New Hyundai i30 Fastback N achieves 'fastest drive from Rome to Paris'

                FRANKFURT: Did you know there are two Danish villages named Paris and Rome? No? It came as quite a surprise to us as well.

Well, Hyundai just did a promotional gimmick with the new i30 Fastback N, saying it turned in the fastest drive from Rome to Paris, which is all of 12.8km distance.

It crossed the finishing line in Paris in a record-breaking road trip 8:18.49 minutes, an impossibility if Hyundai was actually referring to the Italian and French capitals.

Professional Hyundai Motorsport drivers Thierry Neuville and Gabriele Tarquini pitted their skills against each other in two units of the five-door coupe last month.

They pushed the car to its limits on the winding roads between Rome and Paris, located in western Denmark. Tarquini won,

Neuville is currently leading the WRC drivers championship, while motorsport legend Tarquini has more than 25 years of racing experience.

The i30 Fastback N is Hyundai’s second high-performance model in Europe. It follows the i30 N five-door hatchback, which has exceeded sales expectations. Almost 3,000 i30 N five-door hatchback units were sold in the first half of 2018 in Europe. One hundred units of its First Edition sold out in Germany in just 48 hours.

To reflect its sporty character, the i30 Fastback N has received many design features of its five-door hatchback sibling. On the exterior, the i30 Fastback shape has been merged with the features of the i30 N five-door hatchback. As a result, the i30 Fastback N showcases a dynamic-looking N Grille and the N front bumper, as well as a unique rear bumper, both of which are highlighted by a red character line below.

The black side sill of the lowered body further underlines the model’s sportiness. Moreover, the rear features the dual twin muffler exhaust and a generously arched rear spoiler that is integrated into the tailgate. To highlight the rear spoiler, a glossy black accent has been inserted to further emphasise the specific N appearance.

The interior design is clean and sleek. Its centrepiece is the exclusive N steering wheel, manufactured with the characteristic red-coloured N stitching. The red stitching is picked up on other parts of the i30 Fastback N’s interior, for example on the gear shift and the seats. The sporty interior design does not compromise veryday usability: luggage capacity is generous with 450 litres, increasing to 1,351 litres when seats are folded flat.

Customers can choose between two power outputs of the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, which was first introduced in the i30 N five-door hatchback. The Standard Package engine delivers 250 PS, while the Performance Package engine generates a maximum power of 275 PS.

Both outputs deliver a maximum torque of 353Nm and reach a maximum speed of 250 km/h. The overboost function further increases torque up to 378Nm. It is activated when reaching the maximum torque. The 250 PS version accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds*, the 275 PS version in 6.1 seconds*. Furthermore, the All-New i30 N Fastback is equipped with the N Grin Control system which allows drivers to choose from five different drive modes.

The settings can be selected via dedicated buttons on the steering wheel: Eco, Normal, Sport, N and N Custom. Depending on the driver’s mood, the different modes change the vehicle’s character.


Tesla will make money this year, promises CEO Musk

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Motors Inc chief executive Elon Musk on Wednesday promised investors that the electric luxury car maker will start making money this year, sending the company's shares up sharply despite a wider fourth-quarter loss.

Tesla shares rose more than 10 percent in after-hours trading after the company forecast a 60 to 80 percent increase in vehicle sales this year and promised it would turn a profit on an adjusted basis. It will start generating positive cash flow in March.

Tesla shares are still down more than 30 percent since the beginning of the year, reflecting investor concerns about continued losses.

Musk and the company's new chief financial officer, Jason Wheeler, sought to assure investors on a conference call on Wednesday evening that Tesla is determined to cut costs, hit production targets and stanch losses.

"Cash is king," Wheeler said.

Musk said Tesla would make its first net profit by the fourth quarter. It plans to invest US$1.5 billion to add capacity, start production at a huge battery factory in Nevada and open more showrooms.

Tesla’s cash reserves dropped to US$1.2 billion as of Dec 31 from US$1.9 billion a year earlier, despite a sale of shares last summer. The company’s cash burn has become a concern for some analysts, given the heavy capital spending it has mapped out. The slower-than-planned launch of the company's Model X sport utility vehicle during the last quarter added US$67 million in unplanned costs, Tesla said.

Tesla straddles the digital technology and automotive industries, which have been hard hit this year by investors worried that growth is slowing in both sectors.


Honda Malaysia starts 'I’m Vaccinated' campaign

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has launched a proactive “I’m Vaccinated” campaign to provide customers and dealer associates with added confidence and safety assurance at Honda dealerships nationwide.

The company and its dealers are committed to ensuring that all the dealer associates are getting their vaccination in a timely manner.

To-date, 80% of overall dealer associates have been fully vaccinated and only those who have completed their vaccination doses will be on duty at the dealerships.

In view of the encouraging progress, Honda Malaysia targets to complete full vaccination of its dealer associates by next month.

Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Madoka Chujo said the company was thankful that its car production had resumed operations and Honda dealerships could carry out sales and after-sales services.

“We will not take the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) lightly and will continue to strictly follow all the necessary preventive and precautionary measures that we have been practising since the emergence of Covid-19 in Malaysia.

“Under the “I’m Vaccinated” campaign which kicks off this month at all our dealerships nationwide, our dealer associates who are fully vaccinated and have passed 14 days from the date of their second dose will be provided with a badge and mask that have a specially-designed ‘I Am Fully Vaccinated’ logo for easy identification,” she said.

Chujo also said she hoped the campaign would encourage more people to get vaccinated and help the country achieve herd immunity as soon as possible.

Regular sanitisation and disinfection of the dealer premises would continue for better peace of mind for all visitors.

Following the resumption of its sales activity, Honda Malaysia has introduced the “Government Staff Programme” to further enhance the Joy of Buying experience.

This is an exclusive programme for Government employees and their spouses to own the stylish compact hatchback Jazz and the spacious Full 7-Seater Crossover BR-V with additional benefits.

From Sept 1 to Oct 31, the customers can enjoy special discounts worth up to RM1,000 on top of the monthly promotion.

Customers who are Government employees are required to provide a copy of their employment letter and employee identity card for the verification process prior to the car registration.

In conjunction with the Malaysia Day celebration, Honda Malaysia also introduced a September Special Benefits promotion from Sept 1 to 30 that offers rewards worth up to RM6,000, allowing customers to purchase their preferred Honda models with more savings.


Stellantis, Nissan, Nio cut more production due to chip shortage

                WASHINGTON: Stellantis NV and Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio became the latest carmakers to announce new production cuts as a result of a global semiconductor chip shortage.

Stellantis said on Friday it will temporarily halt production at five North American plants next week because of the global microchip shortage: two assembly plants in Canada, one in Mexico and two in the United States. The production halts will start next week through early to mid-April.

The plants affected are the company’s Toluca, Mexico facility, where it produces the Jeep Compass; Windsor Assembly in Ontario where it builds Chrysler Pacifica MPVs; a plant in Illinois that builds the Jeep Cherokee SUV; a Michigan plant that builds the Ram 1500 Classic pickup and another Ontario plant that builds the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger.

Stellantis did not specify how long the shutdowns would last, but a union local in Windsor said the MPV plant would halt production for four weeks starting on Monday.

Nissan Motor Co said Friday it will halt production for two days starting April 1 at its Smyrna Vehicle and Canton Vehicle Assembly Plants and Mexico Aguascalientes plant. Normal production will resume April 6.

Nio, one the main challengers to Tesla, which dominates the electric vehicle (EV) market in China, said it would halt production for five working days at its Hefei plant and cut its first-quarter delivery forecast by as much as 1,000 vehicles.

Ford Motor, Honda Motor, General Motors and Volkswagen were among the automakers caught off guard by the shortage, forcing many to hold back production even as car demand picked up during the pandemic.

Chip shortages have cost the global auto industry 130,000 vehicles in lost production, research firm AutoForecast Solutions estimates, with the heaviest impact in North America, with 74,000 units lost, and Western Europe, with 35,000 lost.

The chip scarcity is also a result of an increased demand from the consumer electronics industry as people worked from home and played more video games during the crisis. Sanctions against Chinese technology companies have also played a role.

Nio, which also faces competition from homegrown rivals such as Xpeng Inc, now expects to deliver 19,500 vehicles in the first quarter, down from a 20,000 to 20,500 range previously.

Ford had warned the shortage could hit its 2021 profit by up to $2.5 billion, while larger U.S. automaker GM expects the crisis to shave up to US$2 billion off its full-year profit.

Ford, which has until now assembled its highly profitable F-150 without certain parts, said on Thursday it would idle production of the trucks at a plant in Michigan through Sunday.

GM and Japan’s Honda both said this week they would continue production suspension at plants in North America for the coming weeks.

Swedish truck maker Volvo AB, meanwhile, said on Tuesday the chip shortage would have a “substantial” impact on its second-quarter earnings, and it would implement stop days across its sites globally beginning in April.


GTO Engineering confirms Moderna project

                LONDON: Well renown Ferrari specialist, GTO Engineering, has announced that it will be reviving its 250 SWB Revival - codenamed Moderna

The sub-1,000kg Moderna will be handbuilt in the UK and will be an ode to the Prancing Horses of the 1960s - albeit with more modern accoutrements and motorsport-derived engineering.

The company has been building and maintaining a range of road and race-oriented Ferraris since 1991.

The Moderna will be built utilising a combination of tubular steel chassis together with lightweight high-strength aluminium subframes as well as carbon fibre for the outer shell.

F1-type specification carbon fibre will be used for the main body while aluminium has been reserved for the doors and front hood.

Although the company has mentioned that it will provide the Moderna with large diameter wheels, nothing has been properly specified as yet (including price)

What has been revealed is that it will have lightweight brakes that will be powerful and its handling prowess will come from an independent suspension system for the front and rear axle.

The project looks to provide bespoked options for interested customers with much of its paint, trim and accessory options offered, alongside the option to adjust major components such as the suspension and gearbox.

