Karma creates unique sound for its silent car

                LOS ANGELES: Due to the absence of a loud internal combustion engine, a unique exterior sound has been engineered into the new 2020 Revero GT to alert distracted pedestrians that a car is nearby and provide the luxury electric vehicle with a special audible technology unique to the brand that created it.

Sound engineers at Southern California-based luxury electric automaker and high-tech incubator Karma Automotive developed their low-speed exterior audible sound in partnership with ECCO Safety Group, a global leader in safety and warning products based in Boise, Idaho.

Karma’s Director of Infotainment Systems and Connected Car, Joe Durre described the Revero GT’s exterior sound as a low-level, throaty-electric hum, like electronic audio tones heard in many futuristic movies or when an electric guitar is first plugged into an amplifier.

Listen to the sound clip

“It’s a sound that is uniquely Karma that our customers instantly recognize when the car is powered and driven at low speeds,” he explains. “Our sound alerts pedestrians that a car is nearby, something that is especially helpful for those who may be distracted, blind or visually-impaired, and gives our brand something that is very recognizable and satisfies government safety regulations.”

It’s also a tone, he says, that could be customizable in future products, especially vehicles that grow from Karma’s Project e-Klipse, a global all-electric vehicle platform being readied for 2021.

“This technology gives an added dimension to the personalized customization options that allow our electric vehicles to match our customers' individual lifestyles and tastes, and help make our products even more special and unique,” he adds.

The sound satisfies a mandate in the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 establishing a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) to allow manufacturers of hybrid and electric vehicles to install a number of driver-selectable pedestrian alert sounds.

The FMVSS is setting minimum sound requirements for electric and hybrid vehicles given the relatively silent nature of electrified vehicles – particularly when traveling at low speeds.


Alpina tunes up BMW's M8 with 621hp

                FRANKFURT: There are very few people in the world for whom a BMW M850i does not offer enough speed and luxury. But for those with such high standards, the BMW tuning specialists at Alpina now have an alternative.

As the B8, Alpina has dressed up BMW's Gran Coupe as a sports car in a dinner jacket - and made it fast.

With a top speed of 324 km/h and a starting price to match, Alpina is rolling out the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe as a B8 with significantly more power and luxury than the base model M850i.

Deliveries are scheduled to start in the third quarter, with prices in Europe set to start at 161,200 euros.

While the V8 in the M850i has 530hp and the M8 Competition has 625hp, here it produces 621hp. Instead of 750Nm, a maximum torque of 800Nm will make you disappear into the cushions of the driver seat when you hit the accelerator.

Speaking of acceleration, the driving performance is also up and with 3.4 seconds for the sprint to 100kph, it almost closes the gap to the M8 (3.2) and surpasses both BMW models with a top speed of 324kph (the M8's regular top speed is 250kph, while the M8's top speed is 305kph for an additional charge).

All these road thrills come at an expense to the environment, however, and BMW puts fuel consumption at 11.1 litres (254 g/km CO2).

Alpina has also worked on the interior and retuned the adaptive suspension. In comfort mode, the B8 is said to be more docile than the original and firmer in the sport settings. It also gets its own sound with a new exhaust.


Drivers in Germany face higher insurance premiums, says industry executive

                MUNICH: German drivers should brace for higher auto insurance premiums next year, following three years of price declines, says an industry executive.

Higher insurance prices are the latest headache for drivers, who already must contend with soaring fuel costs, parts shortages and long waiting times for new vehicles.

Annual inflation in Germany was 10.9% in September, the fastest pace in more than a quarter of a century.

Klaus-Juergen Heitmann, chief executive of Germany's market leader for car insurance HUK-Coburg, said price increases can be expected at the turn of the year.

"Some insurers have already announced increases," he said.

"Whether the expected jump in revenues (in 2023) is enough to avoid being in the red remains to be seen," he added.

Rising repair costs are making it difficult for car insurers to be profitable, and Heitmann predicted HUK-Coburg's operating profit for car insurance in 2022 would be around zero.


In Vegas, Audi cars will soon be able to talk to traffic lights

                LAS VEGAS: At the 2017 CES in Las Vegas Audi will become the first carmaker in the US to offer drivers a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication system.

Before cars can become autonomous, they have to become communicative and that means being able to converse not just with each other, but with the elements around them that make up the typical road network. And the faster that Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) systems come on line the faster we'll arrive at a future where road accidents caused by human error cease to exist.

"The launch of this technology is another in a long list of firsts for Audi," said Audi of America President Scott Keogh of the system that will be officially activated in Las Vegas at the end of December. "V2I applications and services like Traffic Light Information are essential components as we continue to move toward an autonomous future. We applaud the innovative approach of Las Vegas in working with us on V2I as well as on our various piloted driving demonstrations over the past years."

To begin with the V2I system will be very basic. Owners of select 2017 Audis will be able to display on their dashboards (or via head up display) if the oncoming traffic lights are red or green and, if the former, how many seconds remain until the lights change, again.

The idea is simple. Knowing how long there is to wait relieves stress and allows drivers to get ready to pull away. Or, if the lights are going to change as the car approaches, to find the optimum speed to pass through without having to stop, therefore saving both time and fuel.

But this is just the beginning. Audi aims to use the information broadcast from connected traffic lights to recalculate programmed routes in real time to reduce fuel use or avoid congestion. It is also planning to link the information to a car's stop/start feature so that the car automatically comes to a halt with the engine shut off at red lights or finds the perfect approach speed so that the car never needs to stop at all.

"The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is proud to be the first in the nation to connect our traffic signal network to vehicles through our collaboration with Audi," said Tina Quigley, RTC General Manager. "This vehicle-to-infrastructure technology will help reduce congestion and enhance mobility on our already crowded roadways."


Proton X50 coming in Oct 2020, CKD X70 to be cheaper, says AmInvestment

Like the X70, the X50 will be based on a Geely SUV. In this case, the Bin Yue (seen here and below) will be the Chinese SUV that the X50 will be modelled upon.

KUALA LUMPUR: Proton is expected to introduce the much anticipated X50 SUV in October 2020, according to AmInvestment Research.

The X50, pegged as a smaller SUV than the X70, would launch as a locally assembled model, it said.

An unnamed model, expected to be a Geely-inspired seven-seater MPV, is in the pipeline, it said, adding that the facelifted Saga is due to be introduced later this year.

"These models will be key in shaping the local automotive sector as they come in very attractive price tags and are essential in aiding Proton in its turnaround plan," it said in a note published today.

The research house also expects the production of the X70 in the Tanjung Malim plant in 2H19, to result in a price reduction with the introduction of the locally assembled model.

READ MORE: All abuzz about Proton X50

"We should also see better monthly sales and delivery numbers should the localisation plan takes off, which is positive for Proton’s turnaround plan.

"The group guided that the local content of the X70 will start with 10% will progressively increase to 80% by 2023," it said.

The research house said it is seeing a shift in the general consumer's preferences towards cheaper alternatives, which would benefit Proton and Perodua.

"Market share is expected to expand due to shift in consumer preference towards affordable vehicles with value-added features," it said.

It noted that Proton has captured a year-to-date market share of 14.7%, which comes closer to Honda's 14.9%.

AmInvestment expects Proton to take the second spot in market share behind Perodua by the year-end due to the strong demand for the X70, Iriz and Persona as well as the upcoming refreshed Saga.

It said Proton's buoyant sales performance is translating into a positive spillover effects for DRB-Hicom Bhd.

It recommended a buy rating for DRB-Hicom with a higher fair value of RM3.18.


Faster & even more furious: Mean Mower V2 sets Guinness world record

                DRESDEN: Honda’s Mean Mower has re-entered the record books after setting a brand new Guinness World Records title for the "Fastest Acceleration 0-100mph for a Lawnmower".

The new record was set at the Dekra Lausitzring, near here, on May 6.

The all-new Mean Mower V2 averaged 0-100mph in just 6.29 seconds; driven by Jess Hawkins experienced stunt driver, kart and car racer.

As well as hitting such a blistering straight-line speed to set the new record, Mean Mower V2 also had to demonstrate that it could still do what it is actually designed for – to cut grass – which it does.

The ability to still cut grass is thanks to slight revisions to the cutter deck to house the chain driving the rear tyres and the two batteries required to power electric motors which spin carbon fibre blades to mow.

Under the regulations of Guinness World Records, the mower must also "intrinsically look like a lawnmower" — in this case the Honda HF 2622 lawn tractor — which it does by carrying over its front cowl, grass box and body panels.

Unveiled in summer 2018, Mean Mower V2 set out to build on the success of the original Mean Mower, which became the world’s fastest lawnmower on March 8, 2014 when it hit 116.87mph (188kph). But this time Honda and its British Touring Car Championship partner, Team Dynamics, took the development to a whole new level, using computer aided design, bespoke parts, advanced materials and even 3D printing.

At the heart of Mean Mower V2 lies its engine. This time, a 999cc four-cylinder unit taken from Honda’s high-performing CBR1000RR Fireblade SP motorcycle - producing 200bhp at 13,000rpm. It packs almost double the power of the original Mean Mower, with a super-light frame and engine dry weight of just 69.1kg, which overall results in a power-to-weight ratio in excess of that of a Bugatti Chiron.

The official acceleration figure was measured using a VBOX on-board recording device, which was fitted, set-up and verified by independent and accredited timers, Timing Solutions Limited. To meet the requirements of Guinness World Records, the mower had to record the same run, in both directions, within an hour – with the average acceleration of these two runs taken as the official time.

The team also took the opportunity while at the Lausiztring to put Mean Mower V2 through its paces on a longer run to see what it is really capable of, recording an incredible top speed of 150.99mph (242kph).


New electric turbocharger from Mercedes-AMG

                AFFALTERBACH, Germany: Mercedes-AMG is turning electric and the near future will see the deployment of the electric exhaust gas turbocharger.

To be used for the first time in a series production model from Affalterbach, and developed in partnership with Garrett Motion, this technology comes straight from Formula 1.

