had bought it at a Gooding & Co. auction, Kagen paid only US$5,000.

"Superhigh fees chafe, and people don’t like it,” Nonnenberg says. "Do we really do more work to list a US$100,000 car than to list a US$400,000 car? I don’t think we do. So we came up with the cap idea. I think it’s fair. It resonates with people. I mean, I don’t want to participate in the big auctions because I feel like I’m being taken by the house. It’s like Vegas-the house always wins.”

It raises this question: If wealthy collectors can save money buying a classic car from an online auction community that they trust, why would they keep patronising traditional auction houses? Is BAT the auction house of the future?

Depends on whom you ask. Kogen wouldn’t mind. He cites two compelling reasons for his BAT splurge: the ease of the transaction, and that buyer’s premiums and fees are significantly less than buying cars at auction.

"Why would I as a seller or a buyer go to an auction house and have the auction house take 10%? That’s US$50,000!” he says. "It’s something I have to consider. But when you bid on Bring a Trailer, you’re not factoring in the fee. At that point it’s a rounding error.”

A representative from Gooding & Co. declined to comment for this story. But Nonnenberg himself tends to agree: "I don’t know if we’ll put them out of business. Certainly not in the short term. But maybe later.”

Meyer, decades older and with a different perspective, is more circumspect. He uses BAT auctions and the glamorous real-world auctions of Bonham, Gooding & Co., and RM Sotheby’s in Paris, London, and Carmel, Calif., in very various ways.

"I think [BAT] is completely different,” he says. "The auctions are still entertaining. They give you a really good pulse to where the market is going. This gives people a comfort level so they can buy online. It does not preclude them; it includes them. They work well together.”

No more for the little guy?

Long-time BAT users have noticed the growing overlap between online car sales and real-world auction houses.

Some say BAT’s increased public profile of late-a result of an apparent marketing push: videos with Jay Leno, a YouTube channel, Instagram stories, and big sales announced via a press release-has ironed flat the site’s formerly interesting life force.

Those early users liked the feel of following magical rabbit trails frequented only by a secret society of treasure hunters.

"BAT has kind of destroyed the car market for the common guy,” a user called SilverMK2 wrote on a Reddit forum. "There are too many people with Ferrari money buying up common cars IMO. It used to be you could get lucky and find an odd gem on your local CL that was off the radar. Now either the seller wants 3- or 4x the market price or some reseller halfway across the country scoops it up 30 secs after it posted.”

One Instagram commenter named @missile_coop put it in simpler terms: "I always bid, but never win. Neither thrilling, surprising, nor insightful, but definitely painful.”

Nonnenberg doesn’t dispute the slight shift, noting the "feeding frenzy” he can remember in years past after he’d post an "unbelievable” car priced way under market value. Some of the critique is true, he says. There’s been a slight increase in prices on BAT in recent months.

The average sale price for the first six months of 2019 is US$29,700, up US$1,700 from last year’s cumulative average. Following the rollout of BAT Premium Listings, the average sale price in June hit US$32,000, the website’s highest single-month average.

But that doesn’t devalue the state of the platform today, he adds. Some of that sentiment is nostalgia-driven-people tend to hark back to something that no longer exists. What BAT offers remains of high allure for a rapidly growing audience, himself (still) included. A quick flip through the site reveals cars with real personality and value: a 1977 Lancia Scorpion for US$8,500; a 1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer for US$17,750; a 1969 BMW 1600 Coupe for US$4,400.

"I still am on it every day looking for cars for no reason-cars that I know I’m not even going to buy!” Nonnenberg says.


BMW Group steps up expansion for production of electric powertrain components

                MUNICH: The BMW Group is expanding production capacity and increasing its staff at the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing faster than originally planned.

Due to growing demand for electrified vehicles, the plant expects the number of modules needed for production of high-voltage batteries to double from the previous year. The number of electric motors required will also increase significantly.

Michael Nikolaides, head of Production Engines and E-Drives at the BMW Group: “We are embarking on a massive expansion of our Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing: from 8,000 square metres currently to 80,000 in the future.

"This is where we produce powertrain components for our fully and partially electric models. By the end of the year, we will increase our staff in this area from 600 to more than 1,400.” Up to 2,000 employees will work on electric motors, battery modules and high-voltage batteries in Dingolfing in the medium term.

Christoph Schröder, head of BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, adds: “Thanks to close cooperation between vehicle and component development, our Dingolfing site is now leading the transformation of the automotive industry. More than one in five BMW 5 Series Sedans built at our Dingolfing vehicle plant today is already a plug-in hybrid. We deliver premium e-mobility from Lower Bavaria to customers all over the world.”

For the upcoming ramp-up and planned volume growth, qualified staff are currently being recruited on a large scale, up to 800 new jobs – both internally at the BMW Group’s plant locations and outside the company. As Nikolaides points out: “We are also combing the market for specialists for the future technology of e-mobility.”


Pollution from tyre wear 1,000 times worse than exhaust emissions, says UK testing firm

                LONDON: Pollution from tyre wear can be 1,000 times worse than what comes out of a car’s exhaust, Emissions Analytics has found.

Harmful particle matter from tyres – and also brakes – is a very serious and growing environmental problem, one that is being worsened by the increasing popularity of large, heavy vehicles such as SUVs, and growing demand for electric vehicles, which are heavier than standard cars because of their batteries.

What’s more, vehicle tyre wear pollution is completely unregulated, unlike exhaust emissions which have been rapidly reduced by car makers thanks to the pressure placed on them by European emissions standards.

New cars now emit very little in the way of particulate matter but there is growing concern around "non-exhaust emissions".

Non-exhaust emissions (NEE) are particles released into the air from brake wear, tyre wear, road surface wear and resuspension of road dust during on-road vehicle usage. No legislation is in place to limit or reduce NEE, but they cause a great deal of concern for air quality.

NEEs are currently believed to constitute the majority of primary particulate matter from road transport, 60 percent of PM2.5 and 73 percent of PM10 – and in its 2019 report ‘Non-Exhaust Emissions from Road Traffic’ by the UK Government’s Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG), it recommended that NEE are immediately recognised as a source of ambient concentrations of airborne particulate matter, even for vehicles with zero exhaust emissions of particles – such as EVs.

To understand the scale of the problem, Emissions Analytics – the leading independent global testing and data specialist for the scientific measurement of real-world emissions – performed some initial tyre wear testing.

Using a popular family hatchback running on brand new, correctly inflated tyres, it found that the car emitted 5.8 grams per kilometre of particles.

Compared with regulated exhaust emission limits of 4.5 milligrams per kilometre, the completely unregulated tyre wear emission is higher by a factor of over 1,000.

Emissions Analytics notes that this could be even higher if the vehicle had tyres which were under-inflated, or the road surfaces used for the test were rougher, or the tyres used were from a budget range – all very recognisable scenarios in "real world" motoring.

“It’s time to consider not just what comes out of a car’s exhaust pipe but particle pollution from tyre and brake wear. Our initial tests reveal that there can be a shocking amount of particle pollution from tyres – 1,000 times worse than emissions from a car’s exhaust," said Emissions Analytics senior researcher Richard Lofthouse.

“What is even more frightening is that while exhaust emissions have been tightly regulated for many years, tyre wear is totally unregulated – and with the increasing growth in sales of heavier SUVs and battery-powered electric cars, non-exhaust emissions (NEE) are a very serious problem.”

“The challenge to the industry and regulators is an almost complete black hole of consumer information, undone by frankly out-of-date regulations still preoccupied with exhaust emissions," said Emissions Analytics CEO Nick Molden.

"In the short term, fitting higher quality tyres is one way to reduce these NEEs and to always have tyres inflated to the correct level.

“Ultimately, though, the car industry may have to find ways to reduce vehicle weight too. What is without doubt on the horizon is much-needed regulation to combat this problem. Whether that leads to specific types of low emission, harder wearing tyres is not for us to say – but change has to come.”


How to respond to aggressive tailgaters and other stress on the road

                According to traffic experts, aggressive and reckless driving behaviour has been increasing as of late, with some jurisdictions considering increasing fines for offenders.

There’s a lot drivers can do to steer clear of this simmering aggression and stay calm, says Kurt Bartels of the German Federal Association of Driving Instructors. Doing so can avoid both dangerous situations and expensive penalties.

Q: What can you do if somebody on the highway drives up right behind you and starts tailgating?

Answer: Basically, you can try to block it out and stay calm. A change of perspective can also help; if you ask yourself why he is tailgating you, you might be able to understand it.

Q: And if you don’t understand it and feel that you’re in the right, what can you do then?

A: You shouldn’t engage in a game of chicken on the motorway, as is common among some men in particular. You’re better off moving over to the right when it’s safe to do so, letting the tailgater pass you and then being rid of them. In the end, the people doing the tailgating are the ones stressing themselves out.

Q: Do breaks help reduce stress?

A: Absolutely. Breaks are important for recharging your batteries. And if you're already stressed out, a break can help you bring your own “revolutions per minute” out of the red zone.

Q: Can you reduce stress through your driving style?

A: To stay relaxed, it helps if you do not constantly drive right at the speed limit on highways; if you drive the same stretch often, you’ll see that driving at higher speeds doesn’t get you places any faster. If you drive with a very high top speed on one occasion and a lower top speed the next time, you’ll find that the average speed for the two trips will be measured as virtually the same in the on-board computer.

