Mitsubishi announces Merdeka offer

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of the brand in Malaysia, is offering a special Merdeka promotion for the upcoming celebrations.

From now until the end of August, customers who book and register a new Triton will enjoy a bonus and GST rebates worth up to RM15,100:

- Triton Athlete 119,866 15,100
- Triton VGT Adventure X 119,866 15,100
- Triton VGT AT Premium 109,782 14,500
- Triton VGT AT GL 97,989 13,800
- Triton VGT MT 101,574 14,000
- Triton MT 88,670 13,200
- Triton Quest 73,076 8,300

All Triton variants except Triton Quest: Five years warranty or 200,000km. Triton Quest: Five years warranty or 100,000km.

The Outlander 2.0-litre is priced at RM132,108 and the 2.4-litre variant is priced at RM146,276.

Last but not least, customers who book and register a new ASX compact SUV 2WD (RM112, 399),and 4WD (RM126,739) variants, they will receive a Merdeka bonus and GST rebates worth up to RM14,700 and RM15,500 respectively.

Additionally, from Aug 18 to Sept 22, owners who service their vehicles at
authorized Mitsubishi service centres will receive an exclusive Thermos when they spend a minimum of RM400 and are also eligible to save up to 25% on Mitsubishi genuine additives.

Lastly, MMM will be hosting an exclusive showroom event entitled ‘New Hope New Ride’ from July 28 to Sept 2, where visitors to these showroom locations will be entitled to Merdeka bonus and GST rebates when they purchase a new vehicle, booking gift, test drive gift, fun-filled activities and refreshments.

The schedule of the ‘New Hope New Ride’ tour are as below

Northern
Lofty Ambition, Taiping (Aug 11) 10am-6pm

Lofty Ambition, Ipoh (Aug 12)

EON Auto Mart,Bayan Lepas (Aug 18)

JM Auto Gallery, Butterworth (Aug 25)
East Malaysia (Sabah)

Sebangga Dunia, Kota Kinabalu (July 28) 10am-6pm

KSY Automobile, Keningau (Aug 4)

TBNC Motor, Sandakan (Aug 12)

EON Auto Mart, Tawau (Aug 18)

TBNC Motor, Kota Kinabalu (Aug 25)

The new on-the-road (OTR) excluding insurance prices will remain in effect from June 1 June onwards until GST is eventually replaced by the sales and services tax (SST).


Geely plans to turn maker of London black cabs into EV powerhouse

                COVENTRY: China's Geely is planning a big investment to turn the maker of London's iconic black taxis into a high-volume, all-electric brand with a range of commercial and passenger vehicles, say executives at the unit.

London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) also aims to expand its suite of services, which include cars arranging their own maintenance and recognising their owner's interests to help them book activities.

"We need a developed product portfolio. We need to make big investments in terms of the technology and infrastructure," LEVC chief executive Alex Nan said at the taxi maker's headquarters here in central England.

"Geely will make consistent investments into LEVC because this is a unique project."

LEVC builds a hybrid taxi model that starts at around £66,000 (RM350,000), which has a battery providing 103km of range and a petrol range-extender giving it a total range of over 480km. The company's business was hit hard by the pandemic and it laid off 140 employees in October.

Nan said LEVC and Geely would seek to attract other investors to its zero-emission portfolio and would look to partner with other carmakers to develop new technology.

Executives said the size of Geely's investment would be disclosed later. So far the Chinese group, which took full control of LEVC in 2013, has invested £500 million (RM2.6bil) in it.

"Geely fully supports the new transition strategy laid out by LEVC's board and executive team," Geely said in a statement.

In 2021, Geely launched a £2 billion investment in another unit, niche British luxury sports carmaker Lotus, to massively expand production of its sports cars and build high-end SUVs and sedans in Britain and China. Geely is following a similar path in its plans to grow LEVC, executives said.

Britain's EV ambitions were dealt a blow last week when startup Britishvolt, which had planned to build a major battery factory in northeast England, filed for administration.

"We need to make sure the UK environment as a whole is competitive and has its position on the world stage," said LEVC managing director Chris Allen.

A worker stands beneath a TX electric taxi inside the LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) factory in Coventry

Ready to accelerate

Geely owns multiple brands including Volvo and - via a joint venture with Volvo - Polestar . Zeekr, another brand in the group, filed for a US initial public offering last month.

As such, Geely faces a complexity that larger EV makers BYD and Tesla have avoided.

Allen said LEVC was exploring a range of commercial and passenger car models on a common electric platform. It can lean on other group brands that already have EVs to "move forward in a fast, agile way".

The company already uses an infotainment system and software developed by Volvo and a steering wheel from the Swedish carmaker, allowing it to cut costs, Allen said.

"There's nothing we couldn't deliver in a very short time period if we needed to, but it's just a question of timing," he said, adding LEVC could easily have a full range of EVs on the road within five years.

"But in two years time, is the industry going to be ready, is the charging infrastructure going to be there, is consumer confidence going to be there?"

LEVC currently has the capacity to build 3,000 taxis a year running on a single shift at its Coventry factory.

Allen said that could easily be increased to 20,000 and the plant had room to expand. It could also lean on production in China as Lotus has, Allen said. A major car plant produces on average around 300,000 vehicles per year.

"There's a huge amount of value in our product that hasn't ever really been maximised," Allen said.

"This is about growing LEVC into a much more recognisable brand on a global scale and expanding our product offering into as many spaces as we can."


Volkswagen Golf R 333 packs a real punch

                WOLFSBURG: The Volkswagen Golf R 333, a special-edition model limited to 333 vehicles, packs a real punch with an output of 333ps and torque of 420Nm.

“The Golf R 333 is the first R model with a specification predefined by us that leaves no customer wishes regarding performance unfulfilled – thanks to its extensive equipment,” says Hakim Halimi, head of product marketing at Volkswagen R.

The all-wheel-drive Golf R 333 comes features including R-Performance Torque Vectoring with Vehicle Dynamics Manager, which distributes the drive power not just between the front and rear axles but also between the two rear wheels.

The Drift and Special driving profiles, designed for the Nürburgring racetrack, also offer additional driving pleasure away from public roads.

The R Performance exhaust system from Akrapovič with titanium rear silencers and black 19-inch Estoril wheel rims with semi-slick tyres additionally highlight the motorsports character of the special-edition model.

The top speed has also been increased to 270 km/h.

With an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, the Golf R 333 Limited Edition delivers the best-in-class value (compared with key competitors).

The paintwork in Lime Yellow Metallic extends the colour range for the Golf R, which comprises Pure White, Lapiz Blue Metallic and Deep Black Pearl Effect.

Standard equipment also includes premium sport seats in Nappa leather (with integrated head restraint) and the powerful IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights (including Light and Vision package).

State-of-the-art driver assist systems are contained in the IQ.DRIVE package.

These include Travel Assist, the Lane Assist lane keeping system, Emergency Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with stop & go function.

The Golf R 333 Limited Edition also comes with a centre airbag (front) and a rear view camera system.

A system from Harman Kardon with 8+1 loudspeakers and 480 W total output supplies perfect sound in the interior.

 The "Estoril" rim, blue brake caliper and dynamic hub caps with upright Volkswagen R logo in driving mode


Covid-19 drags car dealers into digital commerce

                NEW YORK/DETROIT: Auto retailers have been slow to embrace e-commerce, but the coronavirus pandemic is changing that.

Online traffic has risen even as in-person showroom traffic has disappeared. Auto dealers are embracing digital tools to close deals without a handshake and arranging for vehicles to be picked up or delivered without requiring customers to come to their stores.

US new vehicle sales will be hit hard by the pandemic. Demand dropped 13% in the first 19 days of March, according to research firm J.D. Power. In especially hard-hit markets like Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago, where the virus has spread quickly, demand slumped as much as 22%.

Moody’s Analytics said on Friday the new and used vehicle markets could slump by as much as 20% from 2019 levels and stay depressed into 2021.

Based on a survey of some 40 US dealers, analysts at Evercore ISI on Monday estimated the March US seasonally adjusted annual selling rate could be 11 million to 12 million vehicles, on par with levels seen during the 2008/2009 financial crisis.

However, online traffic for the 1,000 US and Canadian dealers served by Roadster, which provides a digital sales platform for everything from financing paperwork to vehicle delivery, was up about 6%.

“Many dealerships are going to get caught with their pants down,” said Brian Benstock, a dealer in the New York City borough of Queens. “This will be a watershed moment for the dealership industry.”

Dealers have been doing business online for years, but it has never been a major focus. Only 15% of all transactions are online, according to a November survey of 540 dealers commissioned by the National Automobile Dealers Association. However, they expect online car sales to double by 2025.

Benstock, who began moving most of his sales online in 2015, said companies like Tesla Inc and retailer Carvana Co, which does all its business online, have begun to change consumer expectations.

Tesla has always relied on Internet orders for its vehicles. It is implementing “touchless deliveries” in many locations, allowing consumers to unlock cars using the Tesla App, sign any relevant paperwork and return it to a drop-off location.

Carvana, which sells used vehicles, expanded the number of cars it sold to retail customers by 89% in 2019 from 2018.

Despite a sharp decline in its shares, Carvana has a market capitalization twice that of AutoNation Inc, the largest bricks and mortar US retail vehicle chain. AutoNation started boosting investment in its online selling capability well before the virus shock.

David Smith, chief executive of dealership chain Sonic Automotive Inc, said most customers still want to visit a showroom to see the cars they are buying.

“There’s only a small percentage of the market who want to buy their car entirely online and have it delivered,” he said.

Cox Automotive analyst Michelle Krebs said the outbreak will accelerate the wider adoption of services that allow customers to stay away from showrooms.

“It’s what people wanted going into this,” she said, citing a Cox January survey that found consumers cited vehicle pick-up and delivery as their top desire.

Matthew Zappone, general manager of a Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram dealer outside of Albany, New York, is encouraging his sales staff to use FaceTime to show customers the vehicle features they want to see without visiting the store.

“If you haven’t been doing it to this point, you’re under-prepared,” Zappone said.


Aston Martin brings 430bhp city car to Goodwood

                LONDON: Aston Martin has revealed that its new 430bhp Cygnet, a one-off model from Aston Martin's Q commission service, will be one of two new models from the legendary British sports car manufacturer on display at this weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed in Britain.