It resolves the conflicting goals between a small, fast-reacting turbocharger which achieves relatively low peak performance and a large turbocharger with a high peak performance but which on the other hand can suffer from turbo lag.

The highlight of this innovative turbocharging system is a slim electric motor, measuring about 4 centimetres, which is integrated directly on the charger shaft between the turbine wheel on the exhaust side and the compressor wheel on the fresh air side.

This electronically controlled electric motor drives the compressor wheel before this accepts the exhaust gas flow.

The electrification of the turbocharger significantly improves immediate response from idle speed and across the entire engine speed range.

The so-called turbo lag – the delayed response of a conventional turbocharger – is eliminated by the electric motor.

The result is that the combustion engine responds even more spontaneously to accelerator pedal input, and the entire driving feel is significantly more dynamic and agile.

In addition, electrification of the turbocharger enables higher torque at low engine speeds, which also enhances agility and optimises acceleration capability from a standstill.

Even when the driver takes their foot off the accelerator or applies the brakes, the technology of the electric turbocharger is able to maintain the boost pressure at all times, so that a continuous direct response is guaranteed.

The turbocharger achieves speeds of up to 170,000 rpm, which enables a very high rate of air flow.

It can be operated via a 48-volt on-board electrical system.

The turbocharger, electric motor and power electronics are connected to the combustion engine's cooling circuit to create an optimum temperature environment at all times.

"We have clearly defined our goals for an electrified future. In a first step this includes the electrified turbocharger - an example of the transfer of Formula 1 technology to the road, something with which we will take turbocharged combustion engines to a previously unattainable level of agility", explains Tobias Moers, chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.


Ken Block hands keys of 1,400hp Hoonicorn to 15-year-old daughter

Ken and Lia Block (at left) standing with the Hoonicorn. The car has been updated with a roll cage, paddle shifters, and a full-halo seat to protect the driver in case of impact.
LOS ANGELES: Being the child of automotive royalty doesn’t mean you can handle a 1,400-horsepower stunt car.

"The first time I got in that car, I was scared I would not be able to drive it,” says Lia Block.

"Because that thing wants to kill you!”

Lia’s dad is Ken Block, the mastermind behind the popular Hoonigan channel that celebrates stunt car driving and racing on YouTube.

Since he founded it in 2013, the brand has expanded beyond videos to sell merchandise, build cars, and organize a racing series.

The car Lia is talking about is the Hoonicorn, a modified-beyond-recognition 1965 Ford Mustang that Ken Block built with Ford Performance and a bunch of aftermarket suppliers.

The car dances, drifts, and drag-races as a character in the Forza motorsport and CSR2 video games, and appeared in two of Ken's famously death-defying gymkhana videos that created a "hooniverse” of fans.

(As in the equestrian world, car-focused gymkhana events are speed trials that feature a series of obstacles confronting drivers. Block's most famous obstacles have included semitrucks, Sasquatches, BMW riders, a guy on a Segway, and Universal Studios.)

The car even has its own show on YouTube, Hoonicorn vs. the World, which since it debuted in 2020 has amassed nearly 48 million viewers.

The series shows Ken Block racing it against such supercars as a McLaren Senna, an Audi RS 3, and a 1,110-hp Chevy Nova Dragster.

Season 2 starts on Nov 29 and will run for eight episodes until year-end.

Having ended his exclusive partnership with Ford in January, after 11 years, he is free to pursue deals with other automakers-though he can’t drive a Ford vehicle in an official capacity.

At 15, daughter Lia will be behind the wheel for Season 2.

"It was my dad’s idea,” she says. Lia had driven the Ford Performance Hoonicorn a couple of times before shooting the new season, but says she was surprised when her dad asked if she wanted to drive it for the series.

"They were trying to figure out who was going to drive the Ford since he couldn’t, and when they asked me, I was like, "I dunno!” It happened very, very fast.”

Shifting gears

The passing of the crown, as it were, to Lia signals a significant downshift for Ken, 54.

"This is definitely a new chapter,” he says.

"I have obviously been doing all this for a long time now and am starting to slow down a bit, because my kids have gotten busier and busier with this sort of thing.” (Block shares a second daughter, 12-year-old Kira, and a son, 10-year-old Mika, with his wife Lucy, who is also a decorated rally driver.)

Before joining Ford in 2010, Block made his fortune co-founding and then selling the skateboard footwear company DC Shoes for US$87 million in 2004.

A former skater and snowboarding champion, he mastered the challenging art of drift, a technique where a driver intentionally oversteers through a corner, losing traction while maintaining control.

Block started throwing heavily modified Subarus sideways into corners around the country.

He competed in extreme races such as the Americas Rallycross Championship and in the X Games, earning more than 30 wins and 50 podium finishes.

Signature racing wheels and an extensive line of merchandise (hoodies, beanies, T-shirts, gloves) followed.

So did millions of fans, who loved the wild driving, epic film sequences, and hooligan-like (troublemaking) attitude of their leader.

Since founding Hoonigan in 2013, Block has amassed 4.6 million YouTube subscribers and nearly a billion views on his YouTube channel; his platforms total 40 million monthly views.

More than 80% of Hooniverse viewers are under the age of 34. (A spokesperson declined to specify how many are female.)

On Sept 28, Block announced he would work with Audi to include a new gymkhana visual series starring an Audi e-tron electric car.

The project, dubbed Electrikhana, is scheduled for 2022.

He has also turned his focus towards endurance off-road racing. In November, he participated in his first Baja 1,000 off-road endurance race, finishing fourth.

"One of the great opportunities I have nowadays, with not being locked in with one [automaker], is being able to go out and race with Porsche and a trophy truck and a rally car and work with Audi on the EV,” Block says.

"It makes for a great menu of options.”

Building the perfect driver

He has been designing Lia’s ascension for years.

"It’s not like we threw her in this car with no skills,” he says.

"We have been able to build this toolbox of skills that she has now been able to apply and get more experience.”

Lia earned podium finishes as an 11-year-old driving UTVs in the Lucas Off-Road Racing Series.

She first did donuts in a serious road car-a manual 1978 Ford Escort Mk2 RS-at 13.

Last year, for her 14th birthday, pro driver Vaughn Gittin Jr. gave her drifting lessons in a souped-up 1990 Mustang GT convertible.

In November, she competed in her first rally, the Oregon Trail Rally. (A rally is a race on public or private roads with cars that have been modified or specially built.)

A late-stage engine break hamstrung her podium hopes but not her enthusiasm.

"Rally is definitely really fun-I’ve always loved the dirt,” she says.

Physical and mental endurance, as well as picking racing lines, reading maps, patience, aggression, and regulating fuel levels, are all of critical importance.


Nissan plots digital course for car sales in a post-pandemic world

                BEIJING: As Covid-19 threw a wrench into the cogs of car retailing, a senior Nissan board member challenged the chief operating officer to explain what the automaker was doing to adapt to a new era where customers may be reluctant to roam showrooms.

The operating chief, Ashwani Gupta, told the board meeting in late July that Nissan was racing to create a “complete, end-to-end digital journey”, according to three people familiar with the discussions.

He said this would allow consumers to research cars online, have models delivered to their homes for test drives and make purchase plans without ever having to visit a dealership, if they chose not to do so, the sources said.

The meeting offers an insight into how the pandemic is pressuring automakers in all major markets to revamp their strategies to handle more vehicle sales online, veering away from the traditional showroom approach.

The change is being driven by a shift in consumer behaviour.

The number of cars sold via Nissan’s websites in China, Europe and North America combined accounted for 11% of the company’s overall sales in those markets in the first half of this year, according to the sources, who declined to be named because they are not authorised to speak to reporters.

That compared with 4-5% in the same period last year, although digital volumes were not as closely monitored then, said one of the three people, a senior Nissan executive.

“I would say these new buying behaviours, which have come up during the Covid-19 era, are going to stick and become permanent,” the executive added. “The pandemic is changing the way we work, the way we communicate. The same is also true with buying cars.”

Some of the details and data are expected to be shared during a news conference on Nov 12 when Nissan announces results for its fiscal second quarter ended Sept 30. Japan’s second-largest carmaker has warned of a record 470-billion-yen (RM18.6bil) loss this fiscal year ending March 2021.

A Nissan spokesman in Yokohama said there was strong demand for online shopping, which had become “irreversible with Covid-19” and the firm was addressing this in partnership with dealers.

“Nissan’s ‘Shop at Home’ experience puts customers in control at every step of the journey: to choose to shop both online and at physical dealerships,” he added.

The company’s drive is initially focused on North America and China, its biggest markets where digital sales are more advanced than elsewhere, according to the sources.

In the United States, online customers can search for a specific car from the inventories of all Nissan stores in a given area, not just one store’s stock.

In China, consumers can’t do the same, but they are open to buying cars online; in the first nine months of this year, 17% of the roughly 758,000 new Nissan cars sold there were bought online, the sources said.

They are what Nissan defines as digitally-acquired buyers, who visit the company’s main e-commerce sites — Chebaba in China and NissanUSA.com — and leave their contact information, and then complete purchases either completely or partially online.

Akatsuki copper, anyone?

Shifting more sales online is, however, a big challenge for the industry because it deviates markedly from the familiar showroom strategy, and could face resistance from franchise dealers, who have a symbiotic relationship with carmakers.

The stakes are especially high for Nissan, because it was struggling even before the pandemic struck and hammered auto sales. It was grappling with a host of financial woes that resulted from an aggressive expansion pursued by ousted leader Carlos Ghosn, and a consequent lack of new car models.

The digital drive is viewed by senior executives as being beneficial from a profitability angle because online sales allow the company to reduce operational waste in distributing and marketing cars, and improve data-gathering, two sources said.

For example, this summer Nissan opened a dedicated website for the new Ariya electric sport-utility vehicle, due to be launched globally next year.

In the first four days, 1.2 million people visited and Nissan learned, as customers gave their preferences, that the most popular features globally were a lounge-like interior and connected services, according to the senior Nissan executive.