In short, the new car can be tailor-made to each owner’s specific requirements before putting in the elbow grease.

The company says that the Moderna will be powered by a quad-cam V12 developed in-house

The front-engined, two-seater sports configuration with ‘double-bubble’ roof, functional venting on the bonnet and on the arches were chosen to maintain traditional styling elements.

The front and rear lights, including the exhaust, will be modernised with updated electrics and internals for added reliability.


Honda Civic e:HEV RS: More zeal with hybrid power

                Hybrid cars with the immediate application of strong electric torque are the reason why they take off quicker in a standing start, such as 0-100kph sprints, against non-hybrid vehicles.

It is following the strong initial take-off that the non-hybrid cars pick up the speed better to overtake the hybrid vehicles before hitting 100kph.

Honda has again come to the fore on car hybrid development that would ensure its hybrid cars would stay ahead at 100kph and beyond.

This came in the form of the Civic e:HEV RS that we had a media preview of at the Sepang International Circuit recently.

Honda Malaysia didn’t include this hybrid variant when the latest generation Civic model was launched in January this year as end-stage development and road trials were on-going then.

The stronger performance of the Civic e:HEV RS hybrid might initially be expected to come from the bigger displacement engine; it’s a 2.0-litre Atkinson Cycle unit against the turbocharged variants that have a 1.5-litre capacity.

This is where that expectation is flawed based on how the latest Honda hybrid engines that feature the i-MMD (intelligent multi-mode drive) operate.

Honda has developed its latest hybrid power system to function more like an electric vehicle than was the case previously.

Given that scenario, the choice of a bigger displacement engine leans more to its capability to charge the lithium-ion battery that provides the electric power for the Civic’s acceleration.

Helping to charge the battery is the bigger regeneration system so that there is a constant flow of electricity to drive the vehicle and operate all the electric equipment on board.

The electric motor that drives the front wheels directly also has more ‘muscle’ being rated at 184PS and comparatively humongous torque at 315Nm.

By comparison, the 2.0-litre Atkinson Cycle engine delivers a tamer 143PS at 6,000rpm and 189Nm at 4,000rpm being a more efficient running unit than a powerful one.

During the Sepang media preview, Honda Malaysia gave us an idea of the Civic hybrid’s quicker acceleration prowess against the Civic RS turbo as well as its better handling dynamics along part of the race circuit.

We took turns driving the respective car and we chose to start with the Civic turbo that cranked out 182PS and 240Nm of torque; we clocked the 0-100kph run in 9.0 seconds and on all three runs, we were outgunned off the line by the other media person in the Civic hybrid.

Changing over to the Civic hybrid, we could feel why it was faster off the line the moment we hit the accelerator pedal.

That 315Nm of torque that immediately came into play gave us that strong forward momentum like the Civic turbo that had a slight lag.

We weren’t that much faster at 100kph, having clocked 8.7 seconds, but we were ahead of the Civic turbo nonetheless.

This has definitely given Honda hybrid driving a new perspective; along with good fuel economy (Honda says the Civic hybrid would return 25km/l), it would give the Civic turbo a good run for the money in strong acceleration too.

At the same time, Honda has given the Civic hybrid better handling dynamics too so that it would be as much fun to drive as the Civic turbo, if not better.

The hybrid variant weighs more than the Civic turbo due to the heavy high voltage battery, ancillary cabling and regenerating components.

However, Honda has tuned the suspension system – MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear – to accommodate the additional weight.

Apparently, the Civic hybrid’s centre of gravity is lower than that of the Civic turbo and this has also contributed to its more positive handling qualities.

To experience this for ourselves, we had a go in both Civic variants in succession over the designated route that has a slalom, acceleration point and a couple of corners – a tight one followed by a demanding sweeper.

The immediate strong initial acceleration in the Civic hybrid was again enjoyed as the car picked up the pace quickly.

We could take to the slalom at a speed that we found more difficult to manage with the Civic turbo.

At the acceleration point, as the race track was wet, the immediate strong torque led to front wheel spin although this was not experienced in the Civic turbo.

We found that we could take the Civic hybrid through the two successive corners at a higher speed than the Civic turbo too.

Yes, Honda has indeed transformed its hybrid models from being merely fuel misers to sporty and fun-to-drive cars.

READ MORE: Honda Civic hybrid open for booking


In the auto world, women still battle to crack old boys’ club

Krebs (left) speaking with Lindland (C) and other auto industry officials at the ongoing Detroit show. — AFP
DETROIT: The auto industry is famously male dominated, forcing women in the field to fight sexism, discrimination and unequal pay - though woman car experts say having Mary Barra at the helm of General Motors is a “very significant” development.

In the midst of the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct, industry experts Maryann Keller, Michelle Krebs and Rebecca Lindland say they have never faced harassment comparable to that described by the accusers of, for example, film producer Harvey Weinstein.
 Keller

But speaking to AFP on the sidelines of the Detroit Auto Show, one thing was clear: as women, they felt unwelcome in the “old boys’ club” of the automobile world.

All working as industry analysts — with expertise in a world which seems incomprehensible to many — Keller, Krebs and Lindland are regularly consulted on the battle between US and Japanese manufacturers, the ambitions of Tesla or the arm-wrestling of BMW and Mercedes Benz.

But the 62-year-old Krebs, of AutoTrader.com, recalls that when she started, “There was some scepticism that I wouldn’t be sticking around.”

”I don’t know if I was taken seriously initially,” echoes the 74-year-old Keller, who was a financial analyst on male-heavy Wall Street before she became an automobile expert, eventually opening her own consultancy.

She remembers “silly events” and “inappropriate remarks” from salesmen, but declined to go into further detail.

Krebs and Lindland, meanwhile, explained some of the discrimination they faced. ”I had to make sure that I knew everything because they doubted that a woman would know everything,” said Lindland, who is in her 40s.

”There were a lot of male bondings that I was excluded from,” added Krebs, referencing the golf, fishing and car racing outings enjoyed by her colleagues.

”In the very early days... when you go on car drives you usually partner up,” she said. “Nobody would ride with me.”

A former journalist, Krebs began her auto career in 1980 at a local newspaper in Michigan.

She worked her way up to become the first woman to review cars for The New York Times in the 1990s — but found herself on the receiving end of insults from misogynistic readers.

”I got a letter from someone in Texas that said,‘Women have no business writing about cars — they belong in the kitchen making cookies and making mine chocolate chips.’ I never forgot,” she said.

 Barra is an inspiration for other women in the auto industry.

And for Lindland, who has been passionate about cars since the age of nine, auto shows are often frustrating. ”The assumption is that I’m part of the support staff,” she said.

As for pay, Lindland added she had “no doubt” that is another area where women lose out.

”Myself and other female colleagues are paid less... that’s probably for me the most frustrating and upsetting bit,” she said.

Meanwhile, troubling allegations have surfaced about mistreatment of women workers at two Ford Motor Company factories in Chicago.

Last month, Ford’s CEO apologised to employees at the plants after a scathing expose detailed decades of sexual harassment and abuse.

In recent years, auto groups have made efforts to hire more women — but the majority of employees are still men. ”It seems to me that there are safe places where you can have women... you can be an economist, you can be in HR,” said Keller.

In fact, Barra, CEO of General Motors since 2014, is the only female at the head of a large automobile group — an appointment Keller described as “very, very significant.” However, she said questions were raised about Barra’s credentials -- despite the fact she had spent her entire career in the auto field.

Meanwhile, she added, Ford’s newly appointed, less experienced CEO, Jim Hackett, faced no scrutiny.

”I think it was... because she is a woman,” said Keller, who compares perceptions of women working in the industry to manufacturers’ view of female consumers.

”Starting in the 90s, probably if I went to a dealership to buy a car, they would say bring your husband,” she said.

Indeed, it took years for the three women to earn their colleagues’ respect — a moment Lindland will not forget.

”I still remember when they said, you know, we now know that you have petrol in your blood,” she said.


Price cutting threatens automakers' rich margins in China

                BEIJING: International automakers are slashing prices for vehicles they sell in China in response to a slowdown in demand that threatens the industry's rich profit margins.

General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co cut prices on Chinese models late last week, following moves by Volkswagen AG last month to increase discounts on several popular vehicles.

"Pricing adjustment is part of what we need to do every day," said GM China chief Matt Tsien. "The market is softer than it has been in the past."

Analysts said unusually big price cuts - by as much as a fifth - by GM and its rivals point to longer term challenges as Chinese consumers increasingly resist paying double or triple the prices charged for similar or identical cars in the United States and Europe.

At the same time, automakers are adding more production capacity to the world's largest auto market by sales volume, despite a sharp slowdown in sales growth.

GM's price cuts came in the wake of a year-on-year contraction in its China sales in April. Sales for GM and its Chinese joint ventures slipped by 0.4 percent last month, as demand in its largest brands all fell. Sales of its Wuling, Buick and Chevrolet brands declined 5.1 percent, 8.5 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively.

"This is a permanent move downwards in pricing," said James Chao, Shanghai-based Asia-Pacific managing director at industry consultant IHS Automotive. "There are few signs of the trend letting up." GM last week cut prices on 40 different models.

In one case, GM and joint venture partner SAIC Motor reduced the price of certain Chevy Captiva SUVs by 53,900 yuan (US$8,687.80), or 20 percent, to 209,900 yuan. GM said it cut the price of the Captiva - an ageing model due to be refreshed - because it was much more expensive than rivals like the Nissan Xtrail.

Chinese shoppers "know more and more that they are not getting a fair price on a given car, compared to their counterparts in the U.S. and elsewhere," said Yale Zhang, head of Shanghai-based consulting firm Automotive Foresight.

Ford on Friday cut the price of the Ford Explorer SUV by 40,000 yuan, or more than 8 percent. In April, VW and SAIC, also joint venture partners, and China FAW Group Corp, began offering discounts, interest-free loans and other deal sweeteners to boost sales of Volkswagen brand models.