Longstanding observers of the motor industry might remember that between 2011 and 2013, Aston Martin was producing a city car to meet EU fleet emissions regulations. The regulations stated a manufacturer's range was only allowed to produce average emissions below a certain level, so the Cygnet was produced to get Aston's average emissions down. Well, Aston has finally produced another version of the Cygnet city car, but with a 430bhp V8 engine under the hood, there doesn't seem to be a lot of concern about its emissions.

Along with the 715bhp DBS Superleggera, the Cygnet, described by Aston Martin as "the ultimate city car," will be making its public debut at the event. The very unusual Aston was built at the request of one of the company's customers, and its most outstanding feature is a 4.7-litre V8 engine producing 430bhp, taken from the previous generation of the Vantage S.

Cygnets produced previously by Aston Martin were based on the Toyota IQ and had an engine that was a full 3.4-litres smaller than the unit in this new one-off, producing a staggering 333hp less than the one appearing at Goodwood this weekend. This Cygnet will be faster than the outgoing V8 Vantage as the little car is capable of a 274kph top speed and boasts a 0 to 100kph time of 4.2 seconds. Even so, most people would probably have expected a little more for a city car with a 4.7-litre V8 as that's only about the same that the current Volkswagen Golf R with a DSG gearbox can deliver.

To fit that engine into the car's compact proportions, a new front bulkhead and transmission tunnel had to be fabricated from sheet metal, and the suspension and subframe are partly shared with the previous-generation Vantage that loaned its engine to the Cygnet. All of that, along with a twin-exhaust and full roll cage, means the Cygnet weighs in at a pretty substantial 1,375 kg, which is probably why the Cygnet isn't significantly faster than it actually is.


Tesla tests the circuits for German energy market push

                FRANKFURT: Elon Musk appears to be opening a new front in the European battle for electric car supremacy: the power behind the wheel.

Musk’s Tesla has recently acquired a licence that will enable the carmaker to trade electricity across western Europe and the company has also been surveying customers in Germany about potentially using Tesla electricity in their cars.

Such moves, consultants and energy industry executives say, could set the stage for the company — possibly with one or more partners — to take on established utilities in Germany, Europe’s biggest power market and autos heartland.

Tesla declined to comment about its energy market plans.

Generating and trading power could help Tesla lower the running costs of its cars at a time rival automakers, including Germany’s BMW, Audi, Porsche and Mercedes, are churning out new electric models.

It could also step up competition to utilities such as Vattenfall and EnBW, which are investing in electric mobility services too, but which like peers RWE and E.ON are lumbered with the cost of winding down fossil fuel and nuclear power plants.

Tesla already sells solar panels and the Powerwall battery storage system for homes, but now appears to be looking at selling electricity directly to customers and using the home storage systems to provide services to the grid.

In June, the company became a member of the Paris-based EPEX Spot power exchange, a platform used to trade much of western Europe’s intraday cross-border electricity.

A month later, it surveyed German customers about their interest in energy services.

“What would encourage you to switch from your existing energy supplier?”, the survey said, according to a copy seen by Reuters.

“Would you buy a Tesla photovoltaic system and home storage (Tesla Powerwall) if you could switch to a specially designed Tesla electricity tariff?”, it added.

Tesla also asked potential energy customers whether they would allow the company to control when cars would charge.

This could allow it to coincide charging with cheap electricity rates during off peak hours, consultants and industry executives said.

It could also open the way for Tesla to use power stored by customers to help balance the electricity grid, an increasingly important service in Germany as it becomes ever more dependent on volatile wind and solar power.

Companies offering similar services in Germany include Shell-owned sonnen, virtual power plant operator Next Kraftwerke, and power aggregator Lichtblick.

Renewable energy

Tesla’s interest in renewable energy was one of the factors that led it to choose Brandenburg state around Berlin as the site for a new factory, a person familiar with the company’s deliberations told Reuters.

In the first half of this year, some 65% of the electricity on the Brandenburg grid was generated from renewable sources, mostly wind. But like other areas in the north of the country, it often wastes energy because Germany’s networks are limited in how much green power they can transport over long distances.

Tesla’s Gigafactory 4 in Brandenburg will on its own require 100 megawatts (MW) of power and up to 400 MW if battery cell production is also launched, according to transmission grid operator 50Hertz.

Tesla is a long way from building up enough battery assets to deliver frequency regulation at grid scale, say specialists such as utility Axpo. But the company has made several steps to expand its energy activities in recent months.

In May, it applied for a UK licence to supply power, according to the Telegraph newspaper. It also uses a platform to bring users of its solar and Powerwall battery system into the electricity market in Australia.

“The next and obvious step for Tesla is to get into production, especially of renewable power,” said consultant Berthold Hannes, who has 30 years of energy advisory experience.

“Tesla could use its own locations, for example the roofs of plants or the sites of charging points, and alternatively, or in addition, it could take stakes in solar plants or wind parks,” he said.

Germany pioneered the solar power market, and is in the process of laying a policy framework that will make it easier for decentralised power generation and supply.

“Tesla’s long-term plan definitely includes tackling the energy industry in a bigger way, though it’s questionable whether it invests enough at the moment in that area,” said a former member of Tesla management, who declined to be named.

Thomas Deser, a portfolio manager at Union Investment, said it was unlikely Tesla would enter the German electricity distribution business on its own — “but it could do so with a competent partner from the energy industry.”


First locally-assembled Kia Carnival under Kia Malaysia to launch soon

                KUALA LUMPUR: Kia Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a joint-venture between Kia Corp and Bermaz Auto Bhd (BAuto), has rolled out its first locally-assembled Kia model - the Kia Carnival.

Assembled at the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah, the Carnival which is available in configurations of seven- or eight- seater, is expected to launched soon.

The spacious vehicle is powered by a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine with 199hp and 440Nm of torque matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Carnival comes with a long list of stylish and high-tech features to deliver a premium class mobility experience for the driver and passengers.

Among the features are front and rear heated and ventilated seats, Premium Relaxion seats in the second row that can be fully reclined, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, ambient lighting, a 12.3-inch infotainment display, one-touch smart power sliding doors and smart power tailgate.

Meanwhile, its comprehensive Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) consists of the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Junction Turning (FCA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind-spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), High Beam Assist (HBA) and Safe Exit Assist (SEA).

Kia Asia Pacific president and chief executive officer Ted Lee said the roll-out of the Carnival in CKD form was an important milestone in the marque’s renaissance in Malaysia.

“We are delighted to welcome the first Kia model produced here at Inokom for the Malaysian and Asean markets.

“The Carnival marks a new beginning for the Kia brand and showcases all the hallmarks of our products, superior design, smart technology and an impressive driving experience,” Lee said.

Dinamikjaya Motors managing director Datuk Wong Kin Foo said the response of consumers towards the fully imported Carnival 11-seater variant launched in January had been very encouraging.

“We are confident that the consumers will be equally enthusiastic about the CKD Kia Carnival. We believe these CKD variations will serve the differing needs and expectations of those in the market for a modern and luxurious multi-purpose vehicle,” he said.

Dinamikjaya Motors, a unit of BAuto, is the distributor of both CKD and CBU Kia vehicles in Malaysia.

Kia Malaysia believes that this joint-venture plan will boost the price competitiveness and supply of the Kia Carnival due to the significant demand for vehicles in Malaysia and export markets.

The company will continue to pursue its plan to be the hub that serves the targeted export markets with various CKD models introductions.

Its plans to export are firmly on track and will make the maiden shipment soon.


BMW retires i8, its first plug-in hybrid car

                MUNICH: A few months after BMW first indicated that production of the i8 will be coming to an end sooner rather than later, the company announced this week that the plug-in hybrid sports car will be discontinued next month.

BMW introduced the final iteration of the i8 electric sportscar last fall to be released before the model officially goes into retirement, the i8 Ultimate Sophisto.

Nevertheless, the car will go down in the company's history as it helped the brand reach several milestones, one of which was joining the plug-in hybrid market and therefore jumpstarting its commitment to the electrification revolution.

Not only was the i8 the first vehicle made by the company to be outfitted with such a powertrain, but the company also claims that it "goes down in company history as the world's most successful sports car with electrified drive," a title given because over 20,000 units were sold since the model's launch in 2014.

Additionally, the "i8 has held a global market share of more than 50% in the segment of sports cars with electrified drive for years," which will be true until the model is discontinued in April.

Though the i3 also premiered along with the i8 six years ago, the all-electric sedan will live on without its hybrid partner.

The final i8 is scheduled to roll off the production line in mid-April.


Volvo Cars safety campaign to save 'a million more' lives

PETALING JAYA: Volvo Cars is once again introducing an initiative that challenges the way industry and public perceive safety with the campaign titled ‘A Million More’ which highlights car safety through the years and from 2020, and that all new Volvo cars will have a speed cap of 180kph.

Volvo, a name that is synonymous with safety, gave the world the first three-point safety belt in 1959, through the invention of Nils Bohlin – a Volvo Engineer.

Noting the significance of this breakthrough in car safety and in a conscious decision to put people’s lives first, Volvo immediately made Bohlin's patent available to all car makers.

However, Bohlin’s design was largely rejected by the industry and public for many years despite the experiments and data supporting its efficacy.

After years of persistent advocacy and leadership by Volvo, the public finally took to seat belt.

This life-saving invention would eventually lead to the introduction of Malaysia’s seatbelt legislation in 1979.

According to the feedback recorded by Volvo, the public dubbed the safety belt law to be “terrible idea” and was also called “a violation of humans rights” by The New York Times in 1973.

Today, almost every car in the market has a safety belt and it has been estimated to save more than a million lives.

At the turn of a new decade this year, Volvo Cars introduces another “terrible idea” to send a strong signal about the dangers of speeding.

Since its global announcement in March 2020, Volvo Cars has started a conversation about whether car makers have the right or even an obligation to install technology in cars that changes a driver’s behaviour.

Nalin Jain, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, said: “The reactions to the 180kph speed cap is similar, if not nearly identical, to the comments from the general public in 1973. We know that our decision to introduce a speed cap would cause a stir amongst the public, but sometimes all it takes is that one person to come out and make a stance to change the world. For us, controversial or not, it is making the hard and uncomfortable decision to save a million more lives all the more worth it.”