In Europe, the most favoured colour was a two-tone black and Akatsuki copper option, the person said.

According to the source, 56% of European visitors preferred the four-wheel-drive version and 18% the two-wheel-drive, while the rest were undecided or did not leave preferences. US customers were more evenly split between the two drive options.

That data allowed Nissan to be more precise in ordering parts and systems for different regions to match demand, said the executive.

“Marketing for us is increasingly not dictated by gut feeling,” the person added. “It’s more data-driven and precise.”

READ MORE: Malaysian Nissan distributor goes online to woo car buyers‘It’s the way we live’

Chee-Kiang Lim, China managing director of Detroit-based consultancy Urban Science, said legacy carmakers were lagging pure electric vehicle companies in terms of online sales, with Tesla, NIO, XPeng and WM the leading digital players.

Among traditional automakers, mass-market players like Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen are most advanced in China, with concrete initiatives to push online sales, he added.

“Volkswagen for example has trained their dealers to do live-streaming and they would even do a live-streaming of a test drive. A sales person would be driving a car and live-stream directly to you.”

Another of the Nissan sources, who is close to the board, said the main purpose of the e-sales drive was to reduce the number of dealer visits an average customer makes to buy a car - to one or two, from several.

Zhang Weichen, a Beijing primary school physical education consultant, bought his first car this summer, a Nissan Sylphy sedan, without visiting a dealer until deep into the process.

By the time he visited the dealer, to view the actual model he chose and negotiate a final price, the 32-year-old had studied the car by test-driving a friend’s Sylphy and using virtual-reality walkarounds available on Nissan’s Chebaba, and picked up a purchase rebate coupon for the car on the site.

“We already buy all sorts of things online. It’s the way we live,” Zhang said. ‘If I buy a car again to replace my Sylphy I would do so mostly online again.”

Dealers in dilemma

One big question looms, though: Will dealers who have invested millions of dollars in their showrooms see Nissan’s drive as a threat?

A board member put that to Gupta during the late July meeting, according to two of the people familiar with the discussions.

In response, Gupta said the new sales model was a hybrid closely coupled to physical dealers and was not an effort to cut franchise stores out or reduce their margins, the people said.

Gupta told the board Nissan needed dealers to deliver cars and provide maintenance and repair services – and that they represented a competitive edge over Tesla and other newcomers who were trying to sell cars directly to consumers without franchise stores, the sources added.

Several franchise store operators in China said in interviews with Reuters that most Nissan dealers were going along with the company’s online drive.

“Under the pandemic, customers are very dependent on online channels, and so are dealers,” said Yin Yufen, general manager of a big Nissan store in the southern city of Guangzhou.

She said about 30% of people who bought cars from her store came via online in recent months, versus 20% a year before.

“That’s not a problem because we have a final say on price, so it doesn’t really affect our profit margins and bonuses.”

Another dealership executive, the head of a large chain, said selling new Nissan cars was such a tough proposition under current conditions that many dealers were happy to hand over more control of the process.

“Dealers don’t want to unnecessarily take on more inventories from Nissan, because we’re not making money,” said the boss, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the subject.

“We don’t care if Nissan takes more control of the selling process, as long as they give us kind of a fixed margin for service,” he added.

“You do whatever you like, Nissan.”


Too few belt up at the back, says transport minister

                TOKYO: More Malaysian passengers should belt up in the back seats as a study shows few do so, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said a study by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) showed that only 7% to 9% of people belt up in the back seat.

He said this was despite the high rate of road deaths in the country, of which 6,674 died last year.

“Our road fatality rate is very high, and we have introduced many measures, including the back seat belt requirement.

“Unfortunately, adherence to the law is still very low,” he said here yesterday.

Liow, who is accompanying Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on a three-day official visit to Japan, said the Government had to constantly remind motorists on the need to belt up.

“This safety habit must be inculcated among Malaysian road-users the moment they get into their cars.

“We don’t want to just continue with punitive action. We must also strengthen our awareness programmes,” he said, adding that enforcement by both the police and the Road Transport Department was already ongoing.

“The law is already there. We just want to remind the public,” he said.

Liow was commenting on the possibility that the lack of seat belts could have contributed to the deaths of three members of a family along the DUKE Highway after they were flung out of their car in an accident early this month.

He said the ruling on the wearing of the back seat belt was made compulsory for the past one year.


Genesis G90 and Ioniq paving way for exciting changes at Hyundai

SEOUL:  After a decade spent carving out a reputation for affordable and reliable vehicles, 2016 is going to be a watershed year for Hyundai and not simply in terms of sales.

Hyundai was one of the first companies to come to market with a hydrogen fuel cell car - ix35 Fuel Cell - back in 2013 and in January it will be taking the wraps off its first plug-in electric car, the Ioniq.

However, alongside boosting its green car credentials, Hyundai is aiming to break into the luxury segment with its new Genesis brand. This is a much more ambitious move.

The electric car market is still in its infancy so newcomers have the breathing space to be judged in terms of their innovation and technology offering, while the executive sedan market is anything but. To be taken seriously in this segment, a company needs to be able to challenge the likes of BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Jaguar, Lexus and a resurgent Cadillac, but with its new Genesis marque, and the talent behind it, Hyundai just may have what it takes.

The first Genesis car - the G90 or EQ900 domestically  - has been created to deliver "a concept of 'new luxury' to our customers," said Woong-Chul Yang, Head of Hyundai Motor R&D Center. "[It] demonstrates how we apply our human-centered values to give our customer true satisfaction in every aspect of the vehicle ownership experience."

The G90, which will also make its global debut in South Korea at the beginning of the year, was designed and developed by Luc Donckerwolke - who worked at Bentley and Lamborghini before joining the company - alongside Hyundai's chief design officer and fellow Audi alumni, Peter Schreyer.

"In creating the design signature of Genesis brand cars, we set out to display confidence and originality, creating highly desirable products that present new charm through innovative styling and proportions," said Schreyer.

Genesis plans to have six models to sell by 2020, including SUVs and a base model that will play against the BMW 3 Series and its peers.

As seen in the table below, the G90 which replaces the Equus, will offer three different engines in South Korea.  They are a 3.8-litre GDI V6 with 310hp, a 3.3-litre T-GDI V6 with 365hp, and a 5.0-litre GDI V8 that develops 418hp and 520Nm of torque.

From next year, the G90 will be rolling out to foreign markets, including United States, China, Russia and countries in the Middle East.


Jeep 4X4 races a plane - VIDEO

LONDON: Jeep has displayed the raw power and speed of its 6.4L V8 HEMI engined Grand Cherokee SRT by becoming the first 4x4 vehicle to race a plane around a track – and winning.

The Jeep vs plane challenge was inspired by the origins of the HEMI engine which was first developed for the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft, and is now, in its latest form, housed under the bonnet of the Grand Cherokee SRT.

Blyton Park Driving Centre, Lincolnshire, hosted the head-to-head around its 2.9km circuit and saw both car and plane reach speeds in excess of 225kph.

While the Grand Cherokee SRT tackled the race track, the German-made Silence SA1100 Twister plane navigated around seven-metre high pylons, as they both attempted to reach the chequered flag first.

Capable of reaching 0-100kph in less the five seconds, the 6.4L V8 HEMI powered Grand Cherokee SRT delivers a massive 461hp, and is packed full of high-performance technologies including launch control, Selec-Trac transmission and air-cooled 6 piston Brembo brake callipers which have a stopping distance of 35.4 metres from 100kph-0.

The Grand Cherokee SRT was driven by Ed Morris – the youngest ever British driver to compete at Le Mans 24 hour, while the Silence SA1100 Twister plane was flown by Peter Wells, a specialist aerobatic pilot with over 25 years of flying experience.


Kia adds star power to plug EV6 crossover

                SEOUL: Kia has roped in tennis legend Rafael Nadal to promote electric car usage through its EV6 crossover.

Earlier this week, Kia handed a customised EV6 GT-Line to the man himself at the Rafa Nadal Academy in his Spanish hometown of Manacor, Mallorca.

As Kia global ambassador, Nadal said he would use the EV6 crossover for his personal mobility in Mallorca as well as at major tennis tournaments such as the 2022 Australian Open.

He also signalled an interest to convert all vehicles used at his academy and the Rafa Nadal Foundation to electric vehicles by 2022.

To show off the EV6 features, the handover ceremony was accompanied by an illuminated tennis court, dubbed the “EV6 Court,” whose lighting system was electrically powered by the EV6 GT-Line.

The V2L (vehicle-to-load) function in Kia's first fully electric crossover vehicle can supply up to 3.6KW of electricity and be used conveniently as a portable power supply for leisure and other everyday activities.


Chicago Auto Show’s return spurs hope for revival of big events

The 2017 Chicago Auto Show. — Bloomberg
CHICAGO: In any other year, the Chicago Auto Show would be a premier showcase for the car industry, attracting thousands of motorheads and industry insiders alike.

But in 2021, it could be all that and much, much more.

In July, McCormick Place, North America’s largest convention centre, will throw open its doors to an event on a scale unlike any in Chicago since the pandemic began.

It will mark not only the resumption of the largest US auto show, but could also herald the return of those crowded industry conventions - and the tourist and tax dollars they bring.

“Finally, the return of our beloved Chicago Auto Show,” Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday, adding that the reopening of McCormick Place is a “critical step toward our state’s overall economic recovery.”

Few businesses have been hit as hard as industry conventions in the era of social distancing, which shuttered exhibit halls from Boston to Los Angeles, and there’s major uncertainty over how strongly such gatherings will rebound after businesses learned to do without them.

But cities are hoping they return. Business trade shows alone had a $101 billion economic impact in 2019, according to estimates from the Center for Exhibition Industry Research. That plunged to $24 billion last year.

Gradual return

The events are slowly coming back as the vaccination rollout slows the spread of Covid-19 in the US even as it rages in other parts of the world.

In June, Las Vegas will host its World of Concrete event, the largest concrete and masonry professional conference, and the tech industry’s massive Consumer Electronics Show is coming back in January.

