Toyota and Suzuki exploring possible partnership

The facelifted Suzuki S-Cross at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.
TOKYO: Toyota and minicar maker Suzuki said they plan to explore a possible partnership, citing technological challenges and the need to keep pace with rising consolidation in the global auto industry.

The announcement comes after Toyota completed a buyout of minivehicles maker Daihatsu Motors earlier this year. The world's largest automaker by vehicle sales in 2015 said last week it will set up an internal company with Daihatsu to focus on emerging markets.

Suzuki, Japan's fourth-largest automaker, also specialises in minivehicles and competes fiercely with Daihatsu in the domestic market.

Both Daihatsu and Suzuki manufacture and market cars in emerging Asian countries, with Suzuki dominating the Indian market through its majority stake in Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, while Daihatsu has been expanding in Malaysia and Indonesia through separate joint ventures.

In a joint statement, Toyota and Suzuki said there was need for increased industry cooperation to keep pace with rapid changes in the global auto industry, where automakers and technology companies are competing to develop self-driving cars and new mobility services.

"In addition to the R&D which each company is working on individually, it is very important now to have partners who share the same goal and passion," Toyota president Akio Toyoda said in the statement.

The two companies said Suzuki was "increasingly feeling a sense of uncertainty" in the face of rapidly developing new technologies, while Toyota acknowledged it "may be behind competitors in North America and Europe when it comes to the establishment of standardizations and partnership with other companies."

The companies said they would hold a joint briefing on the possible partnership in Tokyo at 0930 GMT. A Toyota spokeswoman declined to give details on the agreement.

Both companies said that they had just begun exploring possibilities for a partnership, and added that they would continue to compete with each other and would be open to collaborating with other companies.

A partnership between Toyota and Suzuki would be the latest in a consolidating auto industry. Nissan in May announced it was planning to take a controlling stake in embattled Mitsubishi Motors Corp.


Bermaz Auto to pick up European franchise?

                PETALING JAYA: Bermaz Auto may add another car franchise to its operations by year-end, which is a positive to soften the loss of its single franchise and expand its earnings base, according to Maybank Investment Bank Research.

Word from the grapevine is that it could be an Asian or European brand.

However, it would make sense for Bermaz Auto to snap up a Euro brand as it consolidates into a distributor of upmarket marques.

The group is also confident of renewing and extending its Mazda franchise agreement by another three to five years, given its track record and amicable working partnership with Mazda Japan.

Based on the bookings in hand, supported by the SST exemption, Bermaz Auto is confident of averaging 1,000 unit sales a month from July 2020 to April 2021, said Maybank IB.

Bermaz Auto is also confident of improving its margins, as it streamlined its incentives programmes.

Meanwhile, the group's 30%-owned assembler Mazda Malaysia Sdn Bhd should turn around from 2Q21 on higher productivity, said Maybank IB.

The research house expects these positives in Malaysia to offset the continued sluggishness in the Philippines operations where no SST exemption or equivalent benefits were introduced to boost the auto industry in the Covid-19 pandemic.

It kept its earnings forecasts on the group with core earnings of RM20mil to RM30mil a quarter in 2Q FY21 to 4QFY21.

Its target price remained similarly unchanged at RM1.65 on 14x FY22 price-earnings.


MCO 2.0 may be lifted after Feb 4

                PUTRAJAYA: The second movement control order, or MCO 2.0, may not be extended from the tentative Feb 4 end date, says the Health Ministry.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the government was concerned that a prolonged MCO would be too detrimental to the country’s economy.

After the four-week MCO period, the government will then possibly reinstate the conditional MCO.

“We do not want to prolong the MCO. If it is prolonged, our economy could be affected. We need to balance health and economy, life and livelihood.

“So, we implement the MCO until Feb 4 and follow up with the conditional MCO.

“With the combination of the MCO and the conditional MCO, we can reduce the number of cases to two digits by May. This is our projection, ” said Dr Noor Hisham at a virtual media session.

He said the current R0 (infectivity rate, pronounced R-naught) had gone down to 1.06 from 1.2, indicating that the number of Covid-19 cases might be on the decline.

“Today (Monday), the number of cases is 3,048, which is less than the day before (3,346 cases on Sunday).

“We hope the cases can stabilise at 3,000. Right now, the R0 has gone down to 1.06 but this is not enough.

“Tomorrow, it could be less than 1.06. Better if it is less than 1.

“So we are hoping that in the first two weeks of the MCO, the number of cases are stable and that there is no increase.