Q: Why is that?

A: If you are always flooring it on the highway, you’ll have to hit the brakes much more often. This kind of driving not only makes you more aggressive, it wastes fuel and doesn’t bring you to your destination any sooner.

Q: Do you have any advice for commuters who often have to travel on busy roads?

A: If you have to drive in heavy traffic, you should start your commute a bit earlier. It’s often enough to start your trip just 10 minutes earlier than usual to avoid traffic and time pressure. And if your commute goes more quickly than usual, you’ll have a few extra minutes for a cup of coffee before starting your workday.

Q: So the general advice is: take your time and stay calm?

A: Definitely, yes. And if you’re really stuck in traffic, try to see it positively. You can listen to an interesting show on the radio or make calls through a hands-free system.


Grab and Gojek drivers caught modifying apps, hiking user fare

                SINGAPORE: A new trend is emerging among unscrupulous Grab and Gojek drivers in Singapore – using bootleg versions of the apps to earn extra income.

The New Paper highlighted the issue after Grab driver, Boon Tat Tan, alleged that some of his colleagues were using modified apps which allow them to cancel rides with no consequence and even deliberately force surge pricing in order to charge users higher fares.

In the interview, the whistleblower Grab driver stated that while he had to work more than 12 hours to make S$200 (RM602) a day, others with the bootleg apps earned more while putting in fewer hours.

The New Paper's investigation also claimed that drivers who use these modified apps can “bypass verification, fake their location, cancel jobs without being penalised”, and in some cases even view customers’ private details.

Apparently, these services are advertised on online forums and even messaging apps – one such service even claimed to offer assistance at S$350 (RM1,053) a month for the Grab Driver app, and S$200 (RM602) a month for the Gojek app.

The article stated that both Grab and Gojek are aware of the scheme, which they have classified as “fraud”.

A Grab spokesman was quoted as saying that the company has data scientists working on anti-fraud efforts, and that it would suspend “bad actors who exhibit fraudulent behaviour on our platform”.

Suspension of drivers and reporting them to the authorities are some of the actions Gojek will take on its unscrupulous drivers, a spokesperson for the company added.

However, the companies did not divulge the number of errant drivers caught in this scheme, the article stated.


Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak claims crown

                WOLFSBURG: With 680PS at its disposal, the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak electric vehicle (EV) has set a new timed record for both EVs and internal combustion engines.

The super sleek 1,100kg EV was helmed by Frenchman Romain Dumas, who completed the course in seven minutes 57.148 seconds - breaking the previous record for EVs as well as Sébastien Loeb’s 2013 time in a Peugeot 208 race car by 16 seconds.

Dumas now joins the list of Pikes Peak champions that include Loeb, Walter Röhrl, Michèle Mouton, Stig Blomqvist, Nobuhiro Tajima as well as Rod Millen and his son Rhys.

“The I.D. R Pikes Peak is the sporty forerunner of Volkswagen’s I.D. family. Today, we saw what this technology is capable of,” said Volkswagen Passenger Cars member of the board of management (Technical Development) Dr Frank Welsch.

The EV was faced with the daunting task of completing the 19.9km route with 156 corners in just one attempt - no pressure.

The EV was completed after 250 days on Oct 18, 2017 and has the ability to have its batteries fully charged in less than 20 minutes.

The electricity required was provided by generators at the foot of Pikes Peak, using Glycerol - a sugar alcohol, as the fuel which combusts with almost no harmful exhaust fumes or residues and is non-toxic.

Volkswagen has had some strong partners on its side for the record attempt on Pikes Peak, in the form of Volkswagen R, ANSYS, Michelin, Integral e-drive and OMP.

With Volkswagen R, the EV received a sporting seal of approval from the outset, which it more than earned on its record-breaking run, if not before.

ANSYS also made a vital contribution to the success of the project by providing support with the software simulations.

The EVs electric motors, which together generated 500kW (680PS), were achieved in collaboration with partner Integral e-drive.

OMP put the icing on the cake – for example, with the featherweight racing overall for Romain Dumas, which perfectly complemented the lightweight design philosophy of the EV.


Goods vehicles barred from roads on selected CNY days

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry has announced a ban on goods vehicles using roads in the country on Feb 17, 18, 21 and 22 to reduce traffic congestion during the Chinese New Year period.

Chinese New Year falls on Feb 19 and 20, which are public holidays, and these vehicles will be also off the roads then.

The announcement on Thursday was made by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai who said the reduced traffic congestion would provide for a more comfortable drive for people returning to their hometowns to celebrate the festival or go on holidays, and lessen the risk of road accidents.

In addition, the speed limit for federal roads is reduced from 90kph to 80kph, while for state roads the limit is reduced from 80kph to 70kph, beginning immediately until Feb 26, he told reporters.

He disclosed this after launching the national-level road safety campaign in conjunction with the Chinese New Year at the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) or Southern Intergrated Terminal, Bandar Tasik Selatan, here.

Liow said the "Integrated Operations on Road Safety Enforcement" beginning today until Feb 27 would involve more than 3,000 enforcement officers and personnel.

He said the operations involved the police, Road Transport Department (JPJ), the Fire and Rescue Department, and the Land Public Transport Commission.

Liow said the JPJ enforcement would emphasise on urine tests on bus drivers together with the National Anti-Drugs Agency at 30 bus terminals nationwide from 8am until midnight throughout the duration of the operation.

"Other operations to be carried out include deploying personnel at static locations for every 30 kilometres of the major state roads throughout the country on a 24-hour, 16-hour and eight-hour basis, according to the suitability of the location.

"The operations include random checks, masquerades, motorcycle enforcement and controlling the activities of ticket touts," he said.

Each year, the Road Safety Campaign is carried out to create awareness and educate road users to give greater emphasis on personal and family safety as well as the safety of other road users.


25 students riding motorcycles slapped with summonses while exiting school

                NILAI: Students of SMK Dato Mohd here were "greeted" by a team of policemen at the exit gate after school was over today.

Some 25 students who were riding their motorcycles were slapped with summonses for various traffic offences including not having a valid licence, road tax for their machines and not wearing a helmet.

District police chief Supt Mohd Fazley Abd Rahman said in total, 29 summonses were issued.

"The exercise, codenamed Op Didik, was carried out to create awareness among students on the importance of complying with all traffic regulations.

"We hope the students will take heed and from now on ensure they have a valid licence, wear a helmet when riding and always follow the speed limit," he said.

Supt Mohd Fazley said the school management also supported the exercise as it was aimed at creating awareness on road safety and obeying traffic rules.

He said the police personnel had also met the school authorities to discuss problems related to students coming in their own vehicles to school.

"We will continue to hold such operations to educate the public in general on road safety and the importance of obeying traffic rules at all times," he added.


Singaporean with 116 traffic summonses pays RM28K in fines

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigations and Enforcement Department deputy director SAC Datuk Mohd Nadzri Hussain (left) giving the thumbs up to a Singaporean driver who had no record of summonses.

JOHOR BARU: A Singaporean man with 116 outstanding traffic summonses issued against him since 2000 finally paid the fine amounting to RM28,000 after he was detained in an operation at Muzium Tokoh here, on Saturday.

The man, in his 60s, was among those detained in the three-day operation dubbed "Op Saman Tertunggak Warganegara Asing", which began at 6am on Friday.

The 10th series of the operation, which involved 116 personnel, was conducted at the Gelang Patah Rest and Service area, Iskandar Puteri and at Muzium Tokoh, Jalan Lingkaran Dalam.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department deputy director Senior Asst Comm Datuk Mohd Nadzri Hussain said that a total of 3,174 outstanding summonses were settled by 2,687 Singaporeans and 487 Malaysians in the operation.

"As of this morning, we managed to collect about RM611,000 in traffic fines and summonses at both locations.

"A total of 247,278 outstanding summonses were recorded since 2000,” he told reporters after observing the operation here on today, adding that the collection was expected to reach RM750,000 by midnight.

Mohd Nadzri said traffic offenders could check the status of traffic summonses and make payments at two kiosks at the traffic division office of the Johor Baru Selatan police headquarters.

He said for Singaporeans, payments could also be made at 900 AXS machines available in the republic.

"Payments can also be made at the COPS traffic counter at all district police headquarters, and summonses can also be checked through the MyEg portal at www.myeg.com.my and rilek.com.my," he said.

Mohd Nazri said once the Vehicle Entry Permit came into force, traffic offenders from Singapore must first settle all their summonses before being allowed to return to the republic.


Geneva show hints of station wagon resurgence

                GENEVA: In recent years we have been witnessing the inexorable rise and rise of the SUV. These big beasts are now ubiquitous on our roads. But here and there, displayed on stands mostly recently at the Geneva Motor Show a rarity appeared: the humble station wagon.

Volvo rolled out its sleek and low V90. Mercedes showed off its AMG E63 S wagon, a family-sized car with a 603hp performance attitude and a price likely to top £80,000 (RM435,000).

The estate car or station wagon was once the only alternative to sedans and thus sought after. Since the inexorable rise of the mighty SUV though the wagon has become an increasingly rare sight. As seen at the shows, this alternative load-carrier is poised for a remarkable renaissance.