The New York International Auto Show will return in August. This fall, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand will descend on San Francisco.

“It’s a sign of getting people back to work, helping the local economy recover as well as the national economy,” Cathy Breden, chief executive officer of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, said in an interview.

“It’s going to be interesting to watch how this entire eco-system recovers and gears back up to support all these events.”

The return of large in-person gatherings is positive for local sales, hotel and motor-vehicle taxes generated by visitors, according to Moody’s Investors Service analysts John Medina and Valentina Gomez.

Rising vaccination rates and easing capacity restrictions are expected to gradually increase demand for conventions, conferences, concerts, and live events this year and next, according to Moody’s.

Empty hotel rooms

Orlando, the first major market to welcome convention guests back nationally last year, expects to host 84 at the Orange County Convention Center in 2021, with about 900,000 projected attendees.

Based on those bookings, Visit Orlando, the region’s tourism authority, predicts that attendance will reach 73% of the 2019 level, well ahead of national statistics, which the group put at 35%.

While the big Consumer Electronics Show recently announced it would be returning to Las Vegas this coming January - albeit in a partially online fashion - the US gambling capital is still struggling to revive its meetings business, in large part due to Covid restrictions.

Caesars Entertainment Inc. chief executive officer Tom Reeg said on a conference call with investors Tuesday that the company hosted just one small group in the most recent quarter, making it hard to fill hotel rooms on weekday nights.

“That’s where the return of group business can really help us,” he said.“Those group customers that extend their trip on either end, help us yield on weekend as well.”

A new convention centre Caesars opened last year has booked 165 events, however, making Reeg optimistic about the balance of the year and 2022. If present case levels continue to decline, Nevada will lift all virus-related capacity restrictions on June 1.

Chicago reopening

The Chicago Auto Show, set to be held July 15 through July 19, will be the first large convention in Illinois since the onset of the pandemic, though it will be shorter and smaller than years past.

Capacity will be limited to 10,000 people at any one time. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said her goal is to have the city of Chicago fully reopened by July 4.

The cancellation of 230 events scheduled at McCormick Place since the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak removed about US$3 billion from the economy and eliminated about US$234.2 million of state and local tax revenue, according to Larita Clark, chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which owns McCormick Place.

From July through September, there are 43 conventions, trade shows and events scheduled on the campus, she said.

That’s welcome news to workers like Kevin McLaughlin, a carpenter and union representative who started working on exhibits at McCormick Place in 1987. “People have been waiting to go back to work since things shut down in March,” he said.


All three Detroit automakers had workers test positive for Covid-19 since plants reopened

                DETROIT: In the week since US auto factories reopened after coronavirus lockdowns, workers at all three Detroit automakers have tested positive for Covid-19 but only Ford Motor Co has temporarily closed plants.

The US auto industry reopened many plants last week after a two-month shutdown due to the global pandemic. To ensure safety during the outbreak, companies imposed new safety measures, including screening employees, use of face masks and social distancing.

Ford paused production at its Claycomo, Missouri, plant for an hour on Tuesday after a worker tested positive. Work resumed at the plant, which builds the F-150 pickup truck and Transit van, without workers being sent home following a deep cleaning, Ford spokesman Kelli Felker said Wednesday.

General Motors Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA) said Wednesday they have had workers test positive since the restart, but have not been forced to idle plants. They did not disclose the number of workers affected.

On Wednesday, a union leader at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant said on Twitter a worker there tested positive, but had not worked since May 21. Felker said the plant never closed.

Last week, Ford closed two assembly plants, due to a positive test at its Dearborn, Michigan, factory and a parts shortage due to a positive test at a supplier that closed the Chicago plant. It had marked the second consecutive day for closures in Chicago following two positive tests.

United Auto Workers Local 600, which represents hourly workers in Dearborn, last week demanded testing for every worker there and that Ford shut down the plant for 24 hours after a positive test. Ford said the safety of its workers is a top priority and cited the safety measures it has developed in conjunction with the UAW.

In Mexico, Ford told workers it was targeting a May 28 restart at its Hermosillo plant. GM and FCA have restarted operations in Mexico.


New MINI John Cooper Works GP revealed

                MUNICH: The MINI John Cooper Works GP distils the racing essence of the modern MINI. Inspired by the brand’s legendary motor racing achievements, this model – limited to just 3,000 units – embodies maximum performance and uncompromising dynamics.

The flat front section with its wide track, large front apron, flared wheel arches and a rear wing visible even from the front instantly conveys uncompromising dynamic performance.

Classic MINI icons such as the elliptical headlights and the hexagonal radiator grille ensure a clear-cut sense of identity and high recognition value.

At the same time, characteristic John Cooper Works elements such as the hood scoop in the bonnet and the hexagonal honeycomb grille with GP logo in the radiator grille underscore the sporty perception of the front.

An intense, purist race feeling is conveyed by what is by far the most powerful engine ever to be used in a small car of the brand, suspension technology that is fine-tuned based on John Cooper Works' comprehensive racing expertise and a body that is optimised in terms of lightweight construction, torsional stiffness and aerodynamics.

The 4-cylinder engine develops its maximum torque of 450Nm at a speed of 1, 750 rpm, maintaining this torque up into the 4, 500rpm range. The maximum output of 306hp is available between 5, 000rpm and 6, 250rpm.

The resulting pulling power can be used for spirited acceleration manoeuvres. The new MINI John Cooper Works GP sprints from a standing start to 100 kph in  5.2 seconds.

The top speed is 265kph.

The new MINI John Cooper Works GP offers unrivalled sporty flair and overwhelming agility. As such, it forms part of a fascinating tradition that has been closely linked to the name of the legendary Formula 1 designer John Cooper ever since the debut of the classic Mini 60 years ago.

On both road and racetrack, this combination has been a constant source of sporting highlights: from the first Mini Cooper and winning the British Touring Car Championship to the three overall victories in the Monte Carlo Rally, the MINI Challenge racing series, achievements in the Dakar Rally and the latest generation of the John Cooper Works models.


Shell Malaysia raises RM1.92 million for charity

                KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Malaysia raised a total of RM1.92 million in its recent ‘Anda Beli, Kami Derma’ Raya Charity Campaign.

In its fifth year, the campaign ran for 10 days between 30 May 2019 to 8 June 2019 in an effort to spread the spirit of caring and sharing during the ‘balik kampung’ season.

During the campaign period, Shell donated 1 sen for every litre of Shell fuel pumped and 1 sen for every RM1.00 spent at Shell SELECT stores; to the National Cancer Society Malaysia, Food Aid Foundation, and Malaysian Nature Society.

Mastercard joined this effort as a valued partner for the second consecutive year and contributed 1 sen to the Food Aid Foundation for every litre of Shell fuel pumped and every RM1.00 spent at Shell SELECT stores paid for with any Mastercard credit or debit cards.

 From left: Zharin Zhafrael Mohd, National Sales Manager of Shell Malaysia; Dr. Muralli, Medical Director of National Cancer Society of Malaysia; Datuk Muez Abd Aziz, Secretary General, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA); Shairan Huzani Husain, Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd; Devesh Kuwadekar, Vice President and Head Market Development, Mastercard; Rick Chee, Founder of the Food Aid Foundation; I.S. Shanmugaraj, Executive Director of Malaysian Nature Society

This year, motorists were given the option to donate to the organisation of their choice.

Additionally, Shell’s agencies and partners came together to support this initiative through contributions in the form of media advertising and resources.

Shairan Huzani Husain, Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd applauded the collection this year and shared, “We are once again humbled by the generosity and support of our Malaysian motorists, in helping us raise a total of RM1.92mil for the organisations in just 10 days. We wish to thank all our customers and partners for contributing to this cause. In line with our mission to make life’s journeys better for all Malaysians, we hope this initiative will continue to inspire others to extend a helping hand for those who are in need.”

Perry Ong, Country Manager of Malaysia and Brunei, Mastercard said, “This partnership has been instrumental in encouraging Malaysians to use cashless payments for their everyday purchases, while at the same time, give back to the community and impact the lives of the less privileged. Contributions made through this campaign will support local causes, including the provision of meals for children in need. Driven by its philosophy of ‘doing well by doing good’, Mastercard is committed to collaborating with partners like Shell who share the same philosophy.”


Who says factory work must be fixed hours? Audi sets out to break from tradition

                INGOLSTADT (Germany): Audi is seeking to break the notion that factory shift work has to be rigid.

Traditionally, it sticks closely to a schedule that usually does not allow any flexibility at all. Employees who change to part-time work because of changes in their personal circumstances used to be required to transfer to new workplaces.

But Audi has started a pilot project as part of its transformation and it is pioneering potential for flexible work in clocked car production.

An innovative work model in the paint shop at the Ingolstadt site allows shift workers to work part time as well.

Audi employees from every position in the hierarchy and all age levels developed it together with the Works Council and the Institute for Social Science Research Munich under the rubric of the Practical Workplace Laboratory: More Flexible on Shift Duty, which was supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

Trained floaters fill in the gaps in time that arise due to the absence of part-time workers. Those floaters come from areas of the paint shop that are not on the clock, such as trainees, employees with limitations, or people who normally work in the office.

If, for example, a new mother just back from maternity leave is a shift worker who cannot make it to work at the usual start time for her shift because she has to take her child to daycare first, a qualified colleague from the pool subs for the new mother. That way, the floater makes a later – and therefore a flexible – start time possible for the new mother.

As far as experts are currently aware, no other employer in Germany allows employees to help shape the future of their work this way.

The innovative working-time model for flexible shift work is still a pilot project that 16 workers currently benefit from.

At the moment, 30 workers are in the pool. Audi plans to expand working-time models like the one used in the paint shop in other areas of production as well.


Koenigsegg experiments with volcano fuel

                SAN FRANCISCO: Hypercars with US$3 million (RM12mil) price tags aren’t usually synonymous with environmental sustainability.

Christian von Koenigsegg, founder and chief executive of Koenigsegg Automotive, wants to change that.