Volvo Car’s ‘A Million More’ campaign kicks off with a new content series that sees the personal accounts of car accident survivors and the role of the seat belt in saving their lives.

For more information on the campaign, visit Volvo Car Malaysia on Facebook and Instagram.


Reload your Touch ‘n Go at BHPetrol; get free RM3 voucher and win RM50,000 prizes

                PETALING JAYA: BHPetrol is collaborating with Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd (TNGSB) to offer customers with exciting prizes up to RM50,000.

From 30th August to 30th September 2017, customers are welcome to reload their Touch ‘n Go cards with minimum value of RM50 to receive free RM3 BHPetrol E-Voucher per transaction.

The promotion is valid at participating BHPetrol stations which have the Touch ‘n Go reload facility.

Customers can stand a chance to win main prizes of free petrol for one-year supply, Touch ‘n Go card of RM1000 reload value, SmartTAG and Touch ‘n Go ‘TimeTraveller’ smart watches.

Meanwhile, consolation prizes consisting the smart watches await lucky winners.

In order to secure the free E-voucher and win prizes, customers just have to follow few simple steps via online mobile apps which enable them to redeem the RM3 BHPetrol E-voucher.

The e-vouchers are redeemable only with minimum purchase of RM20 Infiniti petrol per transaction, while stocks last.

The promotion launch was officiated by BHPetrol's general nanager (supply, retail and government public affairs) Azizul Azily Ahmad and TNGSB’s head of corporate & strategic partnership, Jenelle Koh, held at BHPetrol’s head office yesterday.

Also present were BHPetrol’s retail marketing manager Baba Tan and TNGSB’s head (reload business unit) Norafinaz Raja Din.


Tesla aims to stop relying on third-party body shops

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has suggested that the company's priorities are shifting towards service via the implementation of collision repairs at in-house body shops.

Last year, Tesla attempted to combat frequent complaints about the time taken for collision repairs by adding hundreds of body shops to their network.

This required technicians to undergo weeks of training in California and sometimes purchase new equipment specially designed for Tesla models.

Despite this, the complaints continued, so on Sunday Musk responded with a tweet about how Tesla's priorities are shifting; the repair wait complaint inspired the CEO to counter the issue with in-house body shops equipped with an adequate stock of parts, expert Tesla mechanics, and certified equipment.

His first tweet expressed sympathy for customers, and the following statement in the thread commented on how the new Tesla mentality is being put into action already with repairs being completed in under 24 hours rather than over months.

He tweeted that the "Goal is for repaired car to be better than before accident. Should always be true if damaged/used parts are correctly replaced with newer parts."

One Twitter user expressed his apprehensiveness towards these body shops by claiming that the issue never was with the shops themselves, but rather with the lack of supplies at the shops.

Musk, on the other hand, claims that the issues run deeper than just the stock shortage:

This focus on parts and Tesla mechanic availability will be implemented as soon as the company "get[s] through the insane car delivery logistics of the next few weeks."


Get ready for Bentayga. And oh, Bentley KL is relocating

                PETALING JAYA: Bentley Kuala Lumpur announces its relocation plan in preparation for the arrival of the Bentayga and the limited edition GT Black Speed by Mulliner.

Bentley's first luxury sport utility vehicle made its Southeast Asian debut in Singapore in April, priced at S$900,000 (RM2.58mil without COE). It is likely to be priced at around RM1.9mil when it goes on sale in Malaysia.

The limited edition GT Black Speed is based on the Continental GT Speed, but has been dressed up for a more aggressive look with black being the dominant colour complemented by red accents.

The return of the Bentley brand to Malaysia in 2009 saw the introduction of an iconic Bentley showroom in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's Golden Triangle.

The Bentley Gallery at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur was a unique platform for Meridian Magic Sdn Bhd (official importer of Bentley Motorcars) to not only unveil a series of new models over the years, but also provided customers and the Malaysian public an intimate access to the British luxury automotive brand.

"The (Bentley) Gallery has been our home for the past 8 glorious years" said Bentley Kuala Lumpur marketing & communications manager Andrew Wong.

"When Pavilion (Kuala Lumpur) informed us of their future plans for Lot 2.68, we saw the opportunity to refresh our Bentley showroom in preparation for the arrival of the new Bentley SUV, Bentayga."

READ MORE: Singapore first in Asia to get Bentayga

To facilitate the relocation, the Bentley Gallery at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur will be closed for business after Aug 12.

"Bentayga is a Bentley unlike any other and a definite game changer for us," said Wong. "Seventy percent of our Bentayga customers are completely new to Bentley so it makes perfect sense for us to introduce this exciting model in an all-new environment, despite the temporary interruption in operations.

"The striking new showroom design will be bold and communicate Bentley's brand values clearly, incorporating traditional craftsmanship in a contemporary space."

The progressive moving in process to Etiqa Twins is scheduled to start in September, with its official opening planned for October 2016.


Michelin treats five to racetrack experience

                KUALA LUMPUR: Five Malaysian winners of the Michelin Right 2 Race 2015 digital game have won the opportunity to experience life as ‘a racer for a day’ during the Michelin Pilot Sport Experience (MPSE) 2015.

The event is an exclusive annual event where Michelin gifted a select few who posted the fasted lap time around a digital version of the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from between May 13 and June 16.

The winners could become a racer for a day and experience a rare glimpse into the world of motorsport racing on July 18 and will join 25 others from Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Australia at the SIC track itself.

 From left: 30-year old software engineer Kamahlaan Thiagarajan from Kota Damansara, 37-year old auditor Ong Koon Liang from Cheras, Yturriaga and 31-year old project engineer Tan Eng Tat during a congratulatory event.

The Malaysian winners are 37-year old auditor Ong Koon Liang from Cheras, 30-year old software engineer Kamahlaan Thiagarajan from Kota Damansara, 31-year old project engineer Tan Eng Tat, Khee Chun Hiew and Ling Yew Heng were the ones who set the fast lap times around the digital version of the SIC.

One of the winners, Ong, was a participant for last year’s Right 2 Race online contest who had missed out in making it into the top five placing and was ecstatic to that he made it this year.

“After the experience last year, I knew I could be one of the winners if I put in extra effort in the online game this year and I did it! I am really excited to have won and am looking forward to this unique experience with all the other winners,” he said.

The game attracted more than 5,252 participants and Michelin Malaysia managing director Beltran de Yturriaga was on hand to present the five proud local winners with the passes to the special event.

The MICHELIN Pilot Sport Experience offers several unique motorsport experiences that include rally, Formula 4 and GT Race Car Driving Experiences.

It also includes hot laps with professional racers in a few high performance racecars that will be introduced for the first time during this year’s MPSE.


Mercedes bets on evolution as Tesla touts revolution in automated driving

A Daimler employee demonstrating steering by the Drive Pilot Level 3 autonomous driving system in a new S-Class at the company's test centre near Immendingen, Germany, recently. — Reuters
IMMENDINGEN (Germany) : As Tesla touts the cutting-edge nature of its new Full Self Driving software, rival Mercedes-Benz says it has developed a similar system but stops short of allowing members of the public to take it on urban roads.

The Germans, pioneers in developing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), are taking a step-by-step approach to releasing new technology, waiting for their own engineers, rather than the general public, to validate their system.

Both approaches - one conservative and one radical in nature - are designed to push highly automated driving on to public roads, a step that could massively reduce accidents, since computers have faster accident-avoidance reflexes than humans.

Advanced driver assistance systems can provide steering, braking and acceleration support under limited circumstances, generally on highways. Carmakers have refrained from relying on their technology to let cars navigate urban inner-city traffic.

Tesla broke this tradition last week when it released its FSD software which allows its computer-powered cars to practise their reflexes in inner-city traffic situations, with a warning that its cars “May Do the Wrong Thing at the Worst Time.”

Mercedes does not allow members of the public to test still-experimental systems. Its engineers need to pass an eligibility exam to become test drivers, and another one for testing automated driving systems, the carmaker said.

Rather than force their customers to put their trust in processors, software and the ability of machines to learn over time, the Germans want their cars to be validated by engineers so that they remain predictable for owners.

“We do not want blind trust. We want informed trust in the car. The customer needs to know exactly what the car can and cannot do,” a Mercedes spokesman told Reuters on the sidelines of the carmaker’s test track here.

“The worst thing would be if the car gets into a complex situation and there was ambiguity over whether the car is in control or not,” he said.

This is why the Stuttgart-based carmaker, owned by Daimler AG, is emphasising its decades-old experience of automated driver assistance systems as it seeks to gain global regulatory approval for its own Drive Pilot system which boasts level 3 automation.

Level 3 means the driver can legally take their eyes off the wheel and the company, Daimler in this case, would have to assume insurance liability, depending on the jurisdiction.

The new Tesla system forces customers to take responsibility for any crash.

‘Logical next step’

Mercedes-Benz started using camera-based systems in 2009, offering traffic-light recognition and lane-keeping assistance systems, switching to stereo cameras in 2013, to add depth of field and pedestrian recognition for emergency braking functions.

It was on a joint development project between the Tesla Model S and the Mercedes-Benz electric B-Class that Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, learned about camera and radar-based assistance systems, senior engineers familiar with the project told Reuters.

Mercedes plans to launch Drive Pilot next year and is pitching it as an evolution of its Distronic system, launched in 2013, which uses cameras and radar to keep cars in lane and at a distance to the car in front.

Drive Pilot will add a new sensor: Lidar, to cross-reference data gathered by radar, ultrasonic sensors, high-definition mapping, radar and cameras.

“It is a paradigm change from Distronic, but it is a strategic evolution. For us, this is the logical next step and it is not shooting for the moon,” said Michael Decker, manager of automated driving at Mercedes-Benz Cars, while standing on the sidelines of the company’s testing campus in Immendingen, where the Mercedes hones autonomous driving systems.

Decker, behind the wheel of the new S-Class, drives the car on to a stretch of road mocked up to replicate an autobahn and selects Drive Pilot. The car glides seamlessly, providing gentle braking and steering inputs to keep its place in moving traffic.

“I spend most of my time dealing with edge cases, those special situations that we need to have under control,” he said. The Mercedes Drive Pilot will only work at up to 60 kilometers an hour, and reach higher speeds once the legal framework allows.