Tsien said GM is aiming to maintain its operating profit margins at 9 percent to 10 percent, even as the Chinese market matures, in part by tilting sales even more toward sport utility vehicles and luxury cars.

"To expect that every quarter you are going to have double-digit growth ... I don't think that is where the overall industry is headed," he said.

The sales slowdown could exacerbate a growing imbalance between capacity and demand, said Chao, the IHS analyst.

"Capacity additions by automakers are coming on stream right now and in the next few years, just as the market has started to see some real weakness," he said. "It is all worrisome."


2018 Singapore Motor Show: Volkswagen Arteon

                SINGAPORE: Volkswagen introduced the Arteon that's touted by the German carmaker to have effectively combined a sedan and sports car into one.

This is Volkswagen's gran turismo variant that features avant-garde design mixed with a great deal of space, efficiency, power, performance, comfort and luxury to set a new benchmark for its segment.

First seen at during the Geneva Motor Show in 2015 in the form of a sport coupe concept GTE, the Arteon is positioned above the Passat and is produced at the German plant in Emden - utilising the company's modular transverse matrix (MQB) vehicle platform.

The Arteon's sheet metal provides for a low drag coefficient reading of just 0.26Cd (the lesser the better) and has a clamshell-design bonnet, wide radiator grille and a long wheelbase of 2,837mm for the 4,862mm-long, 1,871mm-wide and 1,450mm-tall body that has LEDs at the front for its headlights with daytime running lights and rear light clusters.

Also fitted as standard is an Active Info Display, heads-up display, Discover Pro infotainment system with 9.2-inch capacitive glass screen and gesture control and 360-degree Area View camera system.

Singapore gets the Areon R-Line which means it's 2.0-litre (1,984cc) turbocharged TSI engine pushes 280PS from 5,100 to 6,500rpm and 350Nm of torque from 1,700 to 5,600rpm to its 4MOTION permanent all-wheel drive system via a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox.

This allows the Arteon to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 5.6 seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250kph.

Fuel consumption is rated at 7.3 litres per 100km on the combined cycle and emits 164g of carbon dioxide per kilometer.

It also comes fitted with the latest generation Dynamic Chassis Control, Dynaudio sound system and 563 litres of boot space that's expandable to 1,557 litres with the rear backrests folded down.

Interior space measures in at 1,500mm-wide and 1,008mm-tall at the front of the cabin while the rear provides 1,016mm worth of legroom and headroom comes in at 940mm-tall.

Other than the usual Comfort, Normal, Sport and Individual driving modes, Comfort+ and Sport+ modes have now been included as well as the ability for drivers to further customise the suspension setting on a sliding scale

Key safety features include front assist with city emergency brake, side assist with rear traffic alert, 360-degree area view an an updated proactive occupant protection system to further enhance safety levels.


CKD Mazda3 SKYACTIV hits showrooms

                PETALING JAYA: If you have been waiting for the cheaper Mazda3, wait no more as the locally assembled model is now on sale.

The CKD Mazda3 SKYACTIV is available in three variants: Sedan GL at RM105,376.30, while the Sedan High and Hatchback versions are priced the same at RM120,376.30 (all prices OTR without insurance).

The Mazda3 (only in sedan bodystyle) was launched in March last year as a CBU model and was priced at RM135,000.

The CKD sedan variant is of higher specs and priced nearly RM15,000 cheaper than the CBU unit.

Distributor Bermaz Motor said it is passing the cost savings from the local assembly to car buyers in the form of better value for their money.

All variants are generously equipped and get the SkyActiv six-speed automatic transmission, a 2.0-litre SkyActiv direct injection engine with 162bhp and 210Nm of torque, push start/stop system, six airbags, anti-lock braking system, dynamic stability control, traction control, a seven-inch monitor and the MZD Connect System with Commander Control Switch.

The entry-level Sedan GL comes with halogen headlights and 16-inch wheels while the Sedan High and Hatchback get bi-xenon headlights and 18-inch wheels.

Other extra items in the Sedan High and Hatchback are LED taillights, fog lamps, daytime running lights, wing mirrors with turn indicators,  automatic air conditioner, paddle shifters, navigation system, keyless entry system, i-Stop and adaptive front lighting system.

The Sedan High also get additional equipment such as power driver seat, leather seats, automatic wipers, cruise control, auto dimming rear view mirror, head up display, smart city brake system, rear vehicle monitoring and lane departure warning system.

Every new Mazda3 comes with a 3-year/60,000km free maintenance package.

The CKD Mazda3 SKYACTIV is available in four colour choices: Artic White, Meteor Grey Mica, Aluminium Metallic and Blue Reflex Mica.

All versions are powered by the SKYACTIV-G petrol engine with a 2.0 litre displacement, with outputs of 162hp at 6,000rpm and 210Nm at 4,000rpm. Power to the front wheels is relayed by a SKYACTIV 6-speed automatic gearbox.

The CKD Mazda3 SKYACTIV can be viewed at the following locations:

> Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur from April 8-12

> Queensbay Mall, Penang from April 9 – 12

> KSL City Mall, Johor Baru from April 10 – 12

> Setia City Mall, Shah Alam from April 15 – 19

Spec List - Mazda3 SKYACTIV CKDMazda3 SKYACTIV CKD Price List


Jail time proposed for reckless drivers

                PETALING JAYA: The National Road Safety Council has urged the Government to introduce a mandatory jail sentence for dangerous drivers who caused deaths of road users.

Council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said it is high time to impose the sentence as road users were now at the “complete mercy” of these reckless drivers of buses and other heavy vehicles.

“If the Government and its agencies such as the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) do not take such stern action against reckless drivers, such deaths will keep recurring.

“It is high time to nail them for good and put these irresponsible and reckless drivers away,” he said.

At present, Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 provides for a jail term of between two and 10 years and a fine of between RM5,000 and RM20,000.

Lee said a mandatory jail sentence would mean that if a driver is proven to have caused the death of others due to negligence, then that person must go to jail.

“If it is not a mandatory imprisonment, that means the offender can just be fined and paying a fine is not harsh enough to be a deterrent sentence.

“The punishment has to be more stern in order to make drivers realise that they have to exercise due care at all times.

“I believe that we need a radical move to tackle this issue by instilling fear and full responsibility among drivers that they would be sent to jail if found guilty,” Lee said, adding that there were too many cases involving heavy vehicles such as buses, trucks and lorries.

He said it was usual that after such accidents, the public will be told that the operator or driver involved has outstanding summonses while the knee-jerk reaction is to carry out investigations and suspend operations.

Lee also urged enforcement agencies to conduct frequent checks to stop reckless drivers, including those who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol, from endangering the lives of other road users.

Lee said previously, there were many random checks made at bus terminals and roadblocks were set up in the wee hours to help nab reckless drivers who were drunk or high on drugs.

Under Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act, driving under the influence of alcohol or drug which led to death or injuries to others carries between three and 10 years of imprisonment, and a fine of between RM8,000 and RM20,000.


Ferrari and Fiat look at helping Italy make ventilators in coronavirus crisis

                MILAN: Italian carmakers Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler are in talks with the nation’s biggest ventilator manufacturer to help to boost production of the life-saving machines that are urgently needed in the coronavirus crisis, company officials said on Thursday.

Italy is at the epicentre of the pandemic and its government has embarked on a big expansion of the number of intensive care beds, many of which will require ventilators to keep patients alive by taking over breathing functions.

Siare Engineering in northern Italy, where deaths are nearing 3,000 and climbing sharply, is in talks with Fiat Chrysler (FCA), Ferrari and Italian parts maker Marelli to make some parts, source others and to possibly help with the assembly of ventilators.

Gianluca Preziosa, Siare’s chief executive, said the two industries share some expertise, with both the ventilator business and automakers relying heavily on electronics as well as pneumatics.

“We’re talking to Fiat Chrysler, Ferrari and Marelli to try to understand if they can lend us a hand in this process for the electronics part,” he said.

Rome has asked Siare to ramp up its monthly production of ventilators from 160 to 500 after the virus crisis has left the country’s healthcare system in acute distress, Preziosa said.

A spokesman for Exor, parent of both FCA and Ferrari, said that meetings with Siare had taken place on Thursday to study the feasibility of the idea and that a decision was expected in the coming hours.

He said that two main options were being considered: either to help Siare engineer a capacity increase at its plant, with the support of technicians provided by FCA and Ferrari, or outsource production of ventilator parts to the carmakers’ facilities.

A source familiar with the matter said that Ferrari would be ready to start manufacturing ventilator parts in its famous Maranello headquarters, which lies close to the Siare factory, but that the luxury carmaker had yet to make a final decision.

Siare’s Preziosa said that another advantage of partnering with carmakers was their purchasing power, making them more likely to obtain parts that his small firm was struggling to secure amid coronavirus-related disruption to global supply chains.

Three teams in Britain

Over in Britain, some of its biggest companies with expertise in aerospace and cars have formed three teams to produce basic ventilators to help the National Health Service cope with the coronavirus outbreak.

Meggitt, which employs 12,000 people and builds components including oxygen systems for civil aerospace and military fighter programs, is leading one consortium alongside engineers GKN, Thales and Renishaw.

The other two teams are being led by carmakers McLaren, which is looking at how to design a simple version of a ventilator, and Nissan, which is working with others to support existing ventilator producers.

European aerospace group Airbus is working across the process to see if its 3D printing or production facilities can be of use.

“The aim is for there to be a prototype in two weeks and for manufacturing to start in four weeks,” one person familiar with the situation said.

With the coronavirus outbreak taking hold in Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson turned to industry earlier this week, asking major companies such as Rolls Royce and Ford to build ventilators that are critical for helping those who are struggling to breathe.

The head of the National Health Service said on Tuesday that Britain had 8,175 ventilators in the country.

Two groups are acting to co-ordinate the program - PA Consulting and High Value Manufacturing Catapult which was set up by the government to bridge the gap between British business and its powerful academic sector to turn ideas into income.