The Ängelholm, Sweden-based company is experimenting with ultra-high-voltage battery packs and biofuels using emissions from volcanoes to build environmentally “benign” and potentially even carbon-neutral cars, without sacrificing performance.

Founded in 1994, Koenigsegg has slowly ramped up output of its vehicles to around 35 units a year.

The company sells to the super rich in search of cutting-edge technology, exclusivity and hand-craftmanship using the lightest bespoke materials.

In the midst of a global pandemic, Koenigsegg’s already-small volume was hampered, and the global shortage of semiconductors has not helped.

However, Koenigsegg has big ambitions for a next phase: to double its factory footprint within two to three years and expand production capacity to thousands of cars a year.

To achieve that, von Koenigsegg has turned to former Tesla executive Evan Horetsky, who oversaw the construction of the electric-car maker’s factories in Reno, Nevada, and Shanghai.

Von Koenigsegg has tasked Horetsky with dramatically changing the company’s footprint and bringing its technology to a much greater volume of models and drivetrains.

As chief industrialisation officer, he’s seeking a site for a new factory to bring Koenigsegg’s history of vertical integration and investment in technology to a much broader audience.

 Horetsky.

Here are excerpts from a discussion with von Koenigsegg and Horetsky, edited for length and clarity:

Christian von Koenigsegg: I started Koenigsegg in 1994 when I was 22 years old. I had a dream since I was a young boy to build my own car, preferably a sports car, and I started my first company when I was 19; that is the holding company within our group today.

It took me eight years to go from dream to delivering the first record-beating production car in 2002, and since then we have done eight different models and been growing all the time. Now, we're growing a little bit faster and have parallel models in production and different types of cars and different types of mobility projects in the pipeline, as well.

Evan Horetsky: I started my career with the US Navy doing research integration. From there I had a bit of a gap where I was part of a four-person startup building autonomous boats. Then I got the call from Tesla with the crazy idea to focus on the machine that builds the machine, or in other words, think of a factory as a product.

That took me to Reno, Nevada, where I helped design and build the gigafactory. I then went to Shanghai for about nine months. I most recently led the effort for Gigafactory Berlin. Now I'm here with Koenigsegg with the ambition alongside Christian to scale up, diversify the product portfolio and get deeper into different forms of future mobility and see what we can create.

Q: Koenigsegg says it's propulsion agnostic. What do you mean by that?CVK: If we take a pure electric sports car, they tend to be quite heavy because you need a quite large battery to have enough range and performance. That goes against the sporty nature of the car.

We electrify in a different way with more extreme cell technology for power output. And then we have extreme combustion-engine technology running on renewable fuels, but very good aftertreatment systems, and our free-valve technology where we can really make sure we combust extremely efficiently with very small engines to make the car lighter, more exciting, have better performance, but still being environmentally benign.

What we mean by agnostic is that we mix and match whatever makes the most sense at each given time and for each model. We're not stuck in traditional combustion technology. The technology we develop there is really next-generation beyond anything else I've seen out in the marketplace, and also next-generation electrification, and combining these technologies in an interesting way to make our product stand out and be as competitive as we can with as little environmental footprint as possible.

You don't have to pollute the planet just because you want to have a fast, interesting sports car.

Q: What is the challenge in changing Koeniggseg and how it builds cars?EH: Koenigsegg has hasn't acted as much like the typical automotive manufacturers in that they also applied a lot of vertical integration to what they're doing. In-house composites, software and hardware. This was similar at Tesla, too.

With Koenigsegg, we're going to expand the in-house capabilities to more electrification platforms, to motors, batteries, inverters and maybe other electronics. We will also look at different ways we can impact the world with mobility solutions and a lot of those are going to have to be higher volume than the hypercar does right now.

Q: Why is Koenigsegg interested in volcanoes?CVK: It’s a very interesting way of creating an environmental benign propulsion energy source.

So there is this technology from Iceland, it was invented there, where they cap the CO2 emittance from semi-active volcanoes and convert that into methanol. And if you take that methanol and you power the plants that do the conversion of other fuels and then power the ship that transports the those fuels to Europe or the U.S. or Asia, wherever it goes, you put the fuel completely CO2-neutral into the vehicle.

And of course with the correct aftertreatment systems, depending on the environment you're in, you can kind of clean up the particles in the atmosphere while you're using the engine. So you can be very much environmentally conscious doing that. It's just a fun aspect of renewable fuels that are not talked so much about, but there are many, many other technologies that are coming up.

Q: What do you hope to achieve from this point?EH: Within two or three years, roughly, we should have more than doubled our factory footprint. We should have designed capacity for the thousands of cars per year versus tens or hundreds, and we should have an ability to be highly flexible on our technological innovations within a production line. There's a bit of a diamond-in-the-rough here, with extreme technical maturity and technical talent throughout Koenigsegg, that I think could do more in the world.

The Tesla Model S Plaid can do zero-to-60 in less than two seconds and it costs US$130,000. Why should someone buy a US$3 million supercar that uses these different technologies and fuel sources?

CVK: That type of performance is becoming kind of a non-competitive aspect for our extreme megacars. It’s an obvious thing to have, especially with all the electric cars coming out like Tesla.

What you're getting when you're buying an extreme hypercar or megacar from us or one of our competitors is something completely hand-built. It’s a bespoke piece of art with performance that can beat those cheaper electrical cars in a straight line.

But then you have to also realise they're 500kg or 600kg lighter. So when you turn and when you break and when you drive around a race track, you still get a huge performance difference. It's more than performance. It’s the hand-built aspect, the bespoking, the unique surfacing, the unique materials to make it light.

For sure, there is a right to exist for these unique cars. They’re works of art, really.


Perodua community contributes RM1.1 million to Tabung Harapan Malaysia

                RAWANG: The Perodua community, comprising the organisation’s group of companies and its staff, has contributed RM1.1 million to Tabung Harapan Malaysia in support of the government’s efforts to reduce the country’s debts.

Perodua chairman Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin presented the contribution to the Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng at the latter’s office today.

This was witnessed by Perodua president and CEO Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh.

“The contribution demonstrates that Perodua and our staff want a better Malaysia, and that we are more than happy to show our support for that cause,” said Tan Sri Asmat.

Tabung Harapan Malaysia, or Malaysia’s Hope Fund, was launched by the Pakatan Harapan government on 30 May 2018 to assist the government to repay the nation’s debts, which exceed RM1 trillion according to the Finance Ministry.

Various organisations, groups and individuals have donated over RM180 million to Tabung Harapan Malaysia as of end-August.

“We understand that the effort to reduce the country’s debt levels will take some time, and we will support the government of the day in improving the country’s economy through the Malaysian automotive eco-system,” said Asmat.

For this year, Perodua has committed to acquire RM5 billion worth of automotive components through its vendors, which consist mainly of local companies.

Perodua has also projected to sell 209,000 vehicles this year, which will also benefit its independent dealers nationwide.


CES 2019: Audi brings VR entertainment system to cars in fight against boredom

                LAS VEGAS: Audi is saying goodbye to boring car rides: The German car manufacturer has developed a platform for its back seat entertainment system that offers Virtual Reality films, games and other interactive content.

Unveiled at the CES tech fair here, the platform comes with VR glasses that can be connected to the car so that the virtual world is adapted to the motion of the vehicle.

This new entertainment system will not only be available in Audi cars, but also across the industry. For this purpose, Audi has created a start-up, named Holoride, which is a joint venture with other business partners. Audi's subsidiary Audi Electronics Venture has a minority stake in the start-up.

The company also hopes to attract content creators who are interested in building "fascinating worlds" on the new platform, as Audi digital manager and future CEO of Holoride, Nils Wollny, said at CES.

The company showcased Holoride at the electronics show, demonstrating how passengers sitting on the back bench were given VR glasses and driven around a closed-off racing track. Audi says that in the future, the system should also work with VR glasses such as Oculus Quest without needing an external computer.

The glasses are connected to the car's sensors as well, which means that as the car turns right, the passengers in the VR world also experience their space ship turning right, for instance. The system can also automatically choose a game that takes as long as the predicted travel time will, based on the navigation system's data.


Solarwatt and BMW cooperate on home batteries

                FRANKFURT: Solarwatt will start selling storage batteries from this autumn in cooperation with carmaker BMW amid an ongoing convergence of renewable power and electric mobility, the German photovoltaic firm announced today.

Under the deal, BMW will supply battery components also used in its electric vehicles for Dresden-based Solarwatt which will develop and assemble photovoltaic (PV) storage products under the brand name Battery flex in Germany to complement rooftop solar installations.

"We are delighted that, through our partnership with Solarwatt, we can make an additional positive contribution to bringing photovoltaics and electromobility closer together," BMW executive Eric Hamm said.

As the price of battery technology has come down, it is becoming increasingly economical for householders to store surplus solar power to supply power sockets or heat water directly, rather than selling it to grid operators.

Solar power can also be used to supply heat pumps or charge electric cars, helping to reduce global warming by replacing power generated by fossil fuel.

Solarwatt is investing 100 million euros up until 2025, for example on production lines and complementing Battery flex with intelligent software to manage energy flows around the house to help cut costs and raise households' self-sufficiency.

It will also offer installations, metering, insurance and tax advice and widen sales channels.

Solarwatt is majority-owned by Stefan Quandt, who owns nearly half of luxury carmaker BMW with his sister Susanne Klatten.

The German battery market is currently led by Solarwatt rival Sonnen, part of Shell.

German solar power supply in the first quarter 2021, at 7.24 terawatt hours (TWh), held a 5.4% share of total power grid volumes, Fraunhofer Institute data showed.

Solarwatt sold 16,000 PV systems last year in Germany alone and reported turnover of 120 million euros.


The push for Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) systems

                BRUSSELS: The independent new car assessment programme safety bodies for Europe (Euro NCAP) and Australasia (ANCAP) have begun emphasising the effectiveness of low speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.

In their publication, they reported that the low speed AEB technology leads to a 38% reduction in real world rear-end crashes and that there are no significant differences between urban and rural crash benefits.