It will function only on highways in Germany from mid-next year onward, if a new law is passed.

“If the car crosses the border into France, it will disengage, because we use high-definition mapping as one of our validation systems, and France has not created the legal framework for allowing this system to operate,” Decker said.

Although Mercedes engineers are aware of Tesla’s more aggressive approach to marketing their systems, they appear unruffled.

“Yes. We always followed this path. And we now see that we have the right strategy,” Decker said.

“What is paramount here is safety. This is about having a mature system. Mercedes safety standards stand over and above everything, including speed.”


Waze offers daily commute tips during Ramadan season

                PETALING JAYA: With Ramadan starting tomorrow, social navigation software pioneer app Waze is offering a few traffic tips to help ease the stress of being stuck in traffic.

Four main tips and traffic predictions have been provided based on the travel pattern and statistics of past years for one of the busiest traffic periods.

Tip #1: Avoid the PM Rush!Based on last year’s traffic data, Waze predicts that Malaysians will experience a shift in driving behaviour, with 4pm to 7pm being the busiest hours in the day during the Ramadan month, as compared to the 5pm to 9pm rush that is generally seen during other months. It is recommended that those rushing home for “Buka Puasa” avoid travelling between 4pm to 7pm.

Tip #2: Plan Ahead for Friday DrivesWaze also notes another shift in behaviour, where people drive most on Fridays during Ramadan, the month of giving, caring and sharing. Fridays are the most significant day of the week for the Muslim community, as families make their way for Friday prayers before a restful weekend. Those who will be out and about on Fridays are advised to plan their drive by checking the Waze app in advance to determine traffic conditions before making a speedy escape from work to “Buka Puasa”.

Tip #3: Better to be Safe than Sorry on HighwaysWhile highways are convenient, those heading home using highways are advised to always be alert. Waze has found that the areas commonly reported to have road accidents are on Lebuhraya NKVE, Jalan Kuching and Lebuhraya Salak highways. Use Waze to check for accidents up ahead and choose a different route so as to not add to the traffic congestion.

Tip #4: See Something, Say Something!

If you see an incident on the road, be it an accident, a pothole or a car stuck at the side of the road, help fellow Wazers out by reporting it. All you have to do is:

The app is available on both App Store and Google Play and can also be found on www.waze.com.


GMC HUMMER EV SUV unveiled

                DETROI: GMC’s electric supertruck lineup expands with the addition of the 2024 HUMMER EV SUV — and it is loaded with smart, purposeful technology.

New technologies include trail mapping available via the redesigned myGMC app, and a new available Power Station generator that enables customers to use up to 3 kilowatts of power from the vehicle, turning the HUMMER EV SUV into a power source on the trail or a backup generator.

HUMMER EV’s interdependent body/battery structure enables the Infinity Roof on the EV pickup as well as the SUV, and expected best-in-class off-road proportions help make the new SUV even more maneuverable — while making the most of the HUMMER EV’s signature features such as available CrabWalk, available Extract Mode4 and more.

Additional highlights:

> Interdependent body/battery structure that supports a unique, double-stacked battery pack
> An available three-motor Ultium Drive system that delivers up to 830 horsepower and up to 11,500 lb-ft of torque — enough power for super-fast 0-100kph sprints in 3.5 seconds
> New satellite-rendered trail mapping power allows drivers to discover and navigate off-road trails, while monitoring their vehicle’s energy consumption in real time, with community-based energy forecast through their myGMC app1
> New available Power Station generator that enables 19.2kW AC charging, generator functionality (120v/25A/3kW) and ability to charge other EVs (240v/25A/6kW)
> High degree of customisation via buttons on the center stack, and nearly 200 accessories will be available for HUMMER EV

The HUMMER EV SUV is driven by General Motors’ Ultium platform and launches with the exclusive Edition 1 package.

With a nearly 9-inch shorter wheelbase than the HUMMER EV Pickup, the all-new HUMMER EV SUV offers greater maneuverability, with expected best-in-class off-road proportions and a turning circle of 10.8 metres with 4 Wheel Steer — smaller than a Mustang Mach-E.

Without the constraints of a conventional propulsion system and traditional drive axles, tremendous power and control is available to each wheel.

In fact, the Ultium drive system can channel power to a single wheel, keeping the vehicle moving in some of the toughest driving conditions and terrain — including 13 inches of suspension travel, climbing 60 percent grades (forward and reverse), scaling 18-inch verticals and fording water more than 2 feet deep.

Standard features on 2X, 3X and Edition 1 models include 4 Wheel Steer with CrabWalk, which allows diagonal-drive functionality, as well as Adaptive Air Suspension with Extract Mode4 and 22-inch wheels with 35-inch-OD Goodyear all-terrain tyres. Standard on 3X and Edition 1 is e4WD with torque vectoring.

The available Extreme Off-Road Package adds:

> A set 18-inch wheels and 35-inch-OD Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tyres
> Underbody armour and rock sliders
> UltraVision with underbody cameras7 (front- and rear-facing with wash system)
> Front eLocker and rear virtual lockers
> Heavy-duty ball-spline half shafts


EU opens road to 5G connected cars in boost to BMW and Qualcomm

                BRUSSELS: European Union states opened the way to competing technologies for Internet-connected cars on Thursday, rejecting a European Commission push for a wifi-based standard backed by Volkswagen.

The result represents a win for BMW and Qualcomm which support a rival 5G telecoms system.

Germany, France and Italy, with powerful car industries, were among 21 countries to vote against the EC proposal at a Brussels meeting of EU representatives, an EU official said.

This contrasted with EU lawmakers in April who endorsed the wifi plan over 5G technology. The auto and tech industries have been split over which technology works better and is safer.

The European Commision, which wants to set benchmarks for a market that could generate billions of euros in revenues for carmakers, telecoms operators and equipment makers, has said wifi is available now, unlike 5G, and would help road safety.

“We will therefore continue to work together with member states to address their concerns and find a suitable way forward,” European Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc said in a statement on Thursday following the vote.

Tech neutral

Other supporters of wifi technology, which primarily connects cars with other cars, include Renault, Toyota, NXP, Autotalks and Kapsch TrafficCom.

Meanwhile, the backers of fifth generation (5G) standard, which will hook up to both cars and devices in the surrounding environment, include Daimler, Ford, PSA Group, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Huawei, Intel and Samsung.

Supporters of 5G say it has a wider range of applications in areas such as entertainment, traffic data and navigation.

The vote was welcomed by telecoms lobbying group ETNO, whose members have spent billions investing in 5G.

“Mobile solutions and 5G are back in the road safety picture. The automotive industry is now free to choose the best technology to protect road users and drivers,” ETNO director general Lise Fuhr said.

5G supporter 5GAA said the vote represented “a strong signal to the Commission that technology neutrality should prevail”, Chief Technology Officer Maxime Flament said.

“Only a level-playing field between existing technologies will allow safer, more efficient mobility on European roads.”

EU ministers are due to meet on July 8 when they are expected to formally reject the wifi proposal.


Here are the Perodua Bezza teaser images

PETALING JAYA: Finally! Perodua has decided to allow “teaser” photos of the Bezza to be released today following media uproar over its permission to let three online auto publications publish ahead of the others.

The trio - two English-medium websites and one Malay-medium site - were given the full rein to show partial shots of the Bezza and run their first driving experience of the car on Thursday.

It was the media’s understanding that such information and prices were to be released to the public only on launch day on July 21. Perodua predictably got an earful from the rest who felt the national car maker was showing favouritism and not being fair to them.

 At 508l, the Bezza has one of the biggest boot capacity in its class.

After considering the complaints, it agreed to do the right thing. While he did not single out this media tangle, Perodua president and CEO Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh did say that "if we have fallen short in some way, we apologise and will strive to do better."

The photos Perodua allowed us to post are "teaser" images that do not show the car in its entirety but up to 80% only so as to keep the buzz going until July 21.

But anyone with an imagination will be able to put things together and visualise the proportions of the Bezza and get a sense of its dimensions. Or you would already have seen the first leaked photos much earlier before this brouhaha.

READ MORE:
Perodua Bezza prices announced ahead of launch
Top Bezza variant gets 5-star safety rating
You can book Perodua Bezza from July 16
Bezza name used in 2010 concept car
Perodua Bezza set to boost UMW’s earnings


The priciest cars sold at public auction in 2017

The 1956 Aston Martin DBR1. — Image courtesy of RM Sotheby's
PARIS: Only a few years ago, car collectors were getting their fingers burnt at auction as classic cars just weren't fetching the kind of money they once did. Some observers even predicted the bubble had burst, and that classic cars would never again be as good an investment.

But the vehicles that sold at auction in 2017 – and the prices they commanded – certainly dispute that claim. And not all the most expensive examples were as old as you might think.

Although we don't know how much RM Sotheby's estimated a 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 would bring at its Monterey auction, the US$22,550,000 (RM92mil) it went for was quite a sum; the Aston was the most expensive vehicle sold at public auction in 2017.

Hot on the DBR1's heels were a number of vehicles that brought between 14 and 18 million dollars each. These included a 1970 Porsche 917K (US$14,080,000/RM57.5mil), a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C (US$14,520,000/RM59.3mil), and a Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione (US$17,990,000/RM73.4mil).

 The Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione.

Sandwiched between the two Ferraris was a more modern 1995 McLaren F1 that saw the hammer come down at an impressive US$15,620,000 (RM63.8mil) at Bonhams Quail Lodge auction.

But the most contemporary car to feature in the 10 most expensive auction cars this year was even newer than the McLaren: a 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta that went for US$10,043,000 (RM41mil). However, as that was a charity auction, whether the final selling price represents the true value of the car is open to some conjecture, especially as the estimate was a mere US$3mil to US$4mil (up to RM16.3mil).

Though these cars sold for eye-watering amounts sums, only the LaFerrari brought in more than it was expected to do, with the majority going for prices right in the middle of their auction estimate ranges.


Exciting offers at Carsome PJ Autofair from Sept 10-11

                PETALING JAYA: Carsome Certified will hold an autofair offering an array of value-for-money deals at Carsome PJ Automall here from Sept 10-11.