Airbus said these were unprecedented times and it would help where it could. “Our engineers and technology teams are investigating the practicalities of how we might best support the design, manufacturing and assembly of critical medical equipment,” a spokesman said.

The car companies are looking at how they could help with production of a simplified design of a ventilator, analysing existing models and looking at ways to develop a prototype quickly.

The British government has approached carmakers including Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, Honda, Peugeot-owned Vauxhall, Bentley, Aston Martin and Nissan in the last few days.

McLaren has offered its design and engineering expertise. Others are on standby and waiting for more specific demands from the government.

READ MORE: Tesla's Musk offers to produce ventilators


2016 Detroit auto show: An optimistic start to the New Year

 The new Mercedes E Class will be setting the mid-sized executive benchmark.

DETROIT: As predicted, 2015 saw a record number of cars sold around the world and whether or not demand can continue at the same rate over the coming year, what is clear is that carmakers have once again found their excitement and optimism. And this positivity is expected to be on display to huge effect at the Detroit auto show.

"The industry is truly firing on all cylinders, and that will be reflected at this year's show," said Paul Sabatini, 2016 NAIAS chairman. "Attendees to the 2016 NAIAS will see the most global reveals of any auto show in North America, and will experience them amidst automaker exhibits that are either completely new or significantly enhanced for the upcoming show."

In all, 40 worldwide and North American reveals have been confirmed for the 2016 show, which opens its doors to the press on Jan 11.

That number would be impressive in most years but is even more so considering that Detroit is now facing competition from the International CES technology show being hosted in Las Vegas a week earlier. As well as smartwatches and home automation devices, the show will also be the backdrop to a number of concept car reveals for everyone from Audi to VW.

What's more, in recent weeks, a number of car companies, including MINI, Jaguar, Range Rover and McLaren have said that they're giving this year's show a miss.

Nevertheless, there will be some crucial cars making their first public appearance in Detroit, including the Mercedes E Class, which will be setting the mid-sized executive benchmark that everyone from BMW to Cadillac will have to match or better. The show will also see Volvo return to the executive sedan segment with the S90 and Porsche complete its 911 range with the official unveiling of the Turbo and Turbo S models.

Lexus is tipped to unveil something potentially as fast and exclusive as the flagship 911 and Henrik Fisker, the former head of Aston Martin's design department, has thrown a complete curveball by announcing that he is going to unveil his own supercar, the Force 1, at this year's show.

Details are sketchy - literally all that he's provided so far is a drawing, but he is also claiming that the car will have one of the most powerful normally breathing engines - i.e., no turbos or superchargers - available anywhere today.

And if his latest creation is anything like his other recent one-offs and limited editions, the Force 1 alone could make Detroit well worth a visit.

 A sketch of the Fisker exhibit for the 2016 show.


Ferrari F40 sold for nearly RM5mil

                LONDON: Cars are a depreciating asset. But as with most things in life, there are exceptions, with some cars defying the norms.

A 1992 Ferrari F40 was sold on Saturday for €1,12 million (RM4.8mil) at an auction in Nurburgring, Germany. The car had only one owner and was part of a private collection.

The Ferrari F40 is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door coupé sports car built from 1987 to 1992. The successor to the Ferrari 288 GTO, it was designed to celebrate Ferrari's 40th anniversary and was the last Ferrari automobile personally approved by Enzo Ferrari.

At the time it was the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car that Ferrari sold to the public. Power came from an enlarged, 2.9 L (2,936cc) version of the GTO's twin IHI turbocharged V8 developing 478bhp. The F40 did without a catalytic converter until 1990 when US regulations made them a requirement for emissions control reasons. The flanking exhaust pipes guide exhaust gases from each bank of cylinders while the central pipe guides gases released from the wastegate of the turbochargers.

The suspension setup was similar to the GTO's double wishbone setup, though many parts were upgraded and settings were changed; the unusually low ground clearance prompted Ferrari to include the ability to raise the vehicle's ground clearance when necessary.

The body was an entirely new design by Pininfarina featuring panels made of Kevlar, carbon fibre, and aluminium for strength and low weight, and intense aerodynamic testing was employed. Weight was further minimised through the use of a plastic windshield and windows. The cars did have air conditioning, but had no sound system, door handles, glove box, leather trim, carpets, or door panels. The first 50 cars produced had sliding Lexan windows, while later cars were fitted with normal windows that could be rolled down.

The F40 was designed with aerodynamics in mind. For speed the car relied more on its shape than its power. Frontal area was reduced, and airflow greatly smoothed, but stability rather than terminal velocity was a primary concern. So too was cooling as the forced induction engine generated a great deal of heat. In consequence, the car was somewhat like an open-wheel racing car with a body. It had a partial undertray to smooth airflow beneath the radiator, front section, and the cabin, and a second one with diffusers behind the motor, but the engine bay was not sealed.

Other notable sales at the Coys auction included a 1937 BMW 328 Roadster, which was sold for €562,000, a 2000 Ford GT for €227,000, a 2003 Ferrari 360 for €182,000 and another record price of €145,000 for a 1971 Lamborghini Espada SII.


Briton's Harley stolen at JB mall

What a Harley Davidson CVO looks like. Image for illustration purpose only.

JOHOR BARU: A Briton lost his red-coloured Harley Davidson motorcycle when it was stolen at a popular shopping mall in Taman Bukit Indah here.

Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said that police received a report from the 76-year-old victim at around 5.35pm on Saturday.

"The victim parked and locked his Singapore-registered motorcycle, FBB 3333 K, at the shopping mall at around 12.30pm on the same day.

"However, when he wanted to leave the premises at around 4.30pm, he found his Harley Davidson CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) Ultra Red gone, where he believed it had been stolen," ACP Dzulkhairi said here today.

He said the loss incurred by the victim, who works as a company director, was around S$30,000 (RM90,590).

He urged those with any information relating to the incident to contact the Iskandar Puteri police district hotline number at 07-5113622 or the Johor police hotline number at 07-2212999, or lodge a report at the nearest police station.


Toyota Harrier seeing runaway sales success in Japan

                TOKYO: The new Toyota Harrier SUV is seeing runaway sales success in Japan with more than 45,000 orders in the first month after its launch, according to a report by Asahi.com.

The Asahi.com report also noted the orders are about 15 times the monthly sales target of 3,100 units.

A Toyota spokesperson said it would take up to 5 months or more, from order to delivery.

The new Toyota Harrier started sales in Japan on June 17, and is powered by a 2.0 litre or a hybrid with a 2.5-litre petrol engine.

It is priced from 2,990,000 yen to 5,040,000 yen (from RM120,000 to RM202,000).

This is the first Toyota model to get a Digital Inner Mirror, which enables recording of images to the front and rear of the vehicle while driving.

READ MORE:New Toyota Harrier debuts in Japan, comes with Digital Inner Mirror


Royal Alloy TG250S ABS: A stylish retro

                THE scooter has been a popular two-wheeler around the world since the mid-40s.

A brand new name in the scooter world from United Kingdom, Royal Alloy  is slowly making its presence felt.

As Royal Alloy scooters are inspired by the Lambretta, thus many will mistake them for the Italian original.

In Malaysia, Royal Alloy scooters are distributed exclusively by Chear Global Sdn Bhd.

My review unit is the Royal Alloy TG250S ABS that comes in Burgundy Red-Ivory.

It is also sold in Pewter Grey-Ivory.

Going through the scooter carefully, I must admit that the designers and engineers had spent a lot of effort on this machine offering nothing but the best.

Every single component of this scooter is of high quality.

Nothing on the TG250S ABS looks or is cheap except for the plastic handle cover.

The retro design of this RM20,945 scooter can’t get any more nostalgic.

The scooter also comes with a full-colour 8cm X 7.5cm TFT instrument panel which is easy to read during the sunniest day and even at night.

The display adapts to the surrounding light making the screen legible in any lighting condition.

The instrument panel offers basic useful information like time, date, temperature, speed, fuel, and distance.

All Royal Alloy scooters, including this model, are made from steel except for the front mudguard which is made from solid fiberglass.

There are few chromed details on this scooter that made the TG250S ABS a premium product.

The chrome bits surrounding the front light, instrument panel, signal lights, and the logo on the rear, front and rear carrier plus passenger foot pegs further enhanced the look of the scooter.

And not to forget the retro colours (Burgundy Red-Ivory) are well coordinated on this scooter making it a feast to any eyes and staying true to the classic look.

This machine weighs 152kg, thus making the scooter very manageable and easy to push around without any hassle.

On few occasions, I could tiptoe myself with the scooter to the next lane on the road while waiting for the light to turn green.

The 244cc engine allows the TG250S ABS to scoot off from one traffic light to another effortlessly.

Every time I twist the throttle, power is instantaneous.

This sort of power delivery is necessary when the scooter is your daily ride especially when you are battling with the city traffic.

At low RPMs, this bike is still fine and dandy.

I am able to zig-zag out of the traffic without breaking a sweat.

The agility of the scooter on the road is commendable due to its lightweight and the low gravity point.

Besides being city-friendly, a long-distance ride on the TG250S ABS is nothing but enjoyable.

The 10.5-litre tank can give a riding range of about 280km.

I took the scooter to Sekinchan through the backroads of Kuala Selangor.

While doing 80kph on a backroad, I had to apply emergency braking when a monitor lizard decided to dash across in front of me.

To my surprise, the Bosch ABS brakes stooped me safely.

I was impressed as the brakes did what they supposed to do well.

Meanwhile, on rough roads, the suspension was decent in soaking up the bumps and bounces.

There were no aches from my tailbone or my back.

I am very sure, if I made an effort to tweak the rear and front suspension, the ride would have been much better.

The scooter, with a top speed of 126kph, was very much at home on the highways.

At high speeds, the ride was stable with a planted feel.

I did feel a tinge of vibration occasionally from the bottom of the body but that did not bother me at all when the road handling and the comfy seat dominated.

The saddle on this scooter is long and wide, thus giving ample room for the rider and passenger.