It was concluded that low speed AEB technology should see widespread fitment in order to realise maximum benefits.

AEB is one of many safety technologies that have become increasingly common in passenger vehicles.

Such technology normally consists of an automatic brake function that operates from 30 to 50kph.

Previous studies have predicted significant expected benefits of AEB technology in low speed rear-end crashes but, so far, there has been little evidence that they really work.

It has been found that advanced safety systems are often limited by slow take-up rates, insufficient crash data and lower crash rates of new, safer vehicles.

Euro NCAP, with support of ANCAP, has initiated the ‘Validating Vehicle Safety through Meta-Analysis’ (VVSMA) group that brings together experts from governments, industry, consumer and insurance organisations.

The group pooled data from five European countries including Australia using a standard analysis format and a novel prospective meta-analysis approach.

Induced exposure methods were adopted to control for any extraneous effects.

The findings showed a 38% overall reduction in real world, rear-end crashes for vehicles fitted with low speed AEB compared to a sample of equivalent vehicles with no AEB.

There was no statistical difference found between urban (up to 60kph) and rural (60km/h and above) speed zones.

“Low speed AEB is potentially an important active safety technology and widespread fitment through the vehicle fleet should be encouraged in the interest of improved vehicle safety,” said Swedish Transport Administration group chairman Dr Anders Lie.

“These findings strongly support our decision to make AEB technology a key discriminator in the safety rating of new vehicles,” said Euro NCAP secretary general Dr Michiel van Ratingen.


BMW M2 Competition (F22) ready to burn rubber at RM627K

                SEPANG: BMW Group Malaysia has introduced the performance-oriented M2 Competition (F22) compact high-performance sportscar for Malaysia.

Currently available at RM626,800 (on-the-road without insurance), the M2 can be had via the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia with a monthly instalment plan of RM7,158 (based on 80% loan over five-years).

This high-powered German compact coupe is also accompanied by a five-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service programme and BMW tyre warranty programme.

Also, new owners will gain access to services such as BMW Roadside Assistance, Accident Hotline, BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App - BMW White Card and BMW Service Online.

Colours available for the M2 Competition include five choices such as Alpine White, Black Sapphire Metallic, Long Beach Blue Metallic or Hockenheim Silver Metallic paired with Black Leather Dakota upholstery with blue contrast stitching or Sunset Orange Metallic paired with Black Leather Dakota with orange contrast stitching.

The inline-six 3.0-litre (2,979cc) S55 twin-turbo aluminium engine (an up-tuned version of the of more familiar single turbo N55 engine) churns out 410hp (+40hp) from 5,370 to 7,200rpm and 550Nm (+85Nm) of torque from 2,350 to 5,230rpm.

Due to the engine's added performance, BMW's engineers had to further optimise the M2's chassis, not to mention the cooling system too had to be improved and now includes a transmission oil cooler regardless of whether its for street or track use.

The twist gets sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed M double-clutch transmission (with Comfort, Sport and Sport+ driving modes) to catapult the M2 Competition from 0 to 100kph in 4.2 seconds and onwards to an electronically limited top speed of 250kph.

Loosely translated, with a flying start, this 1,575kg (kerb) compact coupe was able to lap the infamous 20.8km Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in 7 minutes and 54 seconds.

The M2 Competition arrives all dressed up with piano-blacked parts that include part of the wing mirrors from the M3 (with anti-dazzle function), door window frame and double-rod front kidney grilles that are flanked by the automatic LED headlights.

Continuing the sporty nature of the car are the black M exhaust system with double twin tailpipes, an M rear spoiler and the partially hidden M Compound lightweight brakes with the signature metallic blue finish - all while hiding a carbon fibre strut brace under the hood.

The high-performance chassis also features light-weight aluminium front and rear axles from the M3 and M4 while tracking stability was further honed thanks to the solid-mounted rear subframe and forged-aluminium control arms.

To roll past the 'competition' are its lightweight M double-spoked style 437 front 19x9 and rear 19x10-inch wheels wearing staggered front 245/35 and rear 265/35 series tyres.

Accessing and starting the car is made easy thanks to the keyless entry with a red-start-stop button.

For the first time, drivers of the New BMW M2 Competition will also be able to use two selector switches in the central console to directly adjust various characteristics and settings for the engine, steering and Drivelogic functions.

Front occupants can settle into the powered M sport seats (memory function for the driver) with an illuminated M2 logo on the backrest and buckle up with the classic M-woven safety belts while admiring the carbon fibre accents all around.

For comfort and convenience (albeit with a touch of Sportiness), the cabin has been fitted with an anthracite headliner while the door sill finishers bear the M designation.

Also equipped is an electrochromic rearview mirror, M-badged gear selector Dakota leather upholstery, leather-wrapped multi-function M sports steering wheel with preprogrammed M1 and M2 buttons, dual-zone automatic climate controls, automatic wipers and 60:40-split rear seats.

A 12-speaker 360-Watt Harman Kardon sound system is controlled by an 8.8-inch colour touchscreen Navigation system Professional infotainment system with a reverse camera, lap timer, Bluetooth connectivity, USB ports and a hard drive supported system for audio files.

Also available is the convenience of the BMW ConnectedDrive Services that includes Intelligent Emergency Call, Teleservices, Concierge Services and Remote Services.

For passenger safety, the M2 Competition gets six airbags, anti-lock braking system, recalibrated dynamic stability control (DSC), cornering brake control, dynamic brake control and adaptive cruise control.

Also included is an active M differential - an electronically controlled multi-plate limited-slip differential, and an M dynamic mode which a sub-function of DSC which can be activated manually or automatically in SPORT+ mode to allow for greater wheel spin before DSC intervenes.

"Paying homage to the first turbochargedBMWvehicle introduced in 1973, the New BMW M2 Competition has built upon the legacy of the BMW 2002 Turbo to introduce a true motorsports masterpiece for this generation," said BMW Group Malaysia managing director Harald Hoelzl.


Sept 8-14: RON97 petrol down 10 sen to RM4.20 per litre

                PETALING JAYA: The retail price of RON97 petrol is down 10 sen to RM4.20 per litre from Sept 8-14, says the Malaysia's Finance Ministry today.

It also said the retail price of RON95 petrol and diesel will remain unchanged for the same period at RM2.05 per litre and RM2.15 respectively.

Fuel prices are set using the Automatic Pricing Mechanism.


1980s Lada for sale is possibly the world's most expensive

                MOSCOW: What is probably the world's most expensive Lada car is up for sale on a Russian website for an eye-watering US$283,000 (RM1.3mil).

The rustic Niva has a loyal following in Europe and beyond but the primitive off-roader was always cheap to buy. Production was from 1977 to around 2019.

For the money being asked for this bright red 1980 example in time capsule condition, you could buy 25 new ones - or a new Lamborghini Urus SUV.

The Lada is being offered on the auto.ru website at a price of 23 million Russian roubles. At the current exchange rate, this corresponds to US$283,000 or €265,000.

What makes this rustic mudplugger so special is that it has hardly ever been driven either on or off the road and is still in delivery condition 43 years after it left the factory.

The compact SUV and is said to have covered only 220km and on the website photos it looks like new.

The car has apparently been perfectly preserved, with seats protected by clear foil. The underside is spotless with no mud or rust. Even the passenger door is still sealed as was the custom at the plant where it was built.

The Lada spent its entire car life under a tarpaulin in a garage and it not known why the owner wants to part with the car after so many years.

However, it is clear from the advertisement that the Niva is being offered with all accessories, as well as all receipts and documents, including the original purchase invoice.

The location of the Niva is given in the ad as the city of Tolyatti, some 800km south-east of here and the site of the Lada factory.


Rare bird, almost extinct: A ride in Mini's old Wildgoose campervan

                BERLIN: Talk about classic motorhomes and everyone thinks of the iconic VW campervan. Nobody has heard of the Mini Wildgoose camper and even fewer will have seen one, since only a few roadworthy examples still exist.

Whereas the iconic VW campervan stands for the carefree hippy life and California dreaming, the Mini version is a genteel tiny house on wheels ideal for a bracing break at the English seaside.

Introduced in 1963, the Wildgoose was sold to drivers determined to push the limits of efficient travel, said Mini in an affectionate look back. Many owners were retired couples with time on their hands and looking for "the carefree life."

Rumour has it that the camper was named after a Frankie Lane hit record "The Cry of the Wild Goose".

"There is no more reasonable way of seeing the country or the world in comfort than by Wildgoose," boasted the sales brochure of the day.

The Wildgoose could sleep up four adults and on-board equipment included a gas hob, kitchen sink, curtains, ample storage space and an optional electrically powered telescopic roof with generous headroom. Power came from a puny 34-horsepower engine.

"The Mini's popularity skyrocketed in the late 1960s and owners began to look for clever ways to incorporate their much-loved cars into their lives," said a Mini statement.

The fully-finished Wildgoose from the British coachbuilding firm of the same name in Surrey cost a princely 998 pounds to buy. There was also a cheaper, do-it-yourself version for Mini van drivers who wanted to adapt their existing ride.

The Wildgoose boasted economy with comfort, and was the ultimate example of Mini's creative use of space ethos. By today standards the inside was a cramped affair. The hammock-type bunk beds took some getting used to but all the essentials were on board, including a gas cooker for brewing the inevitable cup of tea.

A button on the the dashboard engaged an electric motor to raise the roof after a few turns of an auxiliary handle and once in place the Wildgoose provided standing room for adults.

Numerous plastic foam cushions were slotted into place to form a double bed on the floor before occupants could snuggle down for the night.

Speed was never an issue for the Wildgoose since the camper not only looked like a snail with a big tin shell, it moved like one too. The adverts said the camper would max out at 116kph but few drivers would have risked winding one up that far.

The top-heavy construction put paid to the Mini's legendary go-kart handling too and the engine was hard put to cope with the weight. The zero to 100kph speed was best measured with a calendar rather than a stop-watch, contemporary testers joked.