The Carsome Autofair, held at the company's largest indoor showroom from 9am to 8pm, will allow customers to browse through a large selection of up to 200 quality pre-owned cars.

Other deal highlights include a RM99 booking fee, free tinting package from Ecotint, free Platinum Extended Warranty Plan (EWP) and special deals worth up to RM3,500 including two service vouchers equivalent to a one-year free service.

In conjunction with its seventh-year anniversary, Carsome will be giving away up to RM7,000 cashback to seven lucky Carsome Certified car buyers in September.

To qualify for the cashback, buyers must complete the Carsome Certified car purchase within the promotion period, fill in a form and correctly answer a quiz that will be sent to them via text or email.

Interested buyers can also apply for an instant loan approval to drive home the car of their dreams on the spot.

They will need to bring along their valid Malaysian identity card or international passport, driver’s licence, latest three months’ pay slips and EPF statements or company registration (for self-employed individuals) for documentation purposes.


Porsche Cayenne GTS makes comeback with V8 engine

                STUTTGART: Porsche is bringing back a souped-up Cayenne GTS that really underlines the S in Sports Utility Vehicle.

Powering the measly V6 up to a V8 engine that manages 460hp, you can get this off-roader as a hatchback or coupe from July onwards, Porsche says.

This is a Porsche, so the pricing will, of course, make you wince, but we'll get to that later.

Porsche has upped the output by 20hp to 460hp in the 4.0-litre GTS engine, up from 3.6 litres in the predecessor.

With driving performance on a par with the legendary 911, this Cayenne can leap from a standstill to 100kph in just 4.5 seconds before hitting a maximum speed of 270kph.

At the same time, the luxury brand has tuned the chassis in its biggest SUV to make it tighter, reduced the ground clearance by 2cm, modified the equipment and made the design a little darker with black parts.

And for that genuinely sporty sound, there's also a new sports exhaust system for a roaring vroom.

Now for the painful part: Prices in the European home market will start at €114,087 (RM556,000) for the conventional body, while the coupe will cost another €4,500 (RM21,897) on top. Environmental figures won't go easy on your conscience either, and this off-roader has a 11.2-litre average (255 g/km CO2).


New Guinness World Record for snowboarder with a Maserati Levante

                MODENA: Britain's fastest snowboarder Jamie Barrow has broken his own Guinness World Record, clocking a new fastest speed on a snowboard while being towed by a vehicle on the frozen lakes of St Moritz.

Barrow previously broke the same record in February 2016, when he was clocked at a speed of 99.87 km/h while being towed behind a car across the same frozen lake in St Moritz.

This time he returned to the lake with a powerful Maserati Levante SUV, a much faster car than the one used in his last record attempt, fitted with Pirelli Scorpion Winter tyres.

The special studded tyres have 474 studs per tyre and are 4 mm long to allow the best grip possible on the frozen lake.

Maserati’s luxury SUV offers an array of high-tech features including the Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive System and the recently developed EPS producing a highly capable SUV.

With its variable torque control, the Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system is always active and responds immediately to any variation in the driving conditions, providing premium performance for Barrow’s Guinness World Record.

In conjunction with the Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive System, EPS improves the car’s handling and comfort, better supports the driving modes, and enables the newly-introduced active ADAS functions.

The advanced technology allowed the Levante to perform on the frozen lake surface, without losing the razor-sharp steering feel expected of any Maserati.


Tesla's delivery team gutted in recent job cuts, say sources

                SAN FRANCISCO: When Tesla Inc announced last month a second round of job cuts to rein in costs, one crucial department was particularly badly hit.

The automaker more than halved the division that delivers its electric vehicles to North American customers, two of the laid-off workers said.

Some 150 employees out of a team of about 230 were let go in January at the Las Vegas facility that gets tens of thousands of Model 3s into the hands of US and Canadian buyers, they said, in a sign the company expected the pace of deliveries to significantly slow in the near term.

The cuts, which have not been previously reported, could fuel investor worries that demand for the Model 3 in the United States has tailed off after a large tax break for consumers expired last year and the car remains too expensive for most consumers.

Tesla has said its focus this quarter is on supplying cars to customers waiting in China and Europe.

“There are not enough deliveries,” one of the former employees told Reuters. “You don’t need a team because there are not that many cars coming through.”

Delivery of the Model 3 was the company’s key priority in the latter half of 2018, as Tesla tried to supply all buyers wanting the full benefit of the US$7,500 US tax credit before it was cut in half at year’s end.

The Model 3 is crucial to Tesla’s plans for long-term profitability. The company aims to post a profit in each quarter this year, based on the expectation that it will sell more Model 3s and continue to cut costs.

Tesla declined to comment on the job reductions in the delivery team. The company still has an undisclosed number of delivery personnel attached to other locations.

‘Every being on the planet’

Even before the paring back of the delivery team, investors questioned the level of demand for the Model 3 remaining after Tesla’s all-out push to supply buyers ahead of the tax credit cut.

“Given the need for revenue to cover costs and generate cash, the financial community should be focused on the level of demand for Tesla vehicles – in particular the Model 3,” wrote Barclays analyst Brian Johnson in January.

The two former delivery workers said the 2018 sales push has left Tesla’s reservations list plucked clean of North American buyers willing to pay current prices of over US$40,000 to get their hands on a Model 3.

Chief executive Elon Musk initially said in 2016 the car would start at US$35,000 - which sparked a rush of reservations - but Tesla has yet to actually sell any cars at that price, despite two price cuts already this year.

“We sold through just about every car we had on the ground and we called almost every being on the planet who had ever expressed desire to own a Tesla to let them know the tax credit was expiring,” said the other ex-employee.

Tesla workers around the company were re-assigned to pitch in, that source said.

“They said, ‘Your job is off the table now, we have to get these cars delivered. Because if we don’t get these cars delivered, you don’t have a job tomorrow,’” the former employee said.

Half a million buyers

At the Model 3 launch in July 2017, Musk said over half a million buyers had put down deposits on the new car. That helped send Tesla shares up almost 15 percent over the following six weeks.

The company delivered 145,610 Model 3s in 2018, but all of them at prices far above US$35,000. Musk said last week a $35,000 version that could be sold profitably was perhaps six months away. Even with two price cuts this year, the lowest price tag on a Model 3 is now US$42,900.

Musk maintains that Model 3 demand is “insanely high,” but his company has not released any figures to demonstrate that.

Asked about the reservations list last week by analysts, outgoing Chief Financial Officer Deepak Ahuja declined to disclose how many people remained, calling it “not relevant.”

Musk has said Tesla has multiple ways of stoking demand, if it chose to, such as offering leases or boosting marketing efforts.

The Model 3s now rolling out of Tesla’s Fremont, California, factory are going to Chinese and European buyers, Tesla says.

The two laid-off employees said delivery targets for North America - made up of mostly US buyers - this quarter would be 55 percent to 60 percent of what they were in the last quarter of 2018.

If Tesla does not cut prices soon, it risks losing potential customers - and ones already on its reservation list - to a slew of German and Asian competitors whose electric vehicles will hit the US market this year. Each of the new entrant’s first 200,000 buyers will be eligible for a full federal subsidy.

Having met that number already, the US tax credit for Tesla buyers drops in half to US$3,750 for the first six months of 2019, then falls by half again in the second six months.

Musk said last month his “rough guess” was that Tesla would begin building the US$35,000 Model 3 in mid-2019.

One of the sources said that could recharge US demand: “If there was a Model 3 for US$35,000 that was still a really good car, that blows away the competition, I could see demand going through the roof.”


VW Golf GTI Clubsport S: A GTI to the extreme

REIFNITZ (Austria): The Golf GTI Clubsport S is the most powerful version of the Golf GTI and was built to celebrate 40 years of the iconic hot hatchback.

This exclusive new vehicle, based on the Golf GTI Clubsport, makes its world premiere at the GTI event at Lake Wörthersee, Austria on May 4-7.

The production run will be limited to 400 cars worldwide, 100 of which will be delivered to customers in Germany. Colours will be limited to those of the original GTI: “Tornado Red”, “Pure White” and “Deep Black Pearl Effect”, with the roof painted black. The Clubsport S is based on the two-door model with a manual transmission, in order to keep the weight as low as possible.

It has a power output of 310 PS; 380Nm of torque between 1,700 and 5.300 rpm; 0 to 100kph acceleration in 5.8 seconds; a top speed of 260kph; and an unladen weight (including the driver and luggage) that has been reduced to 1,400kg. But the raw figures don’t tell the whole story, as the record lap time around the Nordschleife demonstrates how fast this car actually is.

German racing driver Benny Leuchter has just pushed the Golf GTI Clubsport S to smash the existing lap record for front-wheel-drive production cars on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, with a time of 7 minutes, 49.21 seconds.

The Golf GTI Clubsport S has an exclusive setting for the most demanding racetrack in the world, which can be accessed using the driving profile selector. The car is fitted as standard with the individually configurable Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) and a driving profile selector. In the ‘Individual’ driving profile, the engineers have developed a setting that is fine-tuned to suit the unique conditions of the Nürburgring. The Comfort, Normal and Race settings are still available. The driver can still adjust the settings in the Individual profile, as usual, and can revert to the Nürburgring setting by resetting the Individual profile on the touchscreen menu. This unique configuration switches the Sound, Engine and Steering parameters in the Race profile as well as DCC to Comfort. However, in this instance an entirely different group of settings is hidden behind this option, instead of the normal Race and Comfort settings.

The Clubsport S is a pure two-seater. Doing away with the rear seats, including the central armrest, for example, accounts for the most noticeable weight saving. A smaller battery, as well as doing without insulation, the variable-height trunk floor, the rear parcel shelf, and the floor mats pushed the weight down yet further. An aluminum subframe for the front suspension and aluminum brake covers also shed weight.

On the other hand, 235/35 ZR Michelin tyres mounted on 19-inch “Pretoria” aluminium-alloy wheels, DCC, a strut brace, a partition net behind the seats and a carpet in the rear add some of that saving back, for a total weight reduction of approximately 66 pounds in comparison to a similarly equipped Golf GTI Clubsport. The unladen weight is 1,285kg, resulting in a dynamic power-to-weight ratio of 4kg per horsepower. Less weight also means greater fuel efficiency, with an NEDC rating of 172 g/km CO2.