The firmness of the saddle was perfect for me and I am quite sure I will enjoy a long-distance ride on this beauty.

Initially, I found it difficult to take corners when I was into my first turn on a stretch of a windy road.

The problem was not with the scooter, but it was my inexperience in handling a scooter in corners.

In less than 10 minutes, taking corners with this scooter was a walk in the park.

The scooter was able to hold its line well. You just got to get the hang of it.

Be it in the city, backroads, or the highways, the power delivery on this scooter is predictable yet satisfying.

Every time I twist the throttle, the engine obediently channels the horsepower to my needs.

My only gripe with this scooter is the storage compartment.

There is no built-in storage compartment on this scooter except the glove compartment that comes with a USB port.

The glove compartment is big enough to hold my mobile phone, wallet, and gloves.

I am puzzled why the folks at Royal Alloy did not pay attention to this important feature.

However, there are two luggage racks on the rear and front that needs to be fastened with a strap if you decide to carry anything on it.

There is a hook to hang a small grocery bag.

I was told by the folks at Royal Alloy that they are working with a manufacturer to offer a topbox very soon.

While riding in Kuala Lumpur and Sekinchan, two motorcyclists and a car driver gave me the thumbs up, approving of this scooter.

I felt good but sadly the scooter does not belong to me. Maybe I will buy one soon.

If you want to book a test ride, call 03-55246383 or +6 019 565 9819.

For more information on Royal Alloy scooters, visit www.royalalloymalaysia.com.SPECIFICATIONSRoyal Alloy TG250S ABSEngine: 244cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid cooled
Maximum power: 21.3hp at 8,000rpm
Maximum torque: 16.4Nm at 7,500rpm
Suspension: Front double preload adjustable with anti-dive, rear twin adjustable hydraulic coil
Brakes: Front Bosch anti-lock braking system (ABS), 220mm disc
Fuel capacity: 10.5 litres
Range: 280km (approx)
Weight: 152kg
Price: RM20,945 (on-the-road without insurance)


Lamborghini rolls out Aventador SVJ Xago to mark arrival of virtual studio

                BOLOGNA: Automobili Lamborghini has announced the arrival of the Aventador SVJ Xago special edition.

Only 10 units will be made and are reserved for clients specifying their Aventador SVJ virtually.

Inspired by the hexagon cloud shapes at the North Pole on the planet Saturn and the strength of the hexagon in nature, the Xago celebrates the iconic ‘hexagonita’ theme in Lamborghini design.

The exterior of the Aventador SVJ Xago edition features a specially-created fading hexagonal silver effect, with a unique Ad Personam contrast colour livery for each car and gloss black Nireo Ad Personam rims. The interior features an exclusive seat pattern with hexagonita theme, and special contrast color matching the exterior. Each of the 10 Aventador SVJ Xago models will be identified by a numbered plate.

The Aventador SVJ Xago was introduced to mark the formation of a new virtual Ad Personam studio, offering consultation sessions to clients worldwide who want to personalise their new Lamborghini without travelling to the Ad Personam specialist department in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy.

From July 2020, clients can pre-book an initial consultation of around two hours via their dealership, either joining their sales specialist at the showroom or from another location, for their session with Lamborghini’s specialists surrounded by the extensive Ad Personam options on display.

A video call would be supported with the relevant model in the Ad Personam studio, and live design proposals and configuration suggestions from the Ad Personam team, using smartphones for walkarounds and to see close-up details. The virtual consultation is followed up with full proposals sent to the client, including renderings and even material samples.

“We still look forward to welcoming clients to Sant’ Agata Bolognese in the future but we expect more than 150 Ad Personam consultations to take place virtually within this year, and continuing as an option for the future," said Automobili Lamborghini chief commercial officer Giovanni Perosino.

"With the support of our dealers worldwide, who also have significant personalization experience and of course, samples and materials in their own dealerships, we have the exciting opportunity in an increasingly digital age to create one-off Lamborghini models virtually.”

Automobili Lamborghini launched its Ad Personam programme in 2013 and opened its Ad Personam studio in 2016. Today more than 50% of Lamborghini cars coming off the production line feature at least one Ad Personam detail: a percentage that has tripled over the last three years, with the United States, Asia and UK the biggest markets.


2016 Geneva Motor Show: Maserati Levante

                GENEVA: The Levante is Maserati's first SUV in its hundred-year history.

The new car's name is inspired by a wind: the Levante is a warm Mediterranean wind that can change from a light breeze to an irresistible natural force in an instant.

The Levante has a 3 litre V6 Twin-Turbo petrol engine with either 350hp or 430hp, and a 275hp 3 litre V6 Turbo Diesel.

The Maserati stand at the Geneva Motor Show displays both the Levante S and diesel-powered Levante.

All engines are combined with “Q4” intelligent all-wheel drive, and an 8-speed automatic gearbox, with integrated Start and Stop System.

The new Maserati SUV is based on the Quattroporte and Ghibli architecture, with an interior filled with premium materials, from optional premium leather to Ermenegildo Zegna silk, made in Trivero by the Zegna wool mill with a patented process.

The Levante is designed for on- and off-road.

It has a double-wishbone on the front axle and multi-link on the rear, combined with electronically controlled damping, four corner air-springs providing 5 dynamic ride levels (plus one additional park-position).

It also has the lowest centre of gravity in its class, balanced weight distribution (50-50) between front and rear, and a mechanical self-locking rear differential as standard.

In the cabin is a 8.4-inch high-resolution touchscreen, while driver assistance systems include adaptive cruise control with automatic Start and Stop function, forward collision warning, automatic brake assist system and lane departure warning.

Further options include blind spot alert, surround view camera and a powerlift tailgate.


All-new Perodua Alza launched, priced from RM62,500

                KUALA LUMPUR: Perodua today launched the all-new Alza, which is a bigger and more refined MPV.

This means the new Alza is priced higher now than before. Perodua has dropped the 5-speed manual variant and now offers the model in three variants of X, H and AV.

They are priced respectively at RM62,500, RM68,000 and RM75,500 (OTR without insurance).

Waiting period for delivery is nine to 10 months at present but Perodua said it is working hard to reduce the waiting time.

Perodua said 30,000 Alza bookings have been received since the order book was opened on June 23. It's the highest ever in Perodua's history.

Since Alza was introduced in 2009, the 7-seater has become Perodua's fifth most popular car ever,  selling around 400,000 units.

The Myvi headed the list of bestsellers followed by Kancil, Axia and Viva. The Kancil and Viva are no longer in production.

About 4,300 units of Alza units are expected to be registered this month. Perodua expects to produce 3,000 Alza units monthly.

The company has invested RM770 million to develop the all-new Alza since work began in April 2018.

Perodua said Malaysians are buying the Alza as replacement or additional car and that 40% of Alza customers are women.

It also said the Alza customer profile is slightly younger than the one for the bigger Aruz.

The Alza boasts a smart package catering to families in their 30s, said Perodua. What the new Alza has going for it over its predecessor are enhanced safety features such as six airbags, Advanced Safety Assist features, enhanced digital offerings, ample space and improved driving comfort.

It also appeals with low ride feeling, a stable ride and easy access especially for young children and the elderly.

The new Alza comes with a Euro 4 1.5-litre 4-cylinder DOHC EFI with Dual VVT-i delivering 78kW (105hp) and 138Nm of torque while boasting a fuel economy of 22km per litre.

The dual mode CVT as seen in Ativa has replaced the old 4-speed automatic gearbox.

The MPV is now wider, has more interior space and touts a versatile seat configuration. With third row seats folded, boot space has increased by 150l to 498l.

Feature debuts in the second-generation Alza are electric parking brake, 360-degree Parking View Monitor, rear air-cond vents above the second row and three drive modes of Normal, Eco and Power.

The top AV variant gets Stop/Hold/Follow function, as well as 360 degree Parking View Monitor, Lane Keep Assist, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, DVR and 16-inch alloy wheels.

All variants get six airbags, vehicle stability control, traction control and LED headlamps, among other upgrades.

Turning radius is smaller at 5m, 0.2m less than the old Alza.

The new Alza was jointly developed under the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) where Malaysian designers and engineers worked with their counterparts within Daihatsu Motor Co. of Japan.

“This partnership has allowed Perodua and its suppliers to work together with Daihatsu to achieve economies of scale and improve development cost of new models," said Perodua chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

The latest Alza is the second model developed under DNGA after the Ativa, which was introduced in March 2021.

The new Alza was launched here by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Also at the event were Perodua chairman Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin, Daihatsu Motor Co Ltd president Soichiro Okudaira and other invited guests.

The new Alza is available in Elegant Black, Ivory White (Solid), Glittering Silver, Garnet Red and Vintage Brown.

Short drive

A few days prior to the launch, members of the media were given the chance to test-drive the new Alza at the 4.27km Perodua test course at its Rawang headquarters. All six units used were the AV variant with two of them specced in Gear Up accessories.

The exercise sought to show the Alza's straight line acceleration and handling, cornering stability and Brake Hold safety feature in a hill climb.

The new Alza performed competently in the brief drive. Ride and cabin insulation were good and the light steering makes this bigger and heavier Alza easy to place anywhere on the road with two persons on board albeit we were limited to a 100kph speed limit. The CVT relayed the torque to the front axle effectively and it didn't feel like it was struggling to move the MPV along.  It would be interesting to see how the dynamics would change with seven people on board but that would have to be a task for another day.

The Alza held a steady course as it banked on a stretch of the test course, and the low-riding car felt planted and confident at around 80kph.

Two features of the Perodua Smart Assist safety suite were highlighted.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), only available in the AV variant, eases the journey and keeps a safe distance from vehicles ahead. It allows the vehcile to travel in a constant pre-selected speed, and automatically adjusts the vehicle speed to maintain a safe distance from the
vehicle ahead. If the vehicle ahead slows down, stops and moves again, the following vehicle equipped with ACC will pace itself also and brake if necessary to maintain the safe distance.