The chances of seeing a Wildgoose at your local camping site today are slim indeed since of the 60 examples built only around a dozen are believed to have survived in roadworthy condition, says Mini spokesman Andreas Lampka.

They very rarely comes up for sale and even experts say it is hard to put a price on this rarest of campervans.


US scientists achieve breakthrough with energy dense fluoride-ion batteries

                SAN FRANCISCO: Scientists have created fluoride-ion batteries that have 10 times more energy density than currently available lithium batteries.

The researchers from Honda Research Institute, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced their joint findings in the Science journal.

The scientists said they were able to overcome the current temperature limitations of fluoride-based battery (FIB) technology and by demonstrating the room-temperature operation of fluoride-ion based energy cells.

"Unlike Li-ion batteries, FIBs do not pose a safety risk due to overheating, and obtaining the source materials for FIBs creates considerably less environmental impact than the extraction process for lithium and cobalt," said Dr Christopher Brooks, Chief Scientist, Honda Research Institute, and a co-author of the paper.

FIBs provide an attractive alternative to other types of potential high-energy battery electrochemistries, such as those based on lithium- or metal hydride chemistries, which are generally limited by the inherent properties of their electrodes.

Due to the low atomic weight of fluorine, rechargeable batteries based on the element could offer very high energy densities–up to 10 times greater than the theoretical values for lithium-ion technologies. However, while FIBs are considered a strong contender for the "next-generation" of high-density energy storage devices, they are limited by their required temperature requirements.

Currently, solid-state fluoride ion-conducting battery iterations need to operate at elevated temperatures–above 150 degrees Celsius–to make the electrolyte fluoride-conducting. According to the paper's authors, these limitations in the electrolyte have presented a significant challenge for achieving low-temperature operating FIBs.

To address this, the research team found a method for creating a fluoride-ion electrochemical cell capable of operating at room temperature–a breakthrough made possible by a chemically stable liquid fluoride-conducting electrolyte with high ionic conductivity and a wide operating voltage.

The scientists developed the electrolyte using dry tetraalkylammonium fluoride salts dissolved in an organic, fluorinated ether solvent. When paired with a composite cathode featuring a core-shell nanostructure of copper, lanthanum and fluorine, the researchers demonstrated reversible electrochemical cycling at room temperature.

In the future, FIBs could power battery-electric vehicles. The higher-capacity nature of the battery makes it a good candidate for power products as well.


Penang car workshops, tow truck services go on strike

                BUKIT MERTAJAM: Auto-repair workshop employees and tow truck services in Penang went on strike on Monday over claims of unfair treatment from insurers and the alleged monopoly of authorised franchise workshops.

In line with the protest, over 200 call men and tow truck operators handed over their walkie-talkies, towing cards and vests to the Penang Motor Vehicles Workshop Owners Association for safekeeping and informed that workshop employees were not allowed to appear at accident scenes until their condition are met.

Association chairman Khor Kong Siah said that some of the complaints include voiding car owners' warranty for opting for non-panel workshops, lack of transparency in warranty regulations and double standards employed by insurance companies.

He expressed concern that more association members would shut down their businesses should these practices continue any further.

"(Some of) these moves are a violation against the Competition Act and we urge for this matter to be taken into the government agencies' hands, such as Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysia Competition Commission, Consumers' Association and Road Transport Department (RTD)," he said in a press conference at a tow-truck pitstop at Juru, here today.

Also present were the Federation of automobile Workshop Owners’ Association of Malaysia Datuk Too Peng Huat, Sibu Municipal Council standing committee member Teo Nging Poh and representatives from other motor vehicles workshop owners associations in seven other states.

Khor also said that with the Penang association spearheading the protest, other workshop and tow truck associations all over Malaysia would also follow suit.

"We all hope that the protest would not snowball over time, so we do hope that the government agencies would respond to us as soon as possible so that we can end our strike," he added.

The Penang Chief Minister's political secretary Teh Lai Heng urged the association on Sunday to postpone the strike so that negotiations with car makers and insurance companies can take place.

In a statement, Teh said that the suspension of the tow truck operation would only cause social disorder and inconvenience, and requested the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumerism to develop a win-win solution.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in a press conference on Monday said the state has contacted the ministry, the RTD and the association to gain more understanding of the situation.

"As a state government we want a harmonious society. All related parties can come back to negotiation table and discuss. The protest would not be able to achieve any positive result. An amicable solution is needed to ensure that towing service is made available to the public," he said.


Goodyear launches EfficientGrip Performance SUV tyre

                BANGKOK: Goodyear has launched its latest EfficientGrip performance SUV tyre targeted at the luxury SUV highway segment in Buriram, Thailand.

The new tyre has been designed with consumer-driven needs and the tyre is said to deliver a quieter driving experience with maximized comfort and exceptional wet braking performance.

As such, the tyre comes with QuietTred Technology which the tread design helps to dampen noise with an increased number of pitches and optimized sequence and coupled with a closed shoulder groove design.

There's also FlexContact Technology, which is a shock absorbing cushion layer
compound with optimized formulation to help increase comfort levels.

Furthermore, these technologies are paired with a new polymer tread compound for better grip during wet conditions.

“We understand that today’s urban luxury SUV drivers are looking for a comfortable, quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and the EfficientGrip Performance SUV is our answer to that," said Goodyear APAC president Chris Delaney.

For the Malaysian market, the new tyre will be offered in 17 to 20-inch wheels, with up to 20 sizes available and can be found at Goodyear Autocare or Servitekar outlets, as well as authorized Goodyear dealers nationwide from October onwards.


Continental aims to triple returns with tech-focused CEO

                FRANKFURT: Continental AG seeks to grow faster than its automotive peers and roughly triple profitability as Europe’s second-largest maker of vehicle parts pushes through a deep restructuring under new chief executive officer Nikolai Setzer.

Continental is targeting an 8% to 11% adjusted earnings before interest and taxes margin in the medium term, the German manufacturer said today, up from its forecast for about 3% this year. It may buy companies, sell businesses and strike partnerships to achieve its goals.

“We will focus on our growth areas and future technologies with even more intensity and resources,” Setzer said in a statement.

“We will ensure that those products that have already established leading positions in a saturated market environment will remain profitable.”

Continental is under pressure to change as the automotive industry shifts towards electric vehicles, which require fewer parts than gasoline and diesel-powered cars.

Setzer, who joined Continental in 1997, was already on the management board under predecessor Elmar Degenhart, who sketched out an overhaul plan that includes shifting or eliminating as many as 30,000 jobs.

 Setzer.

Continental said it’s planning to double down on the growing sectors of vehicle software, high-performance computers for cars, connected and autonomous driving, digital services for fleet and industrial clients and its tires and ContiTech businesses.

The manufacturer said it will spin off its powertrain unit Vitesco next year.

The move may help restore investor confidence that Continental can push through structural changes and focus on areas that are key for the industry’s shift toward electric mobility.

Last month, Continental had said it expects its profitability to shrink for the fourth time in the last five years. It had earlier predicted a margin of 5.5% to 6.5% but withdrew that forecast in April, citing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Continental hosted a series of briefings for investors in recent days to highlight its technological edge in areas from automotive software and automated driving to vehicle connectivity.

The company has decided against producing battery cells, much like its unlisted German peers Robert Bosch GmbH and ZF Friedrichshafen AG. It is supplying the high-performance computer and tyres for Volkswagen AG’s ID.3 electric hatchback.

Focusing on the group’s most competitive assets in its sprawling operations will be key to convincing investors the planned transformation will pay off.


Auto sector on road to recovery

                PETALING JAYA: Growth in the automotive sector is expected to pick up momentum in the coming months, spurred by the sales and services tax (SST) exemption and low financing rates, following the reduction in interest rates.

This would improve auto companies’ earnings, which mostly came in weaker than expectations in the recent April to June reporting period.

“Overall, automotive players suffered from the closure of business during the movement control order (MCO), which was imposed on March 18. This was further worsened by the unfavourable foreign exchange movement following the Covid-19 outbreak," said an analyst.

“However, the industry is slowly recovering... sales have been picking up since May and this trend should continue in the months ahead.”

AllianceDBS in a recent report noted that auto sales continued to record monthly improvement with July total industry volume (TIV) standing at 57,600 units or a 29% increase month-on-month. This brought the year-to-date TIV to 232,000 units.

Similarly, Kenanga Research said it “expects most of the auto players to chart stronger recovery during the sales tax exemption period on passenger vehicles” and envisages volumes to fall within its 2020 TIV target units of 475,000.

TA Research is a little more optimistic. It has revised its 2020 TIV higher by 13.2% to 488,000 units, which is 3.8% higher than the Malaysian Automotive Association’s forecast of 470,000 units. In a recent report, TA said “most of the automotive players are cautiously optimistic about the outlook for the 2H20.”

The research firm has upgraded the sector recommendation from “underweight” to “neutral” in light of their improving earnings outlook.

Recall that vehicle sales took a big hit due to the MCO, with just 143 units delivered in April.

Since May, the trend has been picking up with 23,309 units sold. Vehicle sales in June increased further by 95% quarter-on-quarter to 44,695 units mainly due to efforts by the government through reduction of sales tax for locally-imported and fully-imported models, which was introduced on June 15 until year-end.

Car companies, on their part, have been undertaking aggressive promotional campaigns.

This had also played a part in helping lift the TIV in June and July.

However, analysts noted that the increase in TIV was not as high as the tax holiday period back in 2018.

Going back to the recent 2Q results, Kenanga said that only one stock, namely Sime Darby Bhd, had performed above expectation and this was boosted by a strong recovery from its industrial division.

DRB-Hicom Bhd’s results came in within expectation, while results of other players were severely below expectations, it added in a report.

AllianceDBS sees a strong earnings rebound for Berjaya Auto on the back of higher margin and sales volume.

Public Investment Bank Bhd says it expects DRB-Hicom Bhd to record stronger vehicle sales and better performance from its postal and logistics segment due to improved tariff rate at Pos Malaysia Bhd.

Under its auto division, Proton recorded a monthly sale of 13,216 units in July 2020, which was its best since June 2012, it added.