Unlike sports cars or hot hatchbacks, these machines were not very sexy to begin with. When the SUV came along with the same cargo space in a tougher, taller package, buyers flocked to them.

So why the sudden appearance of new sedans with extra room on the back? In fact, there has always been consistent, if niche, demand. So although some brands have dropped the wagon others have seen it as an opportunity.

"There's a fundamental demand level that doesn't fluctuate much," said IHS Market Senior Analyst Stephanie Brinley. "It's enough for the players who are left to see some healthy take."

The small section of drivers who are still keen for a wagon are seen as the best customers in the car business. They are more educated, it is believed, more affluent, and more loyal than other buyers, dispelling the station wagon cliché of a few decades back.

A station wagon is a marvel of financial engineering, as much as mechanical. With higher prices and virtually zero added cost, its unit economics are usually better than those of conventional cars. The Volvo V90 in full dress trim costs the thick end of £54,000 (RM294,000), for example, and is a hushed, quick cruiser.

It helps that today's station wagons are incredible. Long gone are the days when these machines where equated with dullness. The latest cars have impressive driving dynamics and this is where wagons still beat their taller siblings. The segment is getting sportier. Take Audi's RS6 Avant, costing around the same as the AMG E63. Not only does it carry the family and their luggage, it is also one of the fastest cars of any type on the road.

New station wagons are even coming from prestigious brands like Porsche. No longer the drudges of old, these cars now come with powerful engines, vast trunks and even all-wheel drive and offer a real alternative to the high and mighty SUV.


New GT R star attraction at Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience

Raine posing with the the newly launched Mercedes-AMG GT R track monster.
SEPANG: Hundreds of invited guests at the Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience will experience thrilling tarmac action, thanks to a full line-up of Mercedes-AMG sports cars and professional driving instructors.

The event is being held at Sepang International Circuit, from Nov 2 to 7.

The highlight is without a doubt, a chance to check out the newly launched Mercedes-AMG GT R track monster, priced at an estimated RM1.7 million (on the road without insurance, inclusive of GST). It has 585hp and 700Nm from its twin-turbo V8 engine, conquering 0-100kph in 3.6 seconds on to a top speed of 318kph.

Power is transferred to the rear wheels via an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed dual clutch transmission.

"We will have more than 500 customers coming to Sepang. You will see a lot of sparkle in their eyes," said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia vice president (sales and marketing - passenger cars) Mark Raine.

READ MORE:Mercedes-AMG GT R launched, priced from RM1.7 million

Raine pointed out that in celebration of Mercedes-AMG’s 50th anniversary, the company had launched eight Mercedes-AMG models this year.

Besides the GT R, these consist of:

E 43 4MATIC (RM658,888)
SLC 43 (RM570,888)
C 43 4MATIC (RM499,888)
C 43 4MATIC Coupe (RM548,888)
GLC 43 4MATIC (RM538,888)
GLC 43 4MATIC Coupe (RM580,888)
E 63 S 4MATIC+ (RM998,888)

"AMG is the driving performance brand of Mercedes-Benz; AMG is all about power, performance, racing thrills," said Raine, adding that the company was on track for another year of record sales.

"October was a very good month. We continue with our momentum. The important part is customer satisfaction, constantly improving our after-sales processes and always looking at how we can serve our customers better. Sales growth is product driven growth; it's organic," he said.

READ MORE:Mercedes-Benz Malaysia rolls out Hungry For Adventure campaign

The first morning of the Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience saw media members and invited guests experiencing activities such as Launch Control (AMG's race start system for quick acceleration off the line), and a drifting session where the cars' rear tyres used Easy Drift Tyre Covers - meaning you get a lot of grip in front but very little grip in the rear - on a wet surface.

 In the drifting exercise, rear tyres were fitted with Easy Drift Tyre Covers.

There was also a thrilling accelerate to 100kph, sudden hard braking and steer-and-avoid exercise.

Capping off the day's activities was a two-lap high-speed taxi ride in the GT R track monster, with Australian race driver Peter Hackett at the helm.


Hardcore Mitsubishi Triton Roadshow

                PETALING JAYA: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) will be embarking on its latest 4x4 adventure this weekend, Oct 1-2 2016 at the outdoor carpark at Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam, with the newly launched Mitsubishi Triton with MIVEC Turbo Diesel Engine.

The Mitsubishi Triton Extra Hardcore roadshow will see Malaysia Motorsports Athlete, Leona Chin perform high-speed rides among other thrilling test rides on a specially outfitted obstacle truck – the first-of- its-kind in Malaysia.

The obstacles include the newly launched Mitsubishi Triton pick-up truck being put through the test on the purpose-built Mitsubishi truck featuring a wide range of obstacles including a 45-degree, 25-feet tall “sky” ramp that points upwards to the sky – an extreme test for any 4x4 vehicle.

Other challenges include the roller ramp test that will see the 4x4 vehicle “drive through” the giant obstacle truck as well as the side traverse and uneven ramp tests.

Test ride ends at 7pm.

Admission is free and visitors who make a booking of any Mitsubishi vehicles during the Mitsubishi Triton Extra Hardcore Roadshow will receive a special edition Ralliart umbrella, while those who test drive any Mitsubishi model will receive an exclusive merchandise (while stock lasts).

The Mitsubishi Triton Extra Hardcore roadshow will be visiting other major cities as well such as Penang Juru Auto City, Carpark Oct 8-9, 10am-8pm and Johor Bahru Plaza Angsana, Carpark C, Oct 15-16, 10am-8pm.


Bugatti to grow its Molsheim home

                MOLSHEIM, France: Bugatti’s headquarters in Molsheim, France, is set for substantial expansion and development.

Part of an ongoing investment program that will support the development of new automobiles beyond the Chiron era, a new facility – located next to the Atelier – is to be added to the Molsheim site in the second half of 2024.

The new addition to the Molsheim operations will support ongoing programs, including the production of the Bolide, the most extreme Bugatti ever created, and the W16 Mistral, the ultimate Bugatti roadster, as well as future-focused development projects like the first car that will be produced under the governance of the Bugatti Rimac.

The new facility – which will span two floors totaling 2,120 sq metres - will be a unique place for Bugatti employees to gather, fostering new levels in project management.

It will also house new team members that will join the brand.

Bugatti is accelerating its global recruitment campaign to attract new talents to Molsheim and target growth in departments such as quality control, planning, logistics and production.

The brand has also launched its all-new apprenticeship program which has already been a great success with all trainee positions having been rapidly fulfilled.

At Molsheim, where the headquarters lies, the brand plans to increase its workforce by more than 50% by the end of 2027.

“The addition of this new facility at our home in Molsheim will be timed perfectly with the expansion of the brand and product range, showcasing the strength of Bugatti as we head into an exciting future,” said Christophe Piochon, president of Bugatti Automobiles.

Having produced and delivered the greatest number of Bugatti automobiles in a 12-month period to customers across the world, 2022 became a record-breaking year for the French luxury marque.


All-new Peugeot 308 THP launched

KUALA LUMPUR: The all-new Peugeot 308 THP was launched this evening, priced at RM132,888 (OTR with insurance).

The car has been revamped both inside and out to be more aerodynamic, sportier and fun to drive.

The latest 308 is based on the new generation EMP2 platform (Efficient Modular Platform 2) , resulting in the C-segment hatchback shedding 140kg, and improving on its performance.

The car is shorter and lower but wheelbase has been extended 1.2cm for added interior space and heightened comfort.

Enhancing the premium level of the 308 are full LED headlights, six airbags, Alcantara seats, panoramic roof and 18-inch wheels.

Peugeot says the 6-speed automatic gearbox is better than before, being able to shift faster and smoother. The multiple award-winning Turbo High Pressure (THP) 1.6-litre engine combines high pressure direction injection coupled with advanced turbocharger technology which churns out 150hp and 240Nm of torque. Official fuel efficiency is rated at 6.5l/100km.

The cabin which Peugeot dubbed the i-Cockpit has been revised to be driver-centric, characterised by a sports leather compact steering wheel, a high position head-up instrument panel  to easily view without taking the driver’s eyes off the road ahead, a high centre console, and a 9.7” HD multifunction touchscreen.

New to the model is the addition of a Driver Assistance Pack that includes Dynamic cruise control and Emergency Collision Alert system for added safety.

In addition to the standard speed control, the Dynamic cruise control feature can also be set to regulate the distance from the vehicle in front. When a nearby vehicle is detected by the radar, a constant distance is maintained automatically via engine deceleration. When the road becomes clear (change of lane or the vehicle in front gains momentum), the cruise control returns to the reference values requested initially.

The Emergency Collision Alert system uses constant radar to detect the distance with vehicle in front. If it is too close, a visual and audible warning indicates to the driver that they should press the brake pedal to prevent possible collision. Its Emergency Collision Braking means that if an imminent collision with the vehicle in front is detected, the system applies automatic braking to warn the driver, prevent the impact, or to reduce its consequences.

Other features are keyless entry and push start button, dual-zone climate control, park assist and reverse camera.

The latest 308 car has been subjected to rigorous testing, which include 2.5 million kilometres driven, 2,500 hours of vibration and climate testing, 250,000 cycles of air-conditioning monitoring, and 4.3 million touchscreen press cycles without any failure recorded.