Once the slower-moving vehicle ahead is no longer in front, the following vehicle will then accelerate to the set speed and return to constant speed driving. Theory translated into reality when we put the ACC to the test, with the Alza exhibiting the behaviour described.

The electronic parking brake with Auto Brake Hold, also only available in the AV variant, performed as expected when the Alza was halted midway on an ascending stretch of tarmac. The Auto Brake Hold is helpful for the ordinary driver as it prevents rollback and gives enough time for the person to tap on the accelerator and start moving forward.

READ MORE: Perodua to ramp up production to cope with demand

> ALZA PRICE LIST


Britain's Ineos on track to build car despite stalled economy

                LONDON: Ineos, the chemicals giant owned by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, is driving through plans to build a 4x4 vehicle despite a car sector stalled by the coronavirus pandemic.

"The task of building a brand and making known to everybody what the proposition is, is quite ambitious," said Ineos automotive CEO Dirk Heilmann, as more detailed plans regarding the project, including on its design, were revealed.

Ineos Grenadier, described by the company as "a stripped back, utilitarian, hard-working 4x4", will enter production in late 2021 at a new factory in Wales, creating an initial 200 jobs, a statement said Wednesday.

"Deliveries will start first in the UK and Europe and in other global markets" thereafter, it added amid a project investment totalling £1.0 billion (RM5.4bil).

It comes at a time when the auto sector worldwide has seen sales and production crushed by Covid-19 lockdowns shutting factories and showrooms, although many have since reopened.

"It is a very difficult time for the automotive industry, though it is worth bearing in mind that these (car launches) are relatively enduring investments," said Cardiff University Professor Peter Wells, an expert on the global automative industry.

"In some respects starting production now is actually using the current situation to the advantage of the business," he said.

"It will give the business time to smooth out any production problems or any quality concerns before increasing the (assembly) line speed to full output," Wells added.

Car enthusiast Ratcliffe identified a gap in the market for such a vehicle after the final Land Rover Defender was produced in 2016.

Ineos has meanwhile teamed up with leading car groups, including BMW.

"Combining rugged British spirit with German engineering rigour, the Grenadier will be a truly uncompromising 4x4, built from the ground up," Ineos said Wednesday.

It predicted that the vehicle would appeal to landowners, forestry workers, explorers and ski operators.

Wait for electric

"In some regards the car is a rather dated concept, that is not attuned to the emergent world of low-carbon automobility," said Wells.

"However, it is also a niche product, and in that sense builds on a noted aspect of the UK automotive industry."

Heilmann said Ineos was not yet in a position to have a vehicle that did not run on petrol or diesel.

"It's not the time to introduce this," he told reporters at a briefing ahead of Wednesday's formal update, noting there was not a battery allowing the vehicle to be driven far enough.

Ratcliffe's move into car manufacturing follows a failed attempt by British inventor James Dyson, who last year pulled the plug on plans to build an electric car, citing an inability to make it a commercial success.


Ford aims a new electric van at European cities - and startups

DETROIT: Ford Motor Co unveiled a new electric Courier van aimed at winning business customers in Europe, and boxing out electric van startups such as Arrival.

The electric Courier is part of a revamped lineup of smaller, commercial vans for the European market that will also include gasoline and diesel models, Ford said.

The new Courier vans are 25% larger than the current model, and will carry heavier loads, Ford Pro chief Ted Cannis said in an interview.

The electric Courier will respond to European commercial customers who operate in cities, such as Paris, where officials have mapped out plans to ban combustion vehicles from city centres, Cannis said. The electric Courier will launch next year.

However, Cannis said, European countries are not shifting to electric vehicles at the same pace. "Country by country, it's dramatically different," he said. Petrol Couriers will stay in the lineup, with new models launching this summer.

"You have to mix and match all options market by market," he said. "Which is what makes it so different for new players."

Separately, Cannis said Ford expects many US commercial fleet customers will receive US$7,500 tax credits if they buy electric Transit vans.

New US government rules will cut the tax credit for retail buyers of electric Transit vans to US$3,750 as of April 18, Ford said on Wednesday.

Ford is collaborating with accounting firm Ernst & Young to advise US commercial customers on whether they will qualify for US$7,500 tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act.


Chevrolet year-end promotion a hit

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Chevrolet year-end promotion that offered cash rebates of up to RM20,000 and a chance to win an all-expense trip to watch a Barclays Premier League football match was a hit among Malaysian car buyers.

The ‘Manchester United for Life’ spend and win contest offered a chance to win an all-expense trip for two to watch the Manchester United vs. Chelsea game at Old Trafford’s on December 29, 2015.

The six-days/four-nights Manchester and London trip for two persons was won by Pung Seu Kin, who bought a Chevrolet Colorado from Boston Auto Sdn Bhd, Chevrolet’s official dealer in Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu.

“Our year-end campaign was aimed at giving potential customers enticing rewards,” said Naza Quest Sdn Bhd vice president one Thoo Ai Wuen.

“We saw a significant increase in visits to our dealers. To all our customers who bought a Chevrolet, we would like to say a big thank you,” said Thoo.

"Being a Manchester United fan, the incentives and contest helped me make the decision to buy a Chevrolet,” said Pung.

“I am grateful to Chevrolet for this opportunity to see my beloved team play in Old Trafford, and I am looking forward to meeting past legends of the club at the VIP Hospitality Suite.”

On top of the cash rebate, existing Chevrolet customers also received a RM500 ‘Retention Incentive’ when they bought a new model.

Chevrolet supports football all over the world through its Beautiful Possibilities Programme.

The brand believes that play has the power to change people’s lives and shape communities.

By revitalizing local pitches, Chevrolet brought play to Rio de Janerio (Brazil) and Kolkata (India) in May, Bangkok (Thailand) in April and Bandung (Indonesia), Chicago (USA) and Hammanskraal (South Africa) in 2014.


Emergency lane abusers will be charged, says JPJ

                JOHOR BARU: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has recorded 91 vehicles that blocked the way of an ambulance along an emergency lane heading to an accident scene along the North South Expressway near Ayer Keroh recently.

Out of the 91 vehicles caught using the emergency lane, seven have been identified and notices issued to owners to assist in investigations of on the incident which occurred on May 22.

JPJ Enforcement Division chief Datuk V. Valluvan said that a video recording clearly showed the seven cars were clearly obstructing the way of the ambulance, which was rushing to an accident scene at KM228 near Ayer Keroh.

"We are going all out to investigate the matter and offenders will not be issued a compound but directly charged in court under Section 53 of the Road Transport Act 1957 which carries a maximum fine of RM2,000 or six-month or both,” said Valluvan.

He told reporters here after a dialogue session with Johor state JPJ enforcement officers here on Thursday that such stern action was necessary as abuse of emergency lanes has been worsening, especially along expressways.

It is learnt that it took an ambulance about an hour before it could reach the accident scene involving two motorcyclists, both died on the spot.


Musk says Tesla Model S Plaid delivery delayed a week

                SAN FRANCISCO: Delivery for Tesla Inc.’s Model S Plaid will be pushed back a week to June 10, CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet.

The car "needs one more week of tweak,” Musk said in explaining the delay.

The Model S Plaid, the automaker’s quickest electric vehicle to date, was scheduled to be unveiled at a June 3 delivery event for customers at its factory in Fremont, California.

Musk, who also leads Space Exploration Technologies Corp., said the car "feels like a spaceship” and that "words cannot describe the limbic resonance.”

In his original tweet announcing the event, he said the Model S Plaid was the fastest production car ever, capable of going from zero to 60mph in under 2 seconds.


Police probing alleged road rage incident in Kajang

                KAJANG: Police are investigating an alleged road rage incident involving two motorists here which has gone viral.

Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Zaid Hassan (pic) said they came to know about the 58-second video on the incident which had been shared via a mobile phone messaging application and on social media.

The video showed a driver of a Proton Persona blocking a motorcyclist on the road.

The driver then got out of his vehicle and started shouting at the motorcyclist before kicking and beating the man.

"We believe the incident took place at a traffic light intersection at Bandar Teknologi Kajang based on the caption posted by the person who uploaded the video on social media.

"No police report has been lodged over the incident by either party involved so far," he said in a statement today.

He said police, however, lodged a report on the case in order to track down the suspect and victim in the case.

"We have opened investigations under Section 323 and Section 506 of the Penal Code for causing hurt and criminal intimidation.

"We urge anyone with information on the case to come forward so that the suspect can be brought to justice," he said, advising the public not to speculate on the case and take matters into their own hands.

Those with information can contact Insp Mohd Ali Hamzah at 019-866 0324 or go to the nearest police station.


Perak road users to get up to 70% discounts in summonses, compounds

                IPOH: In conjunction with National Day, road users in Perak are eligible to get up to a 70% in summonses and compounds.

Perak Road Transport Department (JPJ) director Severinus Tukah said they would be giving 70% discounts on summonses.

He said the discounts, including for summonses issued by the now-defunct Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), would be available until Aug 31.

"The discounts are for all summonses issued by JPJ and SPAD under the Road Transport Act 1987, Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987 and the Land Public Transport Act 2010.

"The summonses can be paid at all state and branches of the department offices, at Urban Transformation Centres, through MySikap, JPJ, JPJ Kiosks and JPJ mobile portals," he said in a statement.

Severinus added those with blacklisted records must be present in person at the JPJ offices for documentation processing before the discounts are provided.

He said until Aug 8, a total of RM220,462 had been received through the settling of summonses with discounts.

"Thus I am hoping the public will take the opportunity to settle their outstanding summonses with the 70% discount in place," he added.

Similarly, the Ipoh City Council also offered between 30% and 50% discount on traffic compounds until Aug 31.

Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the discount would be applicable for compounds issued to the public for parking outside of designated parking lots and for not displaying parking coupons.

"I urge the public to take this opportunity," he told reporters after attending the "Fly the Jalur Gemilang" event at the city council on Jalan Sultan Abdul Jalil here Monday.