The engineers achieved this boost in performance with a modified engine control unit and a new exhaust system: an increased diameter of 2.56 inches instead of 2.16 in reduces the exhaust backpressure and increases the performance. A side effect of the modifications is that the exhaust system produces a wonderful and deliberate ‘backfire’ under braking! In the course of the modifications the engineers also integrated a new fuel pump with increased throughput. The engine of the front-wheel drive Golf GTI Clubsport S is technically based on the 1,984 cc TSI engine that also powers the other versions of the Golf GTI and the Golf R.

Both the “Clubsport” and the “Clubsport S” have completely new front bumpers that improve engine induction, front end aero, and downforce. At the rear, the roof-edge spoiler is significantly larger on the Clubsport versions and results in significant amounts of additional rear downforce. In conjunction with a black rear diffuser, this two-part rear wing generates more downforce on the rear axle than on the front axle. In the case of the Golf GTI Clubsport S, this means that the understeer that is typical of front-wheel-drive cars is eliminated.

Other changes for the most exclusive Golf GTI include the following: semi-slick Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires mounted on 19-inch “Pretoria” alloy wheels, tinted rear windows that absorb 65 percent of the light, “Clubsport S” type plates, Bi-Xenon headlights with cornering lights and LED daytime running lights. The brake system was also modified to withstand the high temperatures inflicted at a racetrack. The disc bells are made of aluminium and are connected to the steel discs by cast location pins, allowing them to expand radially when they heat up. An important factor for the car's handling is that the unsprung mass of each wheel is 2.2 pounds lower thanks to the aluminum brake covers. To further improve the braking performance, the Golf GTI Clubsport S has special brake pads.

Each of the 400 Golf GTI Clubsport S cars made will have its production number (001/400 to 400/400) on the centre console in the front. The driver and the front seat passenger sit in racing bucket seats that provide the necessary lateral support while flying around the Nordschleife. The car also features GTI insignia that’s featured in the “normal” Golf GTI Clubsport, including the iconic golf ball shifter knob with Alcantara trim, a red line in the safety belts, “Honeycomb 40” design decals on the dashboard and doors, and elegant Piano Black accents. The grippy Alcantara-trimmed sport steering wheel, which has a chrome GTI emblem, red stitching and the 12-o'clock position marked out, was designed to be ergonomically suited for the track.


Porsche announces new technology partner

                STUTTGART: Porsche has awarded GKN Driveline “Technology Partner”, thanks to the company’s development of a high-performance eAxle for the advanced plug-in hybrid 918 Spyder supercar.

The eAxle module in mention supports full-electric mode, all-wheel drive and even provides a boost function.

“GKN Driveline’s role in the development programme and its innovative eAxle module has earned the company Porsche Technology Partner status,” said Porsche powertrain manager Christian Hauck.

The eAxle that supplements the 918 Spyder’s hybridized 4.6-litre V8 is an evolution of the company’s innovative eAxle drive.

The module has a maximum power of 95kW and can deliver up to 1,500Nm of torque to the front wheels via a fixed gear ratio.

A specially developed compact differential engages the torque seamlessly, giving the 918 Spyder optimum power distribution at all times.

The differential also disengages the module to minimise drag losses and maximise efficiency.

At speeds above 265kph, a clutch isolates the electric motor to prevent it from over-spinning.

A key target for the 918 Spyder was to have the lowest possible centre of gravity and ground clearance.

To achieve this, it required an original engineering solution where GKN Driveline positioned the output overhead by using an innovative lubrication concept to manage the oil flow.

The oil reservoir is positioned above, not below, the geartrain.

Oil is gravity-fed down onto the bearings and gears until it reaches the high-speed input at the bottom where it is then circulated back to the oil reservoir at the top.

This design minimises the amount of oil on the input shaft, keeping churning losses to a minimum.

To ensure the critical areas remain lubricated even in disconnect mode, the motor is driven for brief, intermittent intervals to maintain a constant flow of oil.

The Porsche 918 Spyder’s tight packaging also means there is almost no air flow around the transmission and so water cooling was needed to manage the heat generated by the module’s high power density.


Get ready for McLaren Artura debut on Feb 17

Ricciardo driving the Artura in the run-up to its launch.

LONDON: The all-new McLaren Artura will make its global debut on Feb 17.

The first opportunity to see the new high-performance hybrid supercar, in detail and in action, will feature McLaren brand personalities, including McLaren Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, giving key information about the Artura, plus an interactive Q&A session from this streaming site.

The Artura brings together McLaren’s expertise in race and road car engineering into what McLaren claims is a ground-breaking hybrid supercar.

Powered by an all-new hybrid powertrain that features a V6 engine and with the new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture, the Artura signals McLaren’s push towards super-lightweight engineering to deliver extreme performance, driver engagement and efficiency.


Japan to boost eco-friendly car sales 20-fold by 2030

                TOKYO: Japan aims to expand the domestic market for zero- and low-emission cars to one million vehicles by 2030, a more than twenty-fold increase from current demand, according to Japan's Kyodo News.

The target, part of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's push for carbon neutrality, is expected to be included in a new action plan on the government's growth strategy to be finalised within the year, which will also call for significantly boosting investment in renewable energy.

Sales of electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell vehicles totalled around 40,000 units in 2019, less than one per cent of all passenger cars sold in Japan.

A shift to such zero- and low-emission vehicles would be in line with the global trend away from fossil fuels on the road, though it would be less ambitious than countries such as Britain, which has vowed to ban sales of new gasoline and diesel cars by 2030.

"The electrification of automobiles is progressing faster than anticipated. Japan must aim to become a leader in this field," a draft of the action plan said.

Japan will increase its reliance on offshore wind farms, aiming to add 30 gigawatts in capacity by 2040, the equivalent of 30 large thermal power generators.

Offshore wind farms currently account for just 20,000 kilowatts, or 0.02 gigawatt, of Japan's power generation, all from government projects. The country has been criticised for its reliance on coal, while restarting nuclear plants remains controversial following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Japan will also promote research into innovative technologies such as hydrogen fuel, next-generation batteries and carbon recycling through "national projects," with partner firms expected to deliver concrete results by 2030.

Suga has made tackling climate change a focus of his administration, pledging to achieve carbon neutrality, or net zero carbon emissions, by 2050. The action plan has the dual aims of helping achieve this goal and spurring economic recovery from the fallout of the novel coronavirus.


A sneak peek at the upcoming Ducati Diavel 1260 S

                PETALING JAYA: Ducati owners and members of the exclusive Desmo Owners Club (DOC) Malaysia were treated to an exclusive sneak preview of the soon-to-be-launched Ducati Diavel 1260 S.

The event was hosted by Next Bike Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of the Ducati Brand in Malaysia.

“Our customers have always been our priority and this sneak preview gives us the opportunity to reward our customers for their continuous support towards the Ducati brand.

"More customer events will be organised to provide our loyal fanbase with exclusive privileges to the ultimate Ducati customer experience, especially the Desmo Owners Club (DOC) Malaysia,” said Nazman Yusof, Head of 2-Wheel Division, Naza Automotive Group.

The Diavel 1260 S base model has won the prestigious title Red Dot Award 2019: Best of the Best.

Perfect for everyday riding and touring the Diavel 1260 S is powered by a Testastretta DVT 1262 engine which outputs 159hp at 9,500rpm.

The award-winning bike is also fitted with Bosch Cornering ABS and user-friendly engine performance control as well for added peace of mind.

The Diavel 1260 S also features a fully adjustable Öhlins suspension at both front and rear dedicated wheels, and an even higher-performance braking system. Additionally, the sporty superbike mounts Ducati Quick Shift up & down (DQS) as standard to allow clutch-less shifting.

The new Diavel 1260 S is expected to launch within the second half of 2019 and is now available for viewing and booking at authorised Ducati dealerships nationwide.


BMW Alpina B5 unleashed

                MUNICH: German tuning house Alpina, which makes high-performance versions of BMWs, has released its take on the BMW 5 Series with the BMW Alpina B5.

It is available as a four-door sedan and touring variants and features the 4.4 litre V8 engine with bi-turbo charging with an impressive output of 621hp, and a maximum torque of 800Nm, available from just 2,000rpm.

The engine is mated to an 8-speed sport automatic transmission with Alpina Switch-Tronic to handle the high-torque output.

The new Alpina design and aerodynamic elements including the Alpina Classic 20’’ wheels accentuate the dynamic character of the BMW Alpina B5. The extensive range of standard equipment ensures maximum comfort for driver and passengers.

This is an excerpt from the official website:

"Master craftsmen in the Alpina saddlery can finish bespoke interior designs down to the smallest detail according to the customer’s wishes. Endless Lavalina leather upholstery options finished in the highest quality natural material used in the automotive industry. Connoisseurs particularly value the comfort and climatic qualities of this very special leather."


Toyota to start car hardware, software update service in Japan

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp said today it will launch a service next year offering customisation and updates for cars as customers increasingly hold on to their vehicles for longer.

The service, known as Kinto Factory, will start in late January and offer new safety features, refreshed interiors, and software upgrades to car computer systems.

Toyota is trying to transform itself from a maker and seller of cars to a more service-based "mobility company". The new service is part of Toyota's Kinto brand, launched in 2019 and offering car-sharing services.

Kinto president Shinya Kodera told reporters that for the sake of sustainability, it's best for cars to be "used for a long time in a healthy condition and eventually collected and recycled".

The company would consider expanding its Kinto Factory service abroad, he added.

Kinto subscriptions, which offer flat-rate car leases and insurance, had increased to 28,000 by November from 1,200 at the launch two years ago, which Kodera described as "a little short of what we expected".


BMW X3 and X4 gets M badge and more potent Competition variant

                MUNICH: BMW M GmbH is expanding its high-performance model line-up by introducing the X3 M and BMW X4 M with both sporting a Competition variant.

The new high-revving 3.0-litre (2,993cc) turbocharged engine is not only more powerful, but also more robust than before, and is able to provide 480hp at 6,250rpm and 600Nm of torque from 2,600 to 5,600rpm.

The twin-turbo unit for the Competition models, however, punches out 510hp (+30hp) at 6,250rpm with 600Nm too but its availability can be found over a broader engine speed range that extends from 2,600rpm to a higher 5,950rpm (+350rpm).