Among those present at the 308 launch were French ambassador to Malaysia Christophe Penot and Nasim chief operating officer, Datuk Samson Anand George. Nasim Sdn Bhd is the distributor of Peugeot cars in Malaysia.

The 308 THP can be viewed at the nearest Peugeot showroom. It comes with a five-year warranty with unlimited mileage, and complimentary Peugeot Lounge access.

 From left SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, Joint Group Executive Chairman, Naza Group of companies; French Ambassador to Malaysia Christophe Penot; Datuk Samson Anand George CEO Nasim Sdn Bhd and Lionel Faugeres, general director for ASEAN countries at Automobiles Peugeot.


Portugal's Da Costa wins Formula E title with room to spare

                BERLIN: Portugal's Antonio Felix da Costa claimed the Formula E championship at the Berlin E-Prix on Sunday, the first driver to achieve the title with two rounds left to race.

Jean-Eric Vergne clinched the race victory on Sunday at Tempelhof Airport with da Costa finishing second ahead of Sebastien Buemi to ensure DS Techeetah took the team championship.

Da Costa has a 76-point advantage over team-mate Vergne with only 60 points left to play for. "I have no words right now," said da Costa.

 Da Costa unmasked.

"The bad times immediately come to the forefront of my mind because I came so close to giving up on many occasions in my career - thanks to everyone around me I never did.

"This team knew what I could do even when I was finishing nowhere and they brought me back. A massive thanks to my team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne too.

"He's a hard competitor but he has helped me out a lot and it's also thanks to him that I was able to be so quick straight away in this team."

The last two rounds of the 2020 championship are at the same venue on Aug 12 and 13.


Hennessey sets date for unleashing Venom F5

                HOUSTON: Hennessy Performance will be taking the wraps off what it claims is the world's fastest production car at the SEMA show in Las Vegas on Nov 1.

That is a huge boast, especially considering the current competition. As well as the Bugatti Chiron that exists purely to set new automotive superlatives, the phenomenal Koenigsegg Regera is yet to hit the track in anger and demonstrate what its 1,500hp V8 engine is genuinely capable of delivering.

However, in recent years, be it through the company's adept tuning work on existing cars from the Ford Mustang and F150 Raptor pickup to the Chevrolet Camaro and even a handful of McLarens and Lamborghinis, or via its first attempt at a world beating supercar - the Hennessey Venom, the company's founder and CEO John Hennessey has time and again proven he's a man of his word.

And for the Venom F5, Hennessey has said that the aim is to build a car that's capable of knocking on the door of 480kph.

That in itself is no simple engineering feat, but what will make the new car even more special is that it is the first to roll out of the Austin, Texas production facility that has been completely designed and built in-house.

The last Venom used a Lotus front end and doors but this car is a clean sheet design and while the company isn't quite ready to show the world exactly what the car will look like, it has provided a new teaser image. It shows a suitably aggressive rear end with large adjustable rear spoiler and triple exhaust ports plus LED taillights, an obligation on any modern-day performance car.

And considering the power and performance that the car is destined to have, a snapshot of its rear end is probably the most fitting image to provide ahead of the reveal because, if it does manage to bend the laws of physics sufficiently to hit the fabled 480kph mark, it's the only part of the vehicle that anyone - Bugatti owners included - is likely to ever see.

The 2017 SEMA show runs from Oct 31 to Nov 3. The Hennessy Venom F5 will make its global debut in the Shell Pioneering Performance Pavilion. For those who can't make it in person, the unveiling will be livestreamed on the company's YouTube, Facebook and Instagram channels.


KL roads to close for National Day, SEA Games closing ceremonies

                KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 21 roads in the city will be closed for the National Day 2017 celebrations and the closing ceremony of the SEA Games.

City police chief Comm Datuk Amar Singh said 19 roads in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka would be closed for the rehearsals and National Day celebrations from 6am to 1pm daily from Aug 26 to 31.

Jalan Merah Cagar and Jalan Putra in Bukit Jalil will be closed from 6am on Aug 30 until the end of the closing ceremony of the SEA Games at KL Sports City.

He added the roads that would be closed for the National Day celebrations are Jalan Travers/Jalan Damansara (National Museum), Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar (Mahameru)/Jalan Damansara (Carcosa), Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar (Mahameru)/Jalan Damansara (exit to National Museum), Bulatan Hishamuddin/Jalan Lembah (Masjid Negara), Jalan Perdana/Jalan Lembah, Jalan Kinabalu/Bulatan Hishamuddin (Dayabumi), Jalan Kinabalu/Jalan Hishamuddin (exit to Bukit Aman), Jalan Lembah/Jalan Cenderasari, Lebuh Pasar Besar, Lebuh Ampang/Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Dang Wangi/Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Kuching/Bulatan Dato' Onn, Jalan Kinabalu/Bulatan Dato' Onn, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman/Jalan Raja (Dataran Merdeka), Jalan Hishamuddin/Jalan Raja, Jalan Parlimen/Bulatan Dato' Onn, Bulatan Dato' Onn/Jalan Raja (Royal Selangor Club), Jalan Munsyi Abdullah/Jalan Dang Wangi and Lebuh Pasar Besar/Jalan Hang Kasturi.

Jalan Merah Cagar and Jalan Putra in Bukit Jalil will be closed from 6am on Aug 30 until the end of the closing ceremony of the SEA Games at KL Sports City.

Comm Amar urged the public to use alternative routes to the city centre on the affected dates.

"Those coming from Bangsar can use Jalan Parlimen, Jalan Kuching as an alternative route to the city centre while those coming from Kajang can also use Jalan Hang Tuah, Jalan Kinabalu and Jalan Kuching," he told a press conference here on Friday.

He also encouraged road users to use public transport during the road closures.

"Parking spots are not available around Bukit Jalil Sports Complex, so it is better not to drive there," Comm Amar said, adding that the only parking bays were in Teknologi Park Malaysia and Selangor Turf Club.

Shuttle bus services are available to ferry the people to the venue of the closing ceremony.

Additional buses from the city centre to the venue will start picking up passengers from 5pm to 8pm and back to the city from midnight to 2am.

The pick-up locations are the KLCC bus stop, Kajang bus terminal, Greenwood Gombak, Section 14 Shah Alam, Platform C Pasar Seni, Nu Sentral, Ampang Point and Putrajaya.

The LRT will also be operational until 2am during the closing ceremony.


MRT Putrajaya Line Phase Two to start operations on March 16

                PETALING JAYA: The MRT Putrajaya Line Phase Two will start operations at 3pm on March 16.

Phase one of the line that connected Kwasa Damansara station to Kampung Batu station, began operations on June 16, last year.

With the opening of phase two, the rail line will connect Kampung Batu station to Putrajaya Sentral station, completing the MRT Putrajaya Line 57.7km route from Kwasa Damansara station to Putrajaya Sentral station that would take 84mins of travel time.

MRT Rapid Rail chief operating officer Ramli Shafie said there would be 49 four-car trains operating from 6am until midnight, daily.

"Every train has a 1,200-commuter capacity.

"For a start, the train frequency on weekdays would be every five minutes during the peak hours and every 10 minutes during the non-peak hours, and between seven and 15 minutes during weekends and public holidays.

"All trains are equipped with live closed circuit television cameras that are connected to a control centre for surveillance.

"There is also an emergency wheelchair available in every train," he said during a briefing session for the media at Chan Sow Lin station on March 14.

Ramli said the MRT Putrajaya Line would have 36 stations in total, out of which 10 were interchange stations to other rail services.

He said the rail line would connect commuters to several key stations that provide better connectivity and convenience, including the Titiwangsa station which was in an area being developed into a transportation hub.

"Touted to be the 'second KL Sentral', commuters at the Titiwangsa station will be able to connect to LRT Ampang Line, LRT Sri Petaling Line and KL Monorail.

"The Hospital Kuala Lumpur station was equipped with travelators. The station is also close to KPJ Tawakkal KL Specialist Hospital and attractions including Istana Budaya and Taman Tasik Titiwangsa.

"Putrajaya Sentral provides connectivity to ERL KLIA Express and KLIA Transit services. The MRT feeder bus will provide the last mile connectivity to various destinations in the city," he said.

He also said other key stations would be Ampang Park, Tun Razak Exchange, Chan Sow Lin and Persiaran KLCC.

On Park and Ride facilities, he said there would be an additional 3,445 parking bays in phase two, bringing the total to 6,416 parking spaces in 17 stations with car park facilities.

"Parking charges for MRT users will be RM4.30 per entry per day, when using the same Touch n’ Go card to pay for the train ticket and parking fee.

"Non-MRT users will be charged RM3.30 for the first hour and RM1.10 for every subsequent hour.

"For motorcycles, parking charges will be RM1.10 per entry per day," he said.


Beijing autoshow 2022 axed as Covid cases rise

The 2020 Beijing autoshow or Auto Beijing. — Reuters
SHANGHAI/BEIJING: The Beijing International Automobile Exhibition will not be held this year due to the Covid-19 situation in the country, the organiser of China's most important auto fair said in a notice today.

The organisers had previously postponed the autoshow, which was originally scheduled to be held in late April, due to a flare-up of Covid cases in China.

The trade show in the world's largest auto market alternates each year between Beijing and Shanghai, and traditionally attracts both international and domestic automakers, including Volkswagen, Toyota and Geely.