He said the discount would be available at any of the city council's payment counters.


Honda Malaysia recalls 702 units involving 2021 City Hybrid and 2022 Civic

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has issued a recall for 702 vehicles involving the 2021 City Hybrid and 2022 Civic models.

Under the exercise, 630 units of the City Hybrid were recalled as a precautionary safety measure to replace the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) camera that is fitted in the front windscreen.

The camera may not operate properly and cause ADAS to be inactive during driving.

The 72 units of the Civic recalled were done as a precautionary safety measure to rectify the welding point at the slide adjuster in the driver seat.

This may cause the driver seat to be not fixed in position during driving and may compromise the seatbelt protection for the driver.

Honda Malaysia said it apologised for the inconvenience caused to affected customers and reassured that other current production and selling models were not affected in this exercise.

“As of today, there are no incidences of crashes or injuries caused by this issue reported in Malaysia,” the company said, adding that customer safety is Honda Malaysia’s top priority.

All affected customers will be informed via notification letters, which will include details of the product recall.

Honda Malaysia said affected customers can contact any Honda authorised dealer to make an appointment upon receipt of the notification to have their vehicles checked and repaired if required, subject to parts availability.

The company encourages customers to download and update their details via the HondaTouch mobile application for further verification on this recall.

The inspection, repair and replacement of the affected parts are free of charge and all costs related to this recall activity will be borne by Honda Malaysia.

Vehicle owners can obtain information or check their vehicle status on this product recall by calling Honda Malaysia’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020 or log on to productrecall.honda.com.my.


Proton sales fall in May, export volume on strong footing

                SUBANG JAYA: Following two consecutive months of strong sales, where Total Industry Volume (TIV) averaged over 60,000 units, Malaysia’s automotive industry receded by 20% in May as issues such as chip shortages and a national movement control order took effect.

Proton sold 9,440 units (domestic + export) last month, a reduction of 37.1% compared to April, resulting in a market share of 20.3%.

Up to the end of May, total volume stood at 57,283 units with a year-to-date market share of 23.5%, an increase of 2.4% over the previous year.

Proton models led four segments as exports reach new 98-month high. After becoming the overall market leader for April, the Saga relinquished its hold on the crown but still ended the month as the A-segment sedan sales leader with 3,786 units delivered.

The Saga is one of four Proton models that managed to lead their respective class.

As with the previous month, the X50 and X70 continue to lead their segments by a considerable margin. The smaller SUV managed to achieve 1,899 units in May while the latter posted 1,523 units for a cumulative total of 3,422 units delivered to Malaysian and overseas customers.

The company’s fourth segment leader was the Exora, which retained its customary position at the head of the C-segment MPV class.

Meanwhile, Proton’s overseas sales efforts continue to gain momentum despite international markets going through varying degrees of lockdown.

With 669 units comprising the Saga, X50 and X70 exported in May, the company’s international sales division recorded its best month since March 2013.

As a result, total export sales for 2021 are now less than 100 units behind the total for the whole of last year.

With a "full lockdown" already under way, car sales will be suspended for at least two weeks and perhaps longer if the Movement Control Order (MCO) is extended.

Unlike last year, service centres are allowed to operate so Proton would be accepting cars from customers who have prebooked an appointment.

The company will also be looking to use the break to retool its sales plan for the remainder of 2021, while also taking steps to future proof its business against regulatory changes and external factors such as the coronavirus.

“Last year proved to the world that business as usual can be disrupted without warning. To remain competitive in an unpredictable environment, Proton along with its vendors and dealers need to have the flexibility to pivot quickly to take advantage of unexpected opportunities," said Proton Edar CEO Roslan Abdullah.

"As such, we will intensify our efforts to implement a
framework to meet upcoming regulations locally and internationally which is vital for future growth.

“We are also finalising our model launch plans for the rest of this year. The current MCO will push some of these dates back, but Proton remains committed to meeting our launch targets and creating some excitement for our customers in 2021.”


Honda confirms funky new electric concept with sketch

                TOKYO: Honda has announced that the world premiere of its latest adorable city concept car will take place at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

It recently shared a design sketch of an upcoming EV concept that's slated to be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in a couple of months.

According to the company, this electric model was developed with functionality and purpose at the top of the list, criteria which the simple and streamlined exterior design - very obviously inspired by the 2017 Urban EV Concept - supports.

Comparing Motor Authority's spy shots of the camouflaged vehicle in the wild with the previous generation, this 2019 version gains two back doors, bringing the total up to five instead of three like the 2017 iteration.

Honda created this prototype in accordance with its Electric Vision, "a commitment that two thirds of European sales will feature electrified technology by 2025."

A production model is expected to go on sale in Europe later this year, but you can check out the concept in Geneva starting on March 5.


Saleen reveals plans for off-road desert racer

                LOS ANGELES: Saleen Automotive of California has revealed the Saleen Bronco. As the creator of the Saleen S7 – one of the most successful racing cars ever built – Saleen is mainly associated with success on asphalt surfaces, but with the new Bronco, the company is taking to the dirt with a vengeance.

The new vehicle pays homage to Big Oly, the infamous machine piloted by Parnelli Jones. Big Oly took on the Mexican 1000 (now known as the Baja 1000) – one of the most gruelling endurance races in the world – and won the race twice in 1971 and 1972.

The Saleen Bronco is decked out in livery reminiscent of the original, and also boasts numerous performance features Saleen say it will reveal later.

It teased that the Saleen Bronco would be "a very capable, high-performance, off-road machine."

Saleen Automotive is founded by racing driver and vehicle builder Steve Saleen.


NIO EP9 breaks Nurburgring lap record again

                BERLIN: The NIO EP9 electric vehicle (EV) set a new lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, achieving a lap time of 6mins 45.90 seconds.

Priced at USD1.48 million (RM6.66mil), the EP9 comes equipped with 1.0 MegaWatt of power, which is equivalent to 1,360PS - allowing it to accelerate from 0-200kph in 7.1 seconds before reaching a top speed of 313kph.

At present, the EP9 has managed to break or set new track records at four renowned racetracks with its all-wheel-drive system - each wheel with its own electric motor and gearbox.

The US-based comapny has made several announcements over the last few months; one of which was of its plans to produce a second batch of ten EP9s - each of which will be made to order.

The company has also made public that they will have autonomous electric vehicles in the US by 2020 and has also unveiled its automous concept EV - Nio Eve.

Additionally, the company unveiled its ES8 - a full-size seven-seater all electric SUV meant for the China market later this year.

NIO is a global start-up, designing and developing smart, high-performance, premium electric vehicles.

"In the inclement weather that the Nürburgring Nordschleife is known for, the EP9 completed two laps of the 20.8 km (12.9m) ‘Green Hell’, one of which was in 7mins 05.12 seconds, beating the previous EV lap record, making it the fastest electric car in the world.

"The EP9’s new lap record is 19.22 seconds faster than its previous lap time. This is a fabulous achievement for NIO and I am very proud of the team that has worked tirelessly to achieve this accolade,” said NIO head of performance program & FE Team Principal Gerry Hughes.


Hyundai teases next-generation Santa Fe

                FRANKFURT: Hyundai Motor has released a first glimpse of the new Santa Fe, which reveals a rugged yet luxurious design for the SUV.

The latest generation of the company’s longest-running flagship SUV will feature a dignified and charismatic exterior design, as well as interior design updates providing premium sensibility and comfort.

The teaser image reveals several new design features, including the combined front grille and daytime running light (DRL), as part of the new Integrated Architecture.

The wide grille give the new Santa Fe a bold character, while the geometric pattern on the grille adds a stereoscopic aspect. The new T-shaped DRL complete the rugged character and make the new Santa Fe recognizable even from a distance.

Among other enhancements, Hyundai will also introduce a new electrified powertrain line-up, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid options for the first time.

In addition, the new Santa Fe will be the first Hyundai model in Europe and first Hyundai SUV globally based on the all-new third-generation Hyundai vehicle platform. The new platform allows for significant improvements in performance, handling and safety, as well as facilitating electrified powertrains.

The new Santa Fe will be available in Europe starting September 2020. More information will be revealed in the coming weeks.


Hyundai looks ahead to new SUVs in 2021 — and urban air taxis by 2028

                LOS ANGELES: Hyundai Motor Co is supercharging its product portfolio next year with the introduction of several new SUVs, while looking even farther out to the launch of its first urban air taxis toward the end of the decade, the company’s top US executive said on Monday.

“We are all-in on autonomous vehicles,” as well as electric vehicles, said Jose Munoz, president and CEO and Hyundai Motor North America, at an Automotive Press Association teleconference.

His remarks come at a time when investment in robo-taxis has slowed, even as the global pandemic has spurred interest in personally-owned vehicles, especially trucks and SUVs.

Hyundai hopes to tap that interest next year with the all-new Santa Cruz, a compact utility vehicle with a pickup bed, and the Ioniq 5 crossover, the first in a series of new all-electric models.

Early next year, the redesigned Tucson compact crossover goes into production at Hyundai’s Montgomery, Alabama plant, which also will begin building the Santa Cruz in late spring as part of a US$410 million expansion.

Munoz said Hyundai will work with the new Biden administration to develop infrastructure to support battery electric and hydrogen electric vehicles.

He seemed most excited by Hyundai’s work with Motional - its US$4 billion self-driving technology joint venture with Aptiv PLC - and its partnership with Uber Technologies on urban air taxis, which Munoz predicted would be in operation at such major US airports as LAX in Los Angeles and JFK in New York “by 2028, maybe earlier.”

Hyundai already is developing “flying devices” powered by electric motors and batteries that can transport five to six passengers from highly congested urban and suburban centers to those airports, Munoz said.

“We see a lot of opportunity ahead of us in autonomous vehicles,” including air taxis, he said.


Investors chide Toyota’s Toyoda for questioning combustion car ban

                TOKYO: Some Toyota Motor shareholders have criticised its president Akio Toyoda for questioning Japan’s plans to ban conventional cars only days after the firm said it was reviewing its climate lobbying and aimed for carbon neutrality by 2050.