Both engines will be paired to an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic to manage power delivery to the M xDrive all-wheel-drive (AWD) system with rear-wheel bias found in the venerable M5.

The centrally controlled interaction between the AWD system and the Active M Differential at the rear axle allows the engine's power to be split between the four wheels as required for optimal traction, agility and directional stability.

This will allow the X3 M and X4 M - rolling on staggered front 20-inch x 9J and rear 10J M light-alloys with front 255/45 and rear 265/45 tyres, to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 4.2 seconds, while its Competition counterparts shaves off 0.1 seconds to bring it down to 4.1 seconds on 21-inch alloys.

Regardless of power output, top speed has (as usual) been electronically limited to 250kph, but opt for the M Driver’s Package as an added extra and 285kph will be new speed limit.

With three settings selectable at the touch of a button, the M-specific suspension’s electronically controlled dampers is able to provide everyday comfort and stiffen up for an extremely direct road contact with low wheel and body movements.

The German automaker says that its bespoke kinematics and elastokinematics of its M suspension - sporting double-joint spring struts on the front axle and five-link for the rear axle, helps in delivering precise wheel location and directional stability.

Composed to also deliver precisely controllable on-limit handling, the chassis technology package rounds off with M-specific steering (including M Servotronic and variable ratio) and powerful M compound brakes.

Among the other items on the standard specifications list for the X3 M, BMW X4 M and Competition models are LED headlights, hi-fi speaker system and the ConnectedDrive navigation package with Navigation system Professional.

Like the damper control systems and M xDrive modes, the engine and transmission characteristics and steering setup can be adjusted at the touch of a button.

The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system allows controlled wheel slip in M Dynamic Mode and, can also be disengaged.

Additionally, the content shown in the optional Head-Up Display can be specified via the iDrive menu, where the driver is able to store two overall set-up options – configured as desired within its parameters, in the iDrive menu and select them as and when required using the two M buttons on the steering wheel.

Enter the Competition variants and both sport activity vehicles (SAVs) get slapped with exclusive exterior high-gloss black accoutrements that includes the FRONT kidney grille surround, exterior mirror caps and M gills, and the rear spoiler of the SAVs.

Not to mention, the wheels get upsized to 21-inch x 9.5J (front) and 10J (rear) M light-alloys in polished Black before the rear lets loose the engine's rumble with an M Sport exhaust system.

Inside, the cabin is enhanced by the M Sport seats with extended Merino leather upholstery, model-specific door sill plates and a model nameplate on the centre console. Added options for the Competition models include special bi-colour leather upholstery variants with Alcantara applications.

The optional M Carbon exterior package (expected to be available from August), features design elements in carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the front air intakes, air blades on the front apron, rear diffuser and exterior mirror caps. Both the standard X4 M and up-tuned Competition variant receive a CFRP rear spoiler.

BMW X3 M CompetitionBMW X4 M Competition


Suzuki GSX-S duo eager to hit the streets

                SEPANG: Suzuki is looking to attract street riders with its latest GSX-S (Street) offerings of the naked GSX-S1000 ABS (RM68,400) and the fairing-equipped GSX-S1000F (RM74,400).

Both bikes come with a saddle height of 810mm as well as a wheelbase of 1,460mm and are similarly sized at 2,115mm-long, 795mm-wide and 1,080mm-tall – only the S1000F is 100mm taller at 1,180mm and weighs 15kg more at 214kg (wet).

 Suzuki GSX-S1000F (L) and GSX-S1000 ABS

Both two-wheel machines uses the same 999cc four-cylinder engine found in the 2005 GSX-R1000, only it’s been specifically tuned for street use with the bulk of power found in the low to mid-range of the engine thanks to a longer stroke and new cams.

The engine, while mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and sipping from its 17-liter fuel tank, produces 145hp at 10,000rpm and 106Nm of torque at 9,500rpm.

It rides on 17-inch wheels with 120/70 (front) and 190/50 (rear) tyres and gets its stopping powers from its ABS-equipped Brembo discs and callipers.

KYB provided the naked and faired Japanese bikes with 43mm inverted forks (front) with a 25-degree rake and a single link-type shock absorber with a coil spring for the rear’s 100mm trail.

Both bikes are equipped with a three-mode traction control system of low-medium-high sensitivity levels (can be entirely disengaged), which checks the front and rear wheel speeds, throttle position, crank position, and gear position – 250 times per second.

The Suzuki GSX-S series comes in three colour choices of Metallic Triton Blue, Glass Sparkle Black with Candy Daring Red and Metallic Mat Fibron Gray.

Suzuki GSX-S100 ABSSuzuki GSX-S1000F


MINI John Cooper Works GP with 300hp readies for production

                MUNICH: MINI has announced that next year, the new John Cooper Works GP (JCW GP) will be taking to the roads with only 3,000 units earmarked for serialised production - yes it's getting its own numbered plaque.

The new edition has been confirmed to be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine outputting 300hp to make it the most powerful and fastest MINI...ever.

The JCW GP, which first made an appearance in concept form during the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, features large front and rear aprons, roof spoiler and the extensive use of lightweight materials.

Further development of the JCW GP has entered its crucial phase – namely on the race track, where whole-vehicle testing is being carried out in the course over the next few months.

Drawing on tradition-steeped John Cooper Works expertise, the suspension developed specifically for this model will be precisely adapted based on the new engine's output.

The aerodynamic properties and weight is said to have been optimised to go together with the relevant drive and suspension technology.

In doing so, the new high-output MINI will then look to best its previous lap-time of 8 minutes and 23 seconds that was set at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife – faster than many a sports car from the higher segments.

“The fastest MINI in our brand history – which now goes back 60 years – is an expression of pure racing passion. We are well aware of the enormous fascination exercised by the MINI John Cooper Works GP, not just from the euphoric reactions to the concept vehicle but also from past experience: after all, every one of its predecessors was completely sold out even before the official market launch,” said MINI vice president (Product and Launch Management) Thomas Giuliani.


German carmakers fear output snags from virus border checks

A German policeman directing a truck driver coming from Austria into the border checkpoint on the A93 motorway near Kiefersfelden, Germany, recently. — dpa
BERLIN: Travel restrictions at Germany’s border with the Czech Republic risk severing automotive supply lines that could spark a wave of production stoppages, according to Germany’s VDA automaker association.

From Sunday, only German citizens and residents in the country are allowed to enter Germany from the Czech Republic and Austria’s Tirol region, two zones where more infectious variants of coronavirus are widespread.

BMW AG and Volkswagen AG operate plants in Bavaria and Saxony that depend on car parts particularly from Czech Republic, which exports about a third of its vehicles and components to Germany. Entry restrictions and delays may disrupt delicate supply lines that can lead to a halt in auto production in a matter of hours. Some of the sites, like BMW’s Dingolfing, it’s biggest factory in Europe, also employ workers residing in Czech Republic.

High alert

Germany is on high alert for more infectious strains as it moves to gradually reopen Europe’s largest economy. German Chancellor Angela Merkel last week warned that aggressive mutations will gain the upper hand in the country sooner or later, threatening to destroy progress made in containing the pandemic.

BMW’s plants were operating normally as of Monday morning, and had stocked enough parts, a spokeswoman said. She declined to say if the company expected shortages or outages later this week. VW said it wasn’t currently experiencing production problems because of the border controls.

BMW also has factories in Regensburg and Wackersdorf close to the Czech border and makes engines in Steyr, Austria. Both BMW and VW make cars in Leipzig, and VW produces the ID.3 electric hatchback in Zwickau.

"We are watching the situation closely and hope that parts are able to move smoothly across the border,” a VDA spokesman said.

Chip shortage

Snares in supply chains due to the restrictions would stoke a fresh headache for Germany’s automakers, already fighting a global shortage of semiconductor chips. Ford Motor Co. and VW have both throttled production at German plants due to a lack of chips.

There are exceptions to the border controls, including for health, logistics and seasonal farm workers, Stephan Mayer, a deputy interior minister from the Bavarian CSU party, said today in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio.

Others are also being discussed for companies that rely on workers from Tirol or Czech Republic.


Android Auto adds flexible split screen for easier playback control

                LAS VEGAS: Google has given Android Auto - the software that brings the features of an Android device onto your dashboard's infotainment system - a new user interface and features, including a split screen.

The new sidebar to the right of the navigation screen can display items such as a media player that offers a progress bar for easily skipping forward or back in podcasts, audiobooks and songs.

The new layout is aimed at coping with the various screen sizes and formats of different car models. In terms of controls, Google says it's now putting quick access buttons for navigation, playback, messaging and making phone calls front and centre.

Other new features include more help from Google Assistant. For example, short reply suggestions to messages are displayed and you just have to tap to send them. It's also easier to quickly share your expected arrival time and set reminders for missed calls.

Announcing the update, Google also promises that in the near future people with the latest Pixel and Samsung smartphones will be able to make WhatsApp calls using Android Auto.


Over 5,000 fatal road accidents from March 2020 to October 2021, says Bukit Aman

                KUALA LUMPUR: There were over 5,000 fatal accidents from March 2020 to October 2021, says Bukit Aman.

Federal Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Comm Datuk Mat Kasim Karim said that that there was an upward trend in fatal accidents and fatalities following each transition between the movement control orders (MCO).

"Our statistics show that during the first MCO 5,498 accidents occurred with 58 fatalities. During the second MCO we recorded 4,693 accidents involving 56 deaths," he said when contacted on Saturday (Oct 16).

He said during the third MCO, 6,011 accidents were recorded with 65 deaths adding that during the recovery MCO, there were 102,240 accidents and 907 deaths.

"In total throughout the Covid-19 Ops beginning March 18, 2020 until Oct 13 this year, 566,760 accidents were reported with 5,412 of them being fatal involving 5,739 deaths," he said.

Comm Mat Kasim said the leading cause of the accidents last year were skidding on their own (2,266 cases), followed by careless entry/exit of junctions (476 cases) and attempts to overtake other vehicles (314 cases).

"Between January and September this year, 692 fatal accidents were caused by skidding on their own, followed by 410 careless exit/entry of junctions, and 742 were due to other causes.

"To reduce accidents and fatalities, enforcement will be increased. This will be done to ensure motorists abide by the traffic regulations and laws," he said urging motorists to have more self-control and to follow the standard operating procedures in place.