It is often used to launch new models, though some new electric vehicle brands like Nio have turned to separate events, mostly online, for their launches.

The Beijing autoshow was also postponed in 2020, when it was shifted from April to September due to the coronavirus outbreak.


This is the biggest Honda 3S centre in Terengganu

Syarikat Tan Eng Ann Honda 3S Centre officials leading Hayashi (middle) and other VIPs on a tour of the 3S centre's service bay.
PETALING JAYA: Honda services to its customers in the East Coast region are about to improve with the opening of the biggest Honda 3S centre in Terengganu. It is operated by long-time Honda dealer Syarikat Tan Eng Ann Sdn Bhd.

The RM18mil 3S centre is located on 2.5 acres of land with a total build-up area of 30,572 square feet to house sales, services and spare parts. It has 18 service bays to cater to 80 vehicles per day. Other facilities include a customer lounge, an executive lounge, complimentary Wi-Fi, road tax renewal and insurance coverage, kids’ corner and a surau.

Syarikat Tan Eng Ann is planning to upgrade the dealership into a 4S centre, by making available a body and paint centre in two years’ time.

The East Coast accounted for 8% of Honda Malaysia’s total sales of 55,764 units from January to August. This result maintained Honda Malaysia's No.1 position in the non-national segment and No.2 position in overall Total Industry Volume (TIV) up to August.

Honda Malaysia has 88 dealerships nationwide and is present in every state.

To contact the new Honda 3S centre, call 09-667 1796 or log on to www.honda.com.my for more information. The 3S centre is located at the Gong Badak Industrial Area in Kuala Nerus, 15km northwest of the state capital, Kuala Terengganu.


Peugeot launches new battery electric e-Expert van

                LONDON: The all-new 100% electric Peugeot e-Expert van offers two different ranges (230km with a 50 kWh battery or 330km with a 75 kWh battery), three body lengths, up to 1,000kg towing capacity and payloads of up to 1,275kg.

The van's maximum speed is 130kph and its electric motor provides 100kW and maximum torque of 260Nm.

An electric parking brake is standard, to maximise floor space.

A redesigned centre console provides:

> An analogue handset with colour matrix and specific electric data
> Specific graphics for the central touch screen with TomTom Traffic 3D connected Navigation
> A new "e-Toggle" automatic gearbox control
> A drive mode selector switch with Eco, Normal or Power modes

The e-Expert offers three driving settings from the mode selector:

> Eco (60 kW) : for optimising range
> Normal (80 kW) : suited for everyday use,
> Power (100 kW) : optimises performance when transporting heavy loads

The touch screen, with MirrorScreen compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, benefits from TomTom Traffic Connected 3D Navigation.

The e-Expert will go on sale in Europe in the second half of 2020, with production taking place in France, near Valenciennes.


Will electrification kill off the small petrol car?

                BERLIN: German carmaker Volkswagen is a good example of where things are headed for the small petrol car.

It has given the electric version of the entry-level Up minicar a top-to-bottom makeover to give it a more upmarket look. The same technology will find its way into similar models from SEAT and Skoda.

When asked about the future of the petrol Up, VW boss Herbert Diess starts to frown. In his view, making petrol engines to comply with future ultra-stringent emission regulations is so expensive that no maker will be able to be able to produce a small car cheaply enough.

The high-tech components needed will add around a third to the price of an Up, which currently costs a little over US$10,000 (around RM42,000). "That will effectively kill off that car," says the VW executive. A question mark also hangs over the slightly larger Polo.

For the same reason, the entry-level Ford Ka is no longer with us and the future of the Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1 is also uncertain.

The threat to small cars with combustion engines comes from EU plans to force carmakers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in new cars by 37.5 per cent by 2030 compared to 2021 levels.

 Peugeot 107.

For every gram of CO2 over the prescribed limit manufacturers will be obliged to pay a fine of 95 Euro cents per car produced.

A sign of the times to come are both the upcoming Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa. Both enter the fray as electrics only. It is also no coincidence that Daimler-owned Smart has just dropped petrol-engined variants from its range to offer just battery-electric versions of the Fortwo and Forfour.

Carmakers are keen to green their products in order to bring down fleet emissions of potentially harmful gases but there is another side to this too. It is expensive to split shop-floor production in order to make both models, especially when so many of the components needed for a petrol variant are redundant for the electric.

Electric cars do not need multi-speed gearboxes, radiators or exhaust systems, to name just a few differences. Experts say this will lead to a shift in manufacturing.

Take the Renault K-ZE for instance. It is poised to launch in China as an electric-only city car with a maximum range of 300km between charges. The more compact configuration using an electric motor with direct drive means there is much more space inside the 3.74-metre car than in a comparable Twingo, although it is only a few centimetres larger.

 Renault K-ZE.

The space gain is vital for city runabouts and other makers are keen prove the mettle of new compact electrics in the Chinese marketplace before being sold elsewhere. MINI is currently developing an electric car in China and Daimler has handed over the reins of its Chinese electric minicar project to major shareholder and fellow carmaker Geely.

German car industry guru Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer believes that regular compacts with petrol engines are in for a hard time, but he stops short of writing them off.

"Electrification means small city cars are going to be a key part of the mobility mix," said the professor who teaches at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Dudenhoeffer believes the low weight of small cars and the relatively modest performance expected of them will ensure their future. Buyers do not expect the same from an electric compact as they do from a premium sports utility.

A range of between 350 and 400 km between charges is practicable using batteries of up to 40 kW, said the expert. He believes small cars can actually spearhead the next wave of electrification.

It seems some carmakers think differently. Hyundai's latest new i10 model unveiled at the recent Frankfurt Car Show is the smallest-ever from the South Korean brand.

The engine line-up has been carried over from the previous model virtually unchanged which means buyers get a choice of two small units. There is no electric version in the pipeline.


Hit the road and look for potholes to patch up, authorities told

                PETALING JAYA: Authorities need to be proactive in filling potholes rather than reacting only when a tragedy strikes, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

The Alliance for Safe Community chairman reiterated calls for mobile teams to seek out potholes rather than to wait for the public to lodge complaints.

"We had called for foresight and funds, but our calls seem to have fallen on deaf ears. We had also said that, as elsewhere, all lives matter.

"How many more lives must it take for remedial action to be taken?

"We had also called for a zero-tolerance policy where road repairs are concerned, but is that just a pipe dream?

"This is a call for the authorities to be proactive, rather than be reactive. To be proactive is to act before tragedy strikes. To be reactive is to act after a tragedy has occurred.

"No amount of apology or compensation will be able to assuage the families of the victims concerned," he said today.

Lee was responding to the deaths of a 31-year-old man who was killed in an accident after his motorcycle hit a bad patch on the road, and a 75-year-old man who died after being thrown off his motorcycle after hitting a pothole.

With their deaths, Lee questioned whether a mere apology such as the one given to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin would assuage the next-of-kin of the unfortunate victims.

"Who will compensate them for the needless tragedy that was preventable? It's time for the family of the deceased to initiate legal action against local authorities," he said, pointing out that the shirking of responsibilities on who should repair roads should stop.

"After all, when the rakyat pay taxes, they do not pay it for the services of the Public Works Department (JKR) or Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). They pay to the government through the Inland Revenue Board, and then the government allocates the funds to the various ministries and agencies.

"Similarly, when the rakyat pay their taxes, they are not interested in whose specific responsibility it is to repair the roads. They simply want roads to be made safe by the authorities," he said.


McLaren and BBC launch design competition for kids

                LONDON: McLaren Automotive has teamed up with the BBC Blue Peter children’s programme to launch a unique competition asking young viewers to design their ‘Supercar of the Future’.

The winner will have the opportunity to meet with McLaren’s leading designers and engineers (once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted) and see their winning design brought to life as a 3D scale model to be unveiled on Blue Peter. They will also win an incredible ride in a McLaren supercar with celebrity driver The Stig.

The prize includes a VIP tour of the world-famous McLaren Technology Centre and McLaren Production Centre to see how real supercars are designed and made. The winner will also be awarded the coveted orange Blue Peter competition badge.

In this Thursday’s Blue Peter presenter Richie Driss goes behind the scenes at McLaren to find out how you get started in supercar design.

Richie meets Rob Melville, McLaren Automotive’s Design Director (filmed before Covid-19), who explains why a supercar should look fantastic, have sensational performance and push the boundaries of what already exists.

Also in the film is Ella Podmore, McLaren Automotive’s materials engineer, who talks about the importance of choosing the right materials to help make a car lighter and faster.

Lighter vehicles are able to deliver better performance and be more energy efficient which is why entrants to the competition are asked to consider how their car is powered, its impact on the environment and to describe what materials it is made from. They are also asked to choose one outstanding feature of their design and explain why they are proud of it.


Nissan and Italdesign unveil GT-R50

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan and Italdesign have unveiled a Nissan GT-R50 to celebrate their 50th anniversaries this year. What the Japanese auto giant and the Volkswagen Group's Italdesign design house have come up with together is a heavily reworked prototype based on the 2017 Nissan GT-R Nismo, and it really is a bit special.

This is the first time the famous Italian design company has worked with Nissan, and looking at what they've managed to produce they should perhaps be encouraged to work together more often.