Audi's Sainz takes first Dakar stage win for an electric car

                LONDON: Spaniard Carlos Sainz won the third stage of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday with his Audi team celebrating a first for an electric hybrid car.

The Spaniard, a triple Dakar champion, took his 40th career stage win when he finished 38 seconds ahead of Toyota's South African Henk Lategan over the 255km timed stage around Al Qaisumah.

The Audi RS Q e-tron prototype has three electric motors and a petrol engine to charge the batteries during the longer stages of the two-week endurance event.

Qatar's Nasser Al Attiyah strengthened his grip on the overall lead after closest challenger Sebastien Loeb suffered two punctures and a transmission problem that left him on two-wheel drive.

 Sainz.

The Frenchman, a nine-times world rally champion racing for the Bahrain Raid Xtreme team, dropped 37 minutes behind his toyota rival, who was eighth in the stage.

Argentina's Lucio Alvarez was third overall with South African Giniel De Villiers fourth despite a five-minute penalty for failing to stop after contact with Chilean motorcycle rider Cesar Zumaran on Monday.

Sainz and Audi team mate and defending champion Stephane Peterhansel are fighting for stage wins rather than overall victory after a nightmare Sunday effectively wrecked their chances.

The Spaniard is seventh overall, but two hours and 19 minutes behind Al Attiyah, while 14-times winner Peterhansel is 23 hours adrift.

In the motorcycle category, Britain's Sam Sunderland finished 17th but retained the overall lead even if it was cut to four seconds by French rider Adrien Van Beveren.

The stage was won by Portuguese rider Joaquim Rodrigues, whose brother-in-law Paulo Goncalves died in the 2020 Dakar, for the Indian Hero team.

It was his first stage victory in the endurance event.

Australian Daniel Sanders, who led after the first stage, said he had deliberately lost time to avoid having to run first on Wednesday.

"Just before the finish, I sat and had a picnic for a bit and waited for three minutes," he said.

"I just played it smart because tomorrow is the longest stage of the race and I wanted to start back a bit to catch the guys in front.

"It would have been cool to have another stage win but we’re here for 12 days not just to win each stage because it happened to me on the second day when I lost 30 minutes, so, yeah, we had to play it a little bit smarter."

Former MotoGP rider Danilo Petrucci rejoined with a penalty of more than 11 hours after overnight repairs to his KTM.


New Honda Mobilio enticing Indonesian car buyers

                JAKARTA: The new Honda Mobilio began arriving in Indonesian dealerships from Jan 12 and is luring car buyers with its affordability and newly designed aesthetics.

Using the Honda Brio's platform, as does the recently launched BR-V (test drive)  in Malaysia, it comes with some re-designed items such as a new front grille, engine hood, headlights (now with LED guides), 15-inch wheels and rear license plate garnish.

Also available is a more aggressive RS variant that comes with a sportier set of 15-inch alloy wheels, after blacking-out the front grille and adding on power retractable door mirrors.

Within this light multi-purpose vehicle that seats seven, the seats now feature separated and adjustable headrests, while the second row seats are more plush with thicker cushions.

New to cabin are the steering wheel audio controls, six-speaker audio system, 6.8-inch colour touchscreen, automatic climate controls and a new meter-cluster.

The RS-variant's cabin gets blacked-out and is accented by orange stitches.

Under the hood lies a familiar 1.5-litre i-VTEC naturally aspirated engine providing 118PS at 6,600rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4,600rpm, which gets managed by a manual transmission (M/T) or continuously variable transmission (CVT) before reaching the front wheels.

While able to travel with 189mm of ground clearance, the Mobilio has included more sophisticated technologies such as drive-by-wire and electronic power steering.

In terms of safety, it comes equipped with dual front SRS airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, vehicle stability assist, hill-start assist, seatbelt pretensioners with load limiter, three-point seatbelts for second row as well as ISOFIX and tether points.

The Mobilio comes in three variants starting with the entry-level S (M/T only) costing IDR189,500,000 (RM65,000).

The mid-range E (M/T) costs IDR210,000,000 (RM70,000), while opting for a CVT will cost IDR221,000,000 (RM74,000).

The range-topping RS (M/T) variant comes priced at IDR233,000,000 (RM78,000) and the CVT is tagged at IDR243,500,000 (RM82,000).


Vehicle sales 3% higher in August, says MAA

                KUALA LUMPUR: Vehicle sales in Malaysia was marginally higher in August 2020, rising by 3.0 per cent to 52,800 units from 51,148 units in the same month last year.

In a statement today, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) attributed the higher sales volume to the shorter working period due to the public holidays observed during the month under review.

However, month-on-month, the sales volume for August 2020 was 8.0 per cent lower than the preceding month due to the clearance of backlog of orders in July following the announcement of sales tax exemption incentive.

MAA said production also rose to 50,228 units in August 2020 compared with 47,000 units in August 2019.

Moving forward, it added that the sales volume in September 2020 is expected to be maintained at August 2020’s level, backed by the ongoing promotional campaigns by car companies.

“Consumers’ sentiment remains cautious with the loan moratorium coming to an end on Sept 30, 2020,” it added.


More design awards for Hyundai Motor

                MUNICH: Hyundai Motor Company has received further international recognition for its design vision from the prestigious iF Design Awards jury.

The Hyundai Motorstudio won three iF Design Award 2015 titles, across ‘Product’ and ‘Communication’ disciplines for its brand collections, along with one gaining special recognition as the ‘Gold’ winner, a first for the Hyundai brand.

The Hyundai Motorstudio itself won an iF Design Award 2015 in the ‘Communication’ category – recognition for the brand’s creative vision.

The Hyundai Motorstudio ‘Collection’, which includes simple yet unique design of everyday items such as pencil cap sharpeners, tumblers, cups and stools, won a second award in the ‘Product’ category with the Hyundai Motorstudio collection’s ‘Spoon Set’ claiming the third award and the prestigious ‘Gold’ winner title.

The jury awarded the sought-after prizes to the Hyundai Motorstudio collections following a rigorous judging process, involving almost 5,000 entries from 53 countries.

Won-Hong Cho, Executive Vice President of Hyundai Motor, commented: “The Hyundai Motorstudio in Seoul and Moscow allow us to convey Hyundai’s brand values in unconventional and innovative ways."

For more than 60 years, the iF Design Awards have been recognized across the world as a symbol of design excellence.

Organized by iF International Forum Design, the awards identify outstanding design across various disciplines and categories.


New Honda Jazz is a popular buy

                PETALING JAYA: The new 2017 Honda Jazz has received over 1,300 bookings within 2 weeks after its official launch on June 6.

This means the Jazz has exceeded its monthly sales target of 1,200 units.

About 40 per cent of the bookings were for the mid-grade Jazz E variant, while 28 and 32 per cent were for the entry-grade S and top-grade V variants respectively.

In terms of colour, Modern Steel Metallic was the most popular, followed by Lunar Silver Metallic.

Buyers tend to be upgraders, young executives and second vehicle purchasers.

The new Jazz is priced at RM74,800 (S variant); RM81,000 (E variant); RM88,400 (V variant) and RM87,500 (Sport Hybrid).

Meanwhile, deliveries of the Jazz Sport hybrid will be at end-July.

The conventional Jazz is still powered by a 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine with 120ps and 145Nm of torque, paired to a Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT).

As for the Jazz Sport hybrid, it has a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle DOHC i-VTEC engine, paired to a seven-speed Dual-Clutch Drive (i-DCD) transmission.

Fuel economy for the Jazz hybrid is rated at four litres per 100km, and total hybrid system output is 137ps and 170Nm of torque.

READ ALSO:
2017 Honda Jazz arrives; priced RM74,800 to RM88,400
2017 Honda Jazz Sport hybrid launched at RM87,500


Volvo delays plan to build Lynk & Co vehicles in Belgium

                STOCKHOLM: Volvo Cars has decided to delay building Lynk & Co branded cars at its plant at Ghent in Belgium because of increased macro-economic uncertainty, a spokesman for the Geely-owned Swedish carmaker said on Friday.

Lynk & Co, co-owned by Volvo’s owner and its two brands Volvo and Geely Auto, began selling its first model in China last year. The vehicle is currently produced at a Volvo-operated plant in Taizho in China.

The original plan, set out in March, was to begin production in Belgium at the end of 2019. But the Swedish company has had to replan what cars to produce in which part of the world due to a trade dispute between China and the United States that has led to additional tariffs.

“The decision to revise the manufacturing plans for Lynk & Co was taken due to an increased macro-economic uncertainty, and Volvo has reviewed how we best can use the group’s global production infrastructure,” the spokesman said.

The changes would not affect employment in Ghent and Lynk & Co’s cars would instead be exported to Europe from China next year, he said in response to e-mailed questions.

Volvo also has plans to begin selling Lynk & Co vehicles in the United States in 2020.

As global uncertainty has mounted, the company has also been forced to shelve plans to float its shares and like other carmakers, Volvo is now facing added pressure from a demand slowdown in its main market, China.

The company has found itself in need of more free capacity at Ghent, after being forced to move production of its V60 station wagon out to Belgium and China to free up space at its Swedish plant.

This is because by the end of this year it plans to move most of the production of its best-selling SUV, the XC60, for export to the US market to its plant to Torslanda, Sweden from Chengdu, China.

The spokesman said on Friday that Volvo had also decided to produce its S60 luxury sport sedan in China from next year, altering an original plan to manufacture the vehicle only at its U.S. factory and export it to China.


Hyundai nominates Genesis head as new co-CEO

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor nominated Jaehoon Chang, global head of its premium Genesis brand, as the co-CEO and president today, it said in a statement.

Lee Won-hee, existing president and co-CEO, will focus on securing a competitive edge in future automotive businesses such as optimising global businesses and strengthening technology development, the automaker said.

Chang has extensive and varied experience in the Hyundai Motor Group. He has held roles of increasing responsibility within the production development planning, customer experience, Korean business and people & business operation support divisions.