He said his department would conduct total enforcement to reduce road accidents and fatalities especially now that traffic has increased.

"Our personnel will be deployed to ensure smooth traffic flow especially once more relaxations are announced," he said, urging all motorists to plan their journeys well and ensure they are fit to drive.


New Kia Niro to roll out as hybrid, plug-in and electric

                FRANKFURT: A few hundred metres, 65km or 460km: With the new Niro, Kia is giving buyers the choice of how far they want to drive without local emissions.

Right from its launch (mid-2022 in Europe), the compact SUV is available as a hybrid, plug-in or electric car, with prices starting at €30,690 for the hybrid.

When the second generation of the compact SUV is launched, the five-door model with the distinctive C-pillar, stretched to 4.42 metres, will no longer offer pure combustion engines.

Kia's greatest hopes are pinned on the Niro EV, which currently costs at least €47,590 and already accounted for 75% of sales of its predecessor.

The electric car has a 150 kW electric motor and is powered by a battery of almost 65 kWh. According to Kia, this translates to a range of up to 460 kilometres at a maximum of 167 km/h and a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds.

However, charging only takes 11 kW alternating current or just under 80 kW direct current, so it takes a good 45 minutes to go from 10% to 80%, even at a fast charger.

The part-time electrics both run on a 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine. This produces 77 kW/105 hp and is combined with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission with electric reverse gear.

According to Kia, the hybrid combines this with a 32 kW electric motor and a 1.32 kWh battery. With a system output of 104 kW/141 hp, only a few hundred metres on battery power at a maximum speed of 120kph are possible. Still, this allows for standard consumption to fall to 3.4 litres (CO2 emissions: 79 g/km).

Those who order the plug-in hybrid for at least €36,690 get a 62 kW electric motor for 135 kW/183hp system output and a 65 kWh battery. The Niro can travel up to 65 kilometres, hit a maximum of 134kph without the combustion engine and, according to Kia, is listed at 1.3 litres and 29 g/km CO2.

Common to all three variants are new dimensions, which, together with a longer wheelbase, mainly result in more legroom in the rear and more boot space.

There is also a modernised cockpit with the instruments of the larger EV6 and a new infotainment system as well as a few new extras in the price list. Among other things, the Niro can be ordered with special reclining seats and a head-up display.


Kia faces upmarket test in China with K9 sedan launch

                SEOUL: Kia Motors Corp released its K9 premium sedan in China on Monday, kicking off its journey upmarket with a model whose sales have been paltry both in the United States and at home in South Korea.

Kia and sister Hyundai Motor Co are banking on the world's biggest auto market to boost sales of high-end cars, which garner fatter profit margins and can raise the profile of models up and down the brand.

But Kia - China's third-ranked passenger car maker when paired with Hyundai - is introducing its K9 during a period of sluggish growth in the local auto market, in an economy heading for its slowest rate of expansion in a quarter of a century.

Compounding matters, Kia does not produce any premium cars in its neighbouring country, rendering high-end imports such as the K9 subject to import duty of over 20 percent.

"A strong preference for German cars in China will make it even more difficult for Kia to penetrate the premium segment there," said analyst Chae Hee-guen at Hyundai Securities.

Kia's K9 was designed under the direction of former Audi AG  executive Peter Schreyer, and unveiled in China at the Shanghai autoshow on Monday. Prices will range from 558,000 yuan to 698,000 yuan (US$89,958 to US$112,528).

Kia released the K9 in South Korea in 2012 with a monthly sales goal of 2,000 cars. It sold only 4,429 for all of 2014, 12 percent less than in 2013, while in the United States - where it was sold as the K900 - sales reached just 1,330.

Sales may not be high, but entry-level premium models such as the K9 are "essential" for automakers such as Kia to win over current customers looking to upgrade, said Shanghai-based James Chao, Asia-Pacific managing director at IHS Automotive.

"Hyundai-Kia are positioned lower from the brand perspective than German counterparts like Volkswagen AG... but higher than local Chinese brands," said Chao. "That makes this vehicle even more important as an image- or brand-building strategy."

While the K9 is Kia's first premium sedan for China, sister Hyundai is already present in the segment. Last year, Hyundai's high-end car exports to China totalled 1,160 Genesis and just 63 Equus, showed industry data obtained by Reuters.


Business for JB parking lot operators take a dive

A private parking lot near the CIQ complex with a few cars parked, including cars that have been abandoned since March.
JOHOR BARU: It’s strange but true. Parking space is now available in parts of this bustling city.

Private parking lots that were previously filled with vehicles of those working in Singapore are now left vacant since the closure of the border with Singapore.

A check at several private parking lots near the usually busy Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex at Sultan Iskandar building (BSI) showed a significant drop in the number of cars and motorcycles parked there.

“Previously, we would get at least 100 cars in just one day. Sometimes, the number could go up to 300 cars, ” said a man who was manning a private park lot.

Identifying himself as Leong, he said there had been fewer than 20 cars a day since the closure of the border in March.

“Sometimes, we hardly get 10 cars in one day, ” he said.

Furthermore, he said some cars had been “abandoned” at these parking areas as their owners are “stranded” in Singapore.

“Previously, there were dozens of cars abandoned here but now the number has gone down to only four. That’s because the family members of these car owners have since taken the car away.

“The four cars that are still here have been around for more than 200 days, ” he said.

He said the owner of the parking lot has also reduced the parking fee from RM15 to RM5 a day.

“As for motorcycles, we have about 30 of them that have been sitting here since March, ” he said, adding that the parking lot could accommodate up to 300 motorcycles.

A caretaker of another private parking area, who declined to be named, said there were previously close to 100 cars that were abandoned since the closure of the border.

“Most of the cars have been taken by family members of the owners.

“They need to show us a copy of the ticket issued during the entry of the vehicle or at least a photo of it before we allow them to remove the car, ” he said.

He said the number of cars entering the private parking area used to be in the hundreds but it has since dropped to an average of 10 to 20 cars a day.

“However, parking lots in the middle of the city are still getting the average number of vehicles on a daily basis, ” he said.

Business owner L. Veeranthiran, 47, who owns a shop in the town centre, said local enforcement officers have been seen frequently towing away cars parked at illegal areas.

“We have not seen abandoned cars parked around town as the Johor Baru City Council has been towing such cars, ” he said.

“They have been actively doing so from morning until about 6pm.”


New VW Golf SUV on the way, say German mags

 Volkswagen's two-door T-Roc concept shown at the 2013 Detroit car show proves that the latest claims of a SUV take on the bread-and-butter classic VW Golf are not unrealistic. - dpa
WOLFSBURG: Sports utility vehicles are money-makers for auto companies the world over and Europe's biggest maker is looking to tap into this lucrative market with a high-riding version of its best-selling Golf saloon, several German car mags report.

The Tiguan SUV and its larger brother the Touareg have been a success for years but Volkswagen lacks an entry-level soft-roader for uneven trails.

The Golf SUV is set to be revealed by the end of 2017, says the auto magazine Autozeitung, which shows an artist's rendering of the chunky, four-door car.

There has been no official word from the factory on the new offroader, but VW development chief Frank Welsch recently let the cat out of the bag when he said there would be "two more SUVs pitched below the Tiguan," the mag reported.

The two-door T-Roc concept shown at the 2013 Detroit car show shows that this is no pie-in-the-sky claim from VW. It pressed all the buttons with SUV fans with a modern, crossover-like body and removable T-top roof - hence the name T-Roc.

Autobild said the T-Roc was a blueprint for the upcoming Golf SUV. It also said the eggshell grille and slit LED headlamps showed an unusually aggressive design language from the maker of bread and butter cars.

To all accounts the Golf SUV will be based on the MQB modular platform and incorporate all the upgrades planned for the mid-cycle upgrade of the current Golf 7.

For future Golf SUV versions VW has a huge range of power plants to choose from, starting with a frugal 1.6-litre diesel through to the pumped-up, 300-horsepower version of the 2-litre turbo motor used in the fastest Golf R model.


Geely and Renault formally agree on cooperation in S. Korea

                BEIJING: China's Geely Holding and France's Renault have formally agreed a deal to jointly design and produce electric hybrid and gasoline-fuelled vehicles in South Korea for sale there, as well as for export, according to a joint statement by the two automotive groups.

The new vehicles, based on Geely’s compact vehicle architecture as well as its hybrid powertrain and other technologies, will be produced at the Renault-Samsung facility in Busan with production forecast to begin in 2024.

“This collaboration marks a further step in efforts by the two automobile groups in producing low-emission models, as well as increasing their penetration in the Asian HEV markets,” the statement said.

HEV refers to gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle technology.

For Renault, the joint venture deal, in the works since last year, will allow its struggling South Korean unit to strengthen its product lineup and expand its market.

Renault has been making and selling cars in South Korea for over two decades via a local brand with a Samsung Group unit.

Reuters reported last month that Geely and Renault were set to announce a deal to jointly produce Geely's hybrid vehicles in South Korea, looking at possibly exporting cars duty-free to the United States.


Chinese interchange driving motorists nuts

The structure balances five layers of traffic with the highest 37 metres above ground. — AFP
CHONGQING: Five suspended levels and cars going in all directions: a new highway interchange is driving motorists to tears, as they find themselves lost in a concrete maze resembling a plate of spaghetti.

After eight years of construction, the Huangjuewan interchange was completed last week on the outskirts of Chongqing, a sprawling metropolis in southwest China.

The structure balances five layers of traffic with the highest 37 metres above ground. No less than 15 ramps have been built to allow vehicles to move from one level to another, in eight directions, according to the municipality’s website.

An official on Chongqing’s urban and rural construction committee told Xinhua news agency that the complex design was necessary to link the city’s core, airport, and expressway, with each ramp leading to a different zone.

This navigational nightmare has set the internet ablaze.

”If you miss a ramp, you will reach Chongqing one day later,” warned one user on the social network Weibo.

”My GPS told me: go where you want and leave me alone!”, a commenter joked, while another christened the city “Chongqing, the city that you’ll never leave.”

One driver was more reassuring: “Huangjuewan, a legendary bridge in eight directions and five stories: I took it without a GPS and without getting lost!“