Compared to a regular GT-R, the GT-R50 has a lower nose and roof and wider wings, which help to make it one of the most aggressive-looking GT-Rs ever produced.

As well as looking the part, the car also has the performance to back up the stunning styling. The 3.8-litre V6 engine has been given the huge turbos from the GT3-class racing car, as well as larger intercoolers, higher-performance cams and upgraded pistons, rods, bearings and crankshaft. All these enhancements mean the car produces a massive 710hp and 782Nm of torque, which is 110hp and 127Nm more than a standard GT-R Nismo.

To cope with all the extra power, the differentials and axles have been strengthened to make sure nothing breaks when launching, and Brembo six-piston brakes are on the front wheels with four-piston units at the back to stop the car while a Bilstein active suspension helps with cornering.

The interior has also been given the anniversary treatment to make it as special as the Italdesign exterior styling. Nissan's American and London design teams have produced a cabin awash with carbon fiber and Alcantara, as well as plenty of gold accents to tie in with the gold elements on the outside of the car.

If you want to get your hands on a GT-R50 you'll be disappointed to learn there are no plans to put this car into production, and Nissan also insists this is definitely not a preview of a next-generation GT-R either. It looks as though this will be a one-off special celebration of the 50th anniversaries of the model and the design company.


Fisker closes deal for supplier Magna to build its SUV, take stake in startup

                DETROIT: Fisker Inc, which is going public through a merger with a so-called blank check company, said on Thursday auto supplier Magna International Inc will supply the vehicle platform and build the electric carmaker's Ocean SUV.

As part of the deal, Magna will receive warrants to buy a stake of up to 6% in Fisker, giving the EV maker an overall valuation of about US$3 billion, Fisker chief executive Henrik Fisker told Reuters.

“We’re full speed ahead,” Fisker said in a telephone interview. “This is a huge turning point. We realised Magna would be an amazing partner because having skin in the game obviously means we both have the same goal of getting this car to market.”

Fisker, which is merging with Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp, said it had finalised a deal with Canada's Magna to build the Ocean in Europe, marking the Canadian supplier's first entry into contract manufacturing for an EV startup.

While Magna has built vehicles for traditional automakers for years, analysts and investors have speculated it could eventually build for technology companies like Apple Inc.

Magna retrofits vehicles for Alphabet's Waymo and builds vehicles for BMW AG, Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz and Tata Motors Ltd's Jaguar Land Rover at its plant in Graz, Austria.

Magna also has a tentative deal to build vehicles for EV startup Canoo Holdings Ltd, which is also going public later this year through a reverse merger with a special-purpose acquisition company, or SPAC.

Magna’s stake in Fisker is subject to hitting three engineering and production milestones through the planned start of production of the Ocean in November 2022, Henrik Fisker said. Fisker Inc said in August it had a tentative deal for Magna to build the SUV at its Graz plant.

Magna president Swamy Kotagiri said the stake is more about Magna getting compensated.

“We really want to be the Switzerland for the automotive industry - neutrality,” he said. “We’re not siding with one customer.”

“This is a unique competitive position for us, particularly with new mobility players and (automakers) seeking to expand their electrified offerings.”

Further terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Kotagiri said Fisker’s pricing was based on volume. Fisker is targeting initial sales of 8,000 SUVs in 2022, 51,000 in 2023 and 175,000 in 2024.

Fisker had previously said it was negotiating to use Volkswagen AG's MEB electric-vehicle platform, but Henrik Fisker said the company remains in talks with the German automaker to use unspecified body and interior parts.

Closing a deal addressing Fisker Inc’s platform and manufacturing needs was seen as critical by investors. Fisker’s inability in July to close the deal it initially targeted with VW sent shares in Spartan Energy down 20%.

Fisker and Magna are in talks with major EV battery manufacturers about supplying the necessary batteries, a Fisker spokesman said.

Use of Magna’s aluminum-intensive vehicle platform will allow the Ocean to have an electric driving range of more than 483km and enable Fisker to offer buyers the option of a third row of seating, Henrik Fisker said.

The vehicle will have a starting price of US$37,499 (RM156,000).

Fisker Inc’s merger with Spartan is expected to close on Oct 30 and its shares will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FSR,” Henrik Fisker said.


Volvo wants all car occupants to buckle-up with its #SafeDrive campaign

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo Car Malaysia, the premium car maker, launched the #SafeDrive with Volvo Car Malaysia road safety campaign aimed at raising awareness on the importance of using safety belts for all car occupants.

This is in conjunction with the approaching Hari Raya festive season, and the 60th anniversary of the three-point safety belt.

“All automotive safety technologies rely on the three-point safety belt as a reference point. Without the safety belt, any protective or preventive features in a car could become ineffective.

"The misconception that the public have is that airbags, crash structures, and active safety systems alone are enough to protect in-car occupants; this is of course, inaccurate,” said Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, Nalin Jain.

 (From left) Dr Siti Zaharah Ishak, Director General of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS); Nalin Jain, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia; and Azharul Izwan Puaadi, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Director, Road Safety Department Malaysia (JKJR).

The three-point safety belt was invented by Volvo engineer, Nils Bohlin, in 1959, and became the single most important safety innovation ever introduced in cars.

Noting the significance of the device, Volvo Cars gave the patent away, so it could be fitted to any car from any manufacturer – based on internal data collected by Volvo Cars since the 1960s, it has been estimated that the three-point safety belt has saved more than a million lives.

“Volvo is continually introducing many safety innovations, but it is high time that we get back to the basics –
we will work closely with the Road Safety Department (JKJR) and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) to raise public awareness on the importance of using the three-point safety belt.

"I believe the increased use of safety belt by all car occupants, will help to reduce the number of road fatalities and serious injuries in the country,” said Nalin.

According to data gathered by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) in 2017, an average of 16 road fatalities is recorded daily in the month of Ramadan and Syawal (Hari Raya month).

Volvo Cars has actively collected crash data from actual accidents for more than 40 years. Recently, Volvo
Cars announced Project EVA (Equal Vehicles for All), allowing any car manufacturer to access its research
data to build safer cars.


Diess's future as VW CEO remains uncertain

                HAMBURG: Volkswagen's supervisory board executive committee will meet on Tuesday evening to discuss the future of chief executive Herbert Diess, but further talks will likely be needed before a final decision is reached, three sources said.

Diess and union representatives have clashed in recent weeks over his management style and electrification strategy, after he warned that jobs could be lost if the process was not managed well.

An agreement between the eight-person committee - which includes works council head Daniela Cavallo and representatives for majority shareholder families Porsche and Piech - could depend on whether Diess agrees to change his management style, the sources said.

It was not yet clear whether a statement by Diess in an internal video interview with workers last week that the Volkswagen Group would pull back from the operational side of the business would be enough to satisfy the workers' council.

Some details have already been agreed upon but further discussion will be necessary to reach a final compromise, the sources said.

Sources close to negotiations said a resolution would likely come as part of a package including the announcement of new board members, details on job prospects for employees, and investment plans for the group, Reuters reported on Monday.

"It looks as though the threads are coming together," one of the people said on Monday.

One such appointment could be of adding Ralf Brandstaetter, CEO of Volkswagen's namesake brand, to the management board, the people said, where he would take over responsibility for the mass-market brand group from Diess.

Volkswagen declined to comment.


Grab users in Singapore to pay extra if they keep driver waiting for over three minutes

Grab users in Singapore will have to pay an extra fee if they keep their driver waiting for more than three minutes. — The Straits Times/ANN
SINGAPORE: Commuters who are used to making their assigned Grab drivers wait a little while may soon have to pay more, as the firm will be cutting its grace waiting period for its ride-hailing services from five to three minutes.

Grab users will have to pay an extra fee if they keep their driver waiting for more than three minutes, Grab Singapore said in a notification sent to its customers and drivers on Monday.

Also, the grace cancellation period for a ride after it has been accepted will be reduced from five to three minutes. The cancellation fee remains at S$4 (RM12.60).

The changes will kick in next Monday.

Currently, Grab charges a S$3 (RM9.46) penalty for every five minutes that a customer makes a driver wait. Grab did not indicate if this penalty will change.

The reduced waiting time will apply to the JustGrab, GrabCar, GrabCar Plus, GrabCar Premium, GrabPet and GrabFamily services.

ST has approached Grab Singapore for comment.


US ride-hailing and food delivery companies to compensate drivers affected by coronavirus

                SAN FRANCISCO: US ride-hailing and food delivery companies including DoorDash Inc and Instacart are in discussions to compensate drivers and delivery personnel affected by the novel coronavirus.

DoorDash and Instacart are exploring options, the firms said on Sunday in separate statements.

A Lyft Inc spokesman said the company has decided to provide funds to drivers infected or quarantined by a public health authority.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Sunday that Uber Technologies Inc, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart are in talks to set up a fund to compensate affected drivers.

Uber said on Saturday it will offer compensation to drivers and delivery people diagnosed with the coronavirus or placed in quarantine for up to 14 days.


Toyota offers free access to THUMS safety software

                TOYOTA CITY, Japan: Toyota Motor Corp is making its Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS) software freely available from January 2021 as part of its efforts toward a safe mobility society.

THUMS is a virtual human body model software program for computer analysis of human body injuries caused in vehicle collisions.