The five investors, who collectively have around US$500 billion in assets under management and spoke exclusively to Reuters, said the carmaker risks falling behind competitors that are rolling out electric vehicles, while giving cover for other companies seeking to avoid big changes to meet climate goals.

Japan’s Toyota signalled a shift in its climate change stance last month when it said it would review its lobbying and be more transparent on what steps it was taking as it responded to increased activist and investor pressure.

Three days later though, in his capacity as head of the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association, Toyoda questioned the country's decision to ban new internal combustion engined vehicles by 2035 in its quest for carbon neutrality.

"What Japan needs to do now is to expand its options for technology. I think regulations and legislations should follow after," Toyoda said.

"Policy that bans gasoline-powered or diesel cars from the very beginning would limit such options, and could also cause Japan to lose its strengths," he added.

Investors who had welcomed the earlier Toyota statement on lobbying said they were worried that Toyoda may not be on board with the plans.

"We're genuinely concerned that Mr. Toyoda does not seem to realize what is at stake here," said Jens Munch Holst, CEO of AkademikerPension.

The Danish fund told Reuters last month that it would consider a shareholder resolution or sell its holding in Toyota if there was no change after "intense" engagement with the company.

A Toyota spokeswoman told Reuters the company could not immediately comment on the investors' criticism but would be addressing climate issues later in the week when it announces earnings.

The company in recent years has said that electric vehicles will play a greater role in reducing emissions but other solutions should be used, like its successful hybrid or slow-selling hydrogen vehicles.

With pressure growing on carmakers to slash emissions, Toyota is scrambling to produce electric vehicles that can compete with models from the likes of Tesla, Volkswagen, General Motors and Renault, plus Chinese startups like Nio and Xpeng.

The five investors who spoke about Toyoda's comments - also including Norway's Storebrand Asset Management, Nordic investor Nordea Asset Management, the Church of England Pensions Board and KLP, Norway's biggest pension fund - said Toyota was in danger of blunting its competitiveness.

"As a shareholder in Toyota, we actively engaged with the company and received reassurances that all of its lobbying activities, including with industry associations, would be reviewed and reported on this year," said Jan Erik Saugestad, CEO of Storebrand Asset Management.

"Full electrification of transport is vital if we are to meet our climate targets and Toyota should be leading the charge on this rather than prolonging the production of new combustion engines and giving away their market share to other companies," he added.


Cambodia's first expressway expected to be ready earlier

                PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's first expressway is expected to be completed ahead of schedule, says the country's Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol.

Jointly funded by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the Cambodian government, the US$2-billion Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway will connect the capital city of Phnom Penh and the deep-sea port province of Preah Sihanouk in the country's south-western part.

The construction of the expressway began in March 2019 and is scheduled to be completed in March 2023. It is believed that the firm will be able to finish the project by September 2022, Chanthol said, according to the live broadcast on the ministry's official Facebook page.

"So far, about 55 per cent of the construction has been completed," he told reporters on Monday during a visit to a stretch of the road in Kampong Speu province.

At a width of 24.5m with two lanes on either side, vehicles can travel at a speed of 100kph, so it will take only two hours to travel between the two destinations, compared with five hours at present, he said.

The minister added that the road will play a key role in helping boost Cambodia's economic growth as it links the capital city to the largest seaport in the country.

Chanthol said the project has created over 3,000 jobs for Cambodians, and about 66 per cent of them have been fully vaccinated with two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

"This project benefits Cambodian workers because it provides them with technical know-how on building an expressway. We hope they will be able to use their knowledge to build other expressways in Cambodia," he added.

The highway is one of the Cambodia-China cooperation projects under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The 187.05-km Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway is based on a build-operate-transfer basis. —  Xinhua


Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder to get a showing at upcoming Geneva Motor Show

                ROME: Lamborghini has announced that it will introduce its new drop-top Huracán EVO Spyder at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show - making it the the second model in the V10 Huracán EVO line-up, next to its coupé counterpart.

“The Huracán EVO Spyder incorporates all the performance, next-generation vehicle control and aerodynamic features of the EVO coupé, with its own unique personality and a driving excitement that only an open-top car can offer,” said Automobili Lamborghini chairman and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali.

The new Spyder adopts the next-generation vehicle dynamic control and aerodynamics developed for the coupé.

The 5.2-litre (5,204cc) naturally-aspirated V10 engine has been uprated for a higher power output and now incorporates Titanium intake valves to produce 640hp at 8,000rpm and 600Nm of torque at 6,500rpm.

A seven-speed Lamborghini Doppia Frizione dual-clutch transmission with variable shift characteristics via the Adaptive Network Intelligent MAnagement (ANIMA) selector manages power delivery to the all-wheel drive system.

Weighing in dry at 1,542kg, the car now has a power-to-weight ratio of 2.41kg/hp, allowing it accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 3.1seconds before hitting the brakes to come to a complete stop 32.2m later.

Likewise, it can also reach the 200kph mark from standstill in 9.3 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 325kph.

Similarly to its coupe stablemate, the drop-top variant from Italy has rear-wheel steering and a four-wheel torque vectoring system, which are controlled centrally by the Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata (LDVI).

This is the vehicle's Central Processing Unit - integrating and controlling every aspect of the car’s set-up and dynamic behavior, anticipating the next move and needs of the driver and interpreting this through a ‘feed forward logic’.

Processing data in real time, the LDVI system monitors and analyses external conditions through its active suspension and all-wheel drive system. It also recognizes the driver’s intentions through
steering, braking, acceleration, gear and driving mode selected.

Precise inputs are given to the vehicle dynamic system, creating an agile and responsive car with an exceptional level of control. This way, the car doesn’t just react, but predicts the best driving set-up for the next moment.

Lamborghini Piattaforma Inerziale (LPI) version 2.0, launched on the EVO coupé, is a comprehensive set of accelerators and gyroscope sensors located in the car’s center of gravity - monitoring real-time lateral, longitudinal and vertical accelerations as well as roll, pitch and yaw rate.

The magnetorheological damper, also upgraded to version 2.0, helps to adapt the suspension's damping rate by following inputs from the LPI. The new advanced traction control system together with enhanced all-wheel drive and torque vectoring, allows traction to be directed to a single wheel as required.

Modified Lamborghini Dynamic Steering (LDS), provides for a higher responsiveness during corners while requiring the lowest steering angles. Coupled with rear-wheel steering, agility is ensured at low speed with maximum stability in high-speed cornering and under severe braking.

The preferred driving mode is selected via the ANIMA system, with STRADA (street) especially calibrated via the LDVI system for road-driving comfort. In SPORT it adopts a fun and exciting persona, with the ability to drift.

In CORSA (race) the Huracán EVO Spyder demonstrates its Performante heritage: race-track ready and exhilarating, for the most extreme driving environments.

The aerodynamics of the Huracán EVO is continued with the Spyder and depending on whether the roof is either up or down, the aerodynamic competency of the EVO Spyder, with more than five times the downforce and efficiency of the original Huracán Spyder, looks to sustain both dynamic handling and performance as well as occupant comfort.

Cabin airflow is minimised and the occupants assured a quiet cockpit environment.

Like the EVO coupé, a new front bumper gives the car a low, assertive personality with aerodynamic efficiency improved via the front splitter and enlarged air intakes.

At the rear, the Spyder adopts the new rear design evocative of naked race bikes and inspired by Lamborghini Huracán race cars, with the twin outlets of the new sports exhaust system positioned high in the rear bumper.

At the upper end of the tail an integrated, slotted spoiler provides enhanced air flow, emphasizing the car’s aerodynamic abilities, while the underbody has been shaped to maximize aerodynamic efficiency.

The side profile of the Spyder differs significantly from the coupé, but is equally dynamic with roof up or down.

The lightweight soft top carves the top line of the Spyder’s silhouette while up, and is hidden away when down to reveal the athletic lines of the open car, and the automatic pop-up safety bars are hidden away.

Whether the roof is up or down, the driver can electronically open the rear window, which functions as a windshield when closed and when open, it amplifies the Spyder unique aspirated engine sound.

The electrohydraulic, lightweight soft top opens via a button positioned on the central tunnel in just 17 seconds up to a driving speed of 50kph.

As the roof silently lowers, two fins in the same color as the body rises upwards out of the folding roof casing towards the seatbacks and once in place, it continues the line to the rear. An integrated duct between the fins reduces turbulence in the headroom during open top driving.

The Huracán EVO Spyder is presented in Verde Selvans: an iconic new Lamborghini four-layer green, and one of an enhanced range of colors and trims available for the Huracán EVO coupé and Spyder.

Interior options include new EVO trim in Alcantara and leather mix, with stitching and trim details to match the body tone.

A number of style packages are offered as well as lightweight materials such as Carbon Forged Composite and the Italian sportscar maker's patented Carbon Skin.

Lamborghini’s bespoke program, Ad Personam, allows almost limitless personalisation of the new car.

The EVO Spyder sports the new 20-inch Aesir rims, with Pirelli P Zero tyres.

Inside, there's a new 8.4-inch Human Machine Interface (HMI) touchscreen, located in the center console just above the start button, puts connectivity at the driver’s fingertips, with multi-finger gesture control.

Governing car functions including seats, climate and the status of the LDVI system in real-time it also puts all infotainment, such as Apple CarPlay with smartphone integration, at the cabin occupants’ disposal.

A multimedia system incorporates connected navigation and entertainment including web radio and video player, with the intuitive interface enabling voice commands.

“The Spyder continues the Huracán EVO’s evolutionary charge: extremely easy to drive while excelling as a highly responsive, fun super sports car. Particularly with the roof open, the emotive sound of the naturally aspirated engine and the refined, lightweight exhaust system take the sensory experience to a new level. The Huracán EVO Spyder’s design, performance and exhilarating open-air drive experience is literally breathtaking,” added Domenicali.