Free access to THUMS, and subsequent use by a wider variety of users, is expected to enhance vehicle safety.

Designed to aid vehicle safety technologies’ research and development, and developed in cooperation with Toyota Central R&D Labs, THUMS was the world’s first virtual human body model software when it launched in 2000.

It enabled simulation and analysis of injuries caused in vehicle collisions.

Since then, and up until the latest Version 6 was released last year, it has continually evolved to add a range of models with different genders, ages and physiques that include skeletal structures, brains, internal organs, and muscles.

Compared to the physical crash dummies commonly used in vehicle collision tests, THUMS is able to analyze collision-related injuries in more detail, because it precisely models the shapes and durability of human bodies.

Conducting simulations on computers also enables repeated analysis of a range of different collision patterns, while it can dramatically reduce development lead times and costs associated with collision testing.

THUMS is currently used in vehicle safety research by over 100 vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, universities, research institutions and others, in Japan and overseas.

It is being used to research and develop many different safety technologies, such as seatbelts, airbags, and vehicle structures that help reduce injury risks in vehicle collisions with pedestrians.


BMW's influential works council backs electric-only platform, says report

                BERLIN: BMW should shift course and establish a technology platform just for electric cars, moving away from developing cars that can be fitted with either electric or combustion engines, the head of the influential works council said.

“Only with our own e-architecture can we fully exploit the advantages of an electric vehicle,” Manfred Schoch told Der Spiegel magazine.

Schoch said a dedicated electric platform is needed if the German luxury carmaker is not to be overtaken by competitors from California - like electric car company Tesla - or from China.

Spiegel said Schoch’s call comes after some BMW managers have pushed for a new electric strategy internally for some time.

Those managers hope that the company will now quickly shift to develop a pure e-platform, which would make cars lighter and give them a longer battery range and a bigger interior.

Asked about the report, a BMW spokesman said the company was currently “optimally positioned” and declined to comment on speculation about internal discussions.


KL traffic volume surges to 30% today after lull

                KUALA LUMPUR: The volume of traffic here shot up by nearly 30% on the first day of the implementation of the conditional movement control order (MCO) compared to the day before, says Kuala Lumpur traffic investigation and enforcement head ACP Zulkefly Yahya.

He said the enforcement of the conditional MCO also saw all Op Covid-19 roadblocks at eight locations removed.

"We had received instructions from the Kuala Lumpur police chief to end the roadblocks in the federal capital, as well as road closures, ” he said.

He said the police would now focus on traffic enforcement against drunk drivers, and road bullies.

"Apart from that, we will also assist in monitoring public places and car parks.”

A survey by Bernama found many vehicles heading into the city, but the traffic situation was under control.

Checks at several LRT stations found public transport users following the latest guidelines.

Penang also saw more traffic on its roads today although many businesses have yet to start operating. There were also fewer roadblocks in the state.

However, roadblocks at Penang's borders are still being manned along with several others from Balik Pulau to George Town as well as the trunk road from Nibong Tebal at the Penang-Perak and Kamunting toll plaza in Perak.

Last Friday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the conditional MCO would be carried out from today, where almost all economic sectors and businesses would be allowed to reopen, subject to strict conditions. However, nine states have decided not to relax the restrictions.


Car sharing won't be as disruptive as self-driving cars, says study

                DETROIT: The growth of car-sharing services will erode traditional manufacturers' vehicle sales and revenues through 2021, but will not be nearly as disruptive as the rise of self-driving cars later in the decade, a study forecasts.

The evolution of car sharing services, such as those provided by Avis Budget Group's Zipcar and Daimler AG's  Car2Go, could trim global vehicle sales by 550,000 in 2021 and cost manufacturers more than US$8 billion in lost revenue, according to a survey released today by Boston Consulting Group.

But car-sharing will have a far greater impact in Europe and the Asia-Pacific than in North America, the study predicts.

Automakers in North America are expected to lose about 52,000 sales a year to car-sharing customers in 2021, but that will be offset by sales of 44,000 vehicles a year to car-sharing fleets, for a net loss of only 8,000 vehicles at a cost of just over US$500 million, BCG researchers said.

In addition, US automakers such as Ford Motor Co and General Motors Co are investing in car-sharing services in several markets to supplement individual vehicle ownership.

In the longer run, according to the study, "autonomous vehicles will have a much greater impact on new-car sales than car-sharing will," but not until 2027.

The study did not account for the short-term impact of ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. But it noted that the arrival of self-driving vehicles in the late 2020s will trigger the convergence of car-sharing and ride-hailing.

Car-sharing will not be "a true game changer," the study concluded, but self-driving cars "will change the game, erasing the distinction" between car-sharing and ride-hailing while providing users with "a significant edge in the total cost of ownership."


Road tax renewals formed bulk of JPJ's RM4.23bil revenue for 2018

                PUTRAJAYA: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has collected RM4.23bil in revenue for last year, with the bulk of it coming from road tax renewals, said Anthony Loke (pic).

The Transport Minister said road tax renewals accounted for 69% of the amount, an increase of 3.32% as compared to the revenue collected in 2017.

Loke said JPJ aimed to collect RM4.3bil in revenue this year.

“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all JPJ officers for their hard work over the years,” he said during his speech at the 73rd JPJ Day celebration here yesterday.

He also said JPJ was now among the top four departments with the highest revenue collected, besides the Customs Department, Inland Revenue Board and Immigration Department.

“In order to maintain quality service for the people, JPJ must ensure that its services always exceed the people’s expectations,” he added.“They must be fast in taking action, have flexible policies as well as provide the best services by using the latest technology.”


Tesla semi-truck coming in September

Musk says the semi-truck will roll out in September. — Reuters
SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla boss Elon Musk said Thursday the electric car startup is set to launch its first semi-truck in September, moving for the first time into that segment.

Musk made the announcement in a tweet, offering few details about the plan, although he has spoken in the past about moving into the truck segment.

"Tesla Semi truck unveil set for September. Team has done an amazing job. Seriously next level," he wrote on Twitter.

The news comes with Tesla stock on an uptrend and the California-based group jockeying for position as the most valuable automotive maker with General Motors, even though Tesla produces far fewer vehicles.

Tesla's rise reflects a belief in the market that it embodies the future of the industry and has a firmer grip than traditional players on technologies that will inject autonomous features into driving.

Tesla last year sold 84,000 cars, generating US$7bil in revenue.

Tesla, which has overtaken Ford in market capitalisation, is on track to begin production in July of the Model 3, which is aimed at the middle market, making the electric car accessible to a broader swath of consumers.

Last year, Musk announced Tesla plans to build a new pick-up truck, an urban bus, and launch a sharing system of self-driving cars.

The projects are part of what the billionaire entrepreneur called a "secret" second master plan for the US electric car manufacturer.

"In addition to consumer vehicles, there are two other types of electric vehicle needed: heavy-duty trucks and high passenger-density urban transport," Musk wrote last July.


Singaporean housewife detained over smuggling of used luxury cars

                JOHOR BARU: A Singaporean housewife has been detained by the Johor Customs Department over the alleged smuggling of used luxury cars from the republic.

State Customs director Datuk Ramli Johari said the suspect, in her 20s, was nabbed at her house in Taman Laguna at around 3pm on Jan 20.

He said enforcement officers from the Department had seized three luxury cars parked inside the compound of the woman's house.

"We have been monitoring the case for quite sometime and believed that the suspect is one of the masterminds of the syndicate selling used luxury cars from Singapore," said Ramli.

He said this at a press conference after attending the World Customs Day state-level celebration here on Thursday.

Ramli said 23 Singapore-registered parked vehicles in the housing estate were also seized after the suspect revealed that they were parked in the housing estate.

"The permits of the Singapore-registered cars are already expired and they should be sent as scraps in the republic," said Ramli.

The seized cars were worth RM2.9mil inclusive of RM1.8mil in duties.


Do modern-day cars still need to be 'worked in'?

                BERLIN: What’s the best way to drive a new car to keep it in great shape?

Conventional wisdom has long since been to change the engine oil after a car’s first 1,000km, explains the Tuv, a leading technical inspection agency.

There were good reasons for this, mainly because the pistons’ movements in new engines would cause friction and lead to small particles entering the oil, which in turn would cause problem for oil filters.

These days, however, virtually no carmaker recommends an oil change so early on. After all, modern engines have minimal manufacturing tolerance, which means that all of their components are almost perfectly matched to each other.

In new engines, oil will hardly get contaminated within the first 10,000km to 20,000km. In addition, according to Tuv, today's oil filters are much more efficient than they used to be.

Even so, new cars should be driven carefully during their first 1,000km. During this period, it’s best for the engine if you can avoid driving at very low or very high revolutions per minute. A quick glance at the car’s owner’s manual can also offer some tips.


Bugatti goes into luxury eyewear

                MILAN: Bugatti has launched its first eyewear collection in partnership with optical designer Larry Sands.

The collection spans nine distinct styles across 37 statement pieces.

The nine-style set comprising of 37 pieces available in different materials – including palladium, 925 sterling silver, carbon fiber and Macassar ebony – melds heritage with modernity.

Taking inspiration from Ettore Bugatti’s vision – “If comparable, it is no longer Bugatti” – Collection One strives to capture and transfer Bugatti’s core values into exclusive eyewear pieces that are at the vanguard of fashion, creating desirable and luxurious accessories.

Over a period of 60 years, Sands has helped shape and create a wide range of eyewear pieces and collections for the leading fashion houses and eyewear brands.

The Bugatti collection took two years to complete.

Each piece is made in Japan, from solid 925 sterling silver trim with 18k gold and palladium - the most expensive materials in the world.

The use of Positive Vapour Deposition (PVD) – a process in which a solid material is vaporised in a vacuum and deposited onto the surface of the product – is another key breakthrough for the eyewear industry that’s been first successfully employed during the creation of Collection One.

The PVD acts as a Diamond Like Coating, a surface that is highly resistant to wear and is also used throughout the development and production of Bugatti automobiles.

The use of carbon fibre and Macassar ebony is another design iteration that pays homage to Bugatti’s automobiles, as does the use of the famed red enamel Macaron.

An intricate custom wirecore, developed in sheets to mirror the grill pattern that adorns each Bugatti hyper sports car’s horseshoe radiator, forms a fusion of the ‘then’ and ‘now’ on each of the 37 examples.

Collection One was showcased at the MIDO Optical Trade Show on Feb 4 here, and will be available in selected boutiques.

Retail prices are from US$1,295 to US$15,000. Further information would be available soon at www.bugattieyewear.com.


Stellantis upbeat about future of Opel, says mag

                BERLIN: Franco-Italian carmaker Stellantis is upbeat about the outlook of its German subsidiary Opel which it believes will be able to keep operating as a separate brand, the company's Europe chief Uwe Hochgeschurtz told magazine Automobilwoche.

"I'm happy with the brand and with its array of products," Hochgeschurtz was quoted as saying in the interview published on Sunday. "There is great capacity for development."

The design centre in Ruesselsheim was one of the most modern in the entire company, he said, while the German factories had a steady workload meaning their future was safe.

Hochgeschurtz blamed Opel's loss of market share largely due to inadequate transport capacity to deliver the cars to sellers.

"We had the clients, we had the finished cars, but they did not get to where they needed to get," he said.

"Given the lack of truck drivers, there is only limited transport capacity. That's why we have offered sales people to come and pick up the cars themselves in our depots."

Hochgeschurtz named Latin America, Turkey and North Africa as good export markets for Opel.

"But the core of the market is Europe," he said.


Tesla Model 3s sell used for A$130,000 to eager Australian buyers

                SYDNEY: In a distant land the electric car industry has almost forgotten, one of the year’s unlikely best investments is turning out to be a new Tesla.

Months-old Tesla Model 3s with only a few hundred miles on the clock are selling for around A$130,000 (RM402,000) or higher in Australia, more than one-third above the price of a new one.

That’s because the delivery time for a brand-new model is so long Down Under - up to nine months - that buyers are losing patience.

They’re paying huge premiums to skip the queue, even if it means settling for a second-hand car.

A cocktail of industry disruptions is turning the traditional pricing model on its head.

Supply-chain snags stemming from Covid-19 lockdowns are delaying auto shipments worldwide.

At the same time, surging gasoline prices triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has buoyed demand for cheaper-to-run EVs.

A top-of-the range Model 3 Performance costing A$91,600 (RM283,000) ordered here today would be delivered between February and May 2023, according to Tesla’s website.

That’s a longer lag than in the US, Japan and Germany, while Tesla fans in Singapore might have to wait only four weeks.

Alternatively, barely used versions of the same car are available now from several sellers across Australia for between A$130,000 and A$138,000, according to carsales.com.

Demand is so high for used EVs in Australia that Lloyds Auctions can’t sell them fast enough.

"We are telling anyone who might be considering selling their EV or hybrid vehicle, the time is now and we need your vehicle,” said Kirstie Minifie, local head of marketing and design for the auction house.

"We have seen second-hand electric vehicles sell for auction over the original retail price.”

While the value of used Teslas has also climbed in key markets such as the US, the price distortion has been especially severe in Australia, a country that has long been an EV laggard.

Plug-in vehicles make up only 2% of all new-car sales in Australia. Takeup is way behind the global average of 13% in the final three months of 2021, and a tiny fraction of the market share in leading adopters like China and Norway.

Even before the current supply-chain snarls, Australia’s relatively low adoption of EVs had led major carmakers to prioritise other nations for their new models.

Charging stations in Australia are still a novelty and are free in many public locations such as supermarket carparks or shopping malls.

Now, both factors are pushing up prices across the country as buyers race to get their hands on used EVs.

At the Good Car Company, an Australian business that sells new, used and imported EVs, demand is far outstripping supply.

Wait times can stretch to two years on some models, said co-founder Anthony Broese van Groenou.

Even older EVs such as Nissan’s LEAF are selling for more than they were two years ago, he said.

A Hyundai Ioniq 5 can take 12 months from order to delivery, and there’s a two-year wait for an EV6 from Kia, he said.

"Demand has just been unprecedented,” Broese van Groenou said.

"We can’t keep up


2017 Tokyo Motor Show: Has Toyota just given us a sneak peek of the new Supra?

                TOKYO: For the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota will be unveiling the GR HV Sports concept, a proper two-seater roadster with a targa roof and a hybrid assisted engine.

Finished in matte black and with headlight clusters that run beyond the car's nose and into its grille, the concept has a stealth bomber feel about it but it also has a host of design cues that fans of fast Toyotas of decades past will pick up on immediately.

For instance, its rear haunches are reminiscent of the Sports 800 (the company's first ever sportscar from 1965) while its removable roof panel and sloping windshield are a direct nod to the final generation Toyota Supra, a car that gave Porsche and BMW engineers many a sleepless night - thanks to its ferocious performance - right up until it was discontinued in 2002.

However, bringing things up to date is the rear diffuser and the hybrid powertrain. Both are derived from the TS050, Toyota's current World Endurance Championship race car.

Toyota won't be revealing exactly how potent the engine is until the car's official unveiling but it has confirmed that the car will be rear-wheel drive and that the battery pack is placed as low and as centrally as possible to optimise the car's handling.

Therefore, at the moment at least, the most exciting piece of information the company is willing to share about the car is in relation to its transmission.

Technically speaking, the car has a full automatic transmission, but unlike in any other such car, select manual mode and drivers can change gear, with a gear stick in a traditional H pattern, for the ultimate sense of driving involvement, rather than simply flick steering column-mounted paddles.

What's more, just like on the groundbreaking McLaren Mercedes SLR hypercar, for an added sense of occasion every time you climb into the cockpit, the starter switch for the Toyota concept is hidden under a cover on the gear knob. To fire the engine up you need to flick up the cover to expose the button.


Pininfarina teases PF0 and its ‘pure' design language

Michael Perschke (Automobili Pininfarina CEO) and Paolo Pininfarina (who helms the design company of the same name) pose in front of the latest PF0 prototype.
MUNICH: Automobili Pininfarina has announced a long-term partnership with the Pininfarina design studio regarding the PF0 as well as its future electric vehicles.

The idea is to develop a "Pura" design vision, keeping vehicle design as pure as possible.

Automobili Pininfarina is currently working on a spectacular car, the PF0, capable of topping 400kph at top speed and doing 0 to 100kph in two seconds.

Rumours suggest power equivalent to 1,900hp and range is reportedly close to 500km. The German former Formula 1 and current Formula E driver, Nick Heidfeld, has been enlisted as the car's development driver.

The latest prototype to date has only been presented privately, which explains why no official photo has yet been released. The final model should make its debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, before starting to roll out the following year. Note that only 150 PF0 models will be produced.

After this debut, Automobili Pininfarina - which is part of the Indian multinational car maker, Mahindra & Mahindra - plans to develop other production models starting with a somewhat less elitist SUV.

The 89th Geneva Motor Show takes place March 7-17, 2019.


Audi's A4 family is going electric

                INGOLSTADT: It's been four years since Audi's mid-range was given a facelift. Now the maker has announced a major upgrade that will take its A4 range into the electric age later this year.

For the time being, the new engines won't manage pure electric drive. But when the mid-range model series relaunches later this year after a major overhaul, Audi will be relying on mild hybrid technology.

Sitting at the top of the family is the 347-hp S4 sports model, now available in Europe as a diesel. With the help of a three-litre, six-cylinder engine and an electric compressor it can accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 4.8 seconds.

The top speed is 250kph, and Audi puts fuel consumption at is 6.2 litres (162 g/km CO2).

The new, updated family launches in Europe with four more diesel engines - three of them are four-cylinders with a displacement of 2.0 litres and 136hp, 163hp or 190hp and one uses the V6 of the S4, but is limited to 231hp.

For the petrol models, there are currently only three versions of a four-cylinder engine with 150hp, 190hp or 245hp, which is also 2.0 litres in size. In addition to all that, Audi says it's also planning five engines with a mild hybrid system.

Beyond changes to engines, Audi has touched up the outside of the models, sharpening the shape of the LED headlights and adding more contoured edges above the bumpers.

Audi has also redesigned the cockpit and mounted a larger display over the dashboard, which is now a touchscreen.

Audi has named its prices for Europe, starting at €33,600 (RM156,000) for the saloon, followed by the Avant estate from €35,250 (RM163,000) and the Allroad Quattro off-road from €50,100 (RM232,000).