“And then, after Jan 27, we expect to see the number of cases go down, ” he added.

MCO 2.0 was first imposed from Jan 13 in several states for a period of two weeks, and was initially supposed to end on Jan 26.

It was extended to all states and the Federal Territories, except Sarawak, and will now last until Feb 4.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry will be looking to begin its first round of Covid-19 vaccinations at the end of February.

Dr Noor Hisham said the first round of 500,000 vaccine doses would be reserved for frontliners, especially those in healthcare.

“The vaccination period will be from March to May. Each of those who are vaccinated will be given their first dose, and the second dose after 21 days, ” he said.

After the frontliner phase was complete, he said the second group would be those who were vulnerable such as the elderly and those with severe diseases.

The third phase is for 17 million citizens who are of working age.

Dr Noor Hisham also said the ministry had identified 130 private hospitals that could treat Covid-19 patients in Category 3 and above.

“Out of the 130 private hospitals, 95 of them have agreed to help the ministry to treat Covid-19 patients.

“We are still waiting for an answer from the rest. With this, there is an additional capacity of 1,286 hospital beds as well as 65 intensive care beds and 54 ventilators from the private sector, ” he said.

“This is a great development as we have engaged the private sector in less than a week and we have received a good response.”


Ex-Tesla engineer aims to build next-gen battery materials in US

                SAN FRANCISCO: A battery startup founded by a former Tesla engineer announced today plans for US-based mass production of next-generation materials aimed at cutting costs, boosting driving ranges and reducing the industry's reliance on China.

Sila Nanotechnologies will invest in the low hundreds of millions of dollars in a new plant in Washington state due to open in 2024, said Sila CEO Gene Berdichevsky.

He said that since Tesla was founded in 2003, the price of electric car batteries had plateaued rather than falling as much as anticipated, so new materials could help lower the cost to consumers.

Automaker Daimler AG has a minority equity stake in unlisted Sila, which is also working with BMW. Sila raised an additional US$590 million last year, boosting its valuation to an estimated US$3.3 billion.

Berdichevsky said Sila would use the new plant in the city of Moses Lake to make silicon-based anode materials that can store 20% more energy than anodes that typically use graphite, 70% of which comes from China.

Graphite is on the US critical minerals list but silicon is not, as the Biden administration aims to reduce reliance on China in the battery supply chain. read more

He said its new facility aims to deliver annual silicon-based anode production sufficient to power 10 gigawatt hours of batteries in 100,000 electric vehicles, with a goal to increase the capacity to power 2 million electric vehicles a year.

Sila runs a test production facility at its headquarters in Alameda, California that can produce battery materials for about 1,000 cars a year, though it is instead making materials used in fitness watches.

Berdichevsky said Sila was trying to address the challenges of scaling up production to meet the needs of carmakers.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced a plan to use silicon-based anode in its new batteries at its Battery Day event in 2020 but it is not clear whether it is using the breakthrough technology.

Tesla did not respond immediately to a request for comment.


Toyota's research arm to set up US$800mil fund to invest in promising firms

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp’s research arm said today that it would create an US$800 million global investment fund.

The fund called Woven Capital is to invest in companies in areas including autonomous mobility and smart cities, Toyota Research Institute-Advanced Development said in a statement.

Earlier this year, the Japanese automaker unveiled a plan to build a prototype “city of the future” called Woven City at the base of Japan’s Mount Fuji, powered by hydrogen fuel cells and functioning as a laboratory for autonomous cars.


Bentley's got a new 'Blower' engine

                LONDON: The engine for the first car in Bentley Mulliner’s Blower Continuation Series has been fired up for the first time on a dedicated and specially-prepared testbed at Bentley’s Crewe factory.

The Blower Continuation Series is a run of 12 newly-built re-creations of one of the most famous Bentleys of all time – the supercharged 4.5-litre "Blower" created for racing by Sir Tim Birkin in the late 1920s.

Forming the world’s first pre-war continuation series, these 12 cars have all been pre-sold to Bentley collectors and enthusiasts around the world.

With the engineering prototype for the project – Car Zero – now in build, the first engine has been re-created by Bentley Mulliner with the support of specialists.

While the engine was being built, a team of Bentley engineers began work to prepare one of the four engine development testbeds at Bentley’s Crewe headquarters in the UK to receive the engine.

The engine test facility has been at Bentley since the factory was built in 1938, and the cells were originally used to run-in and power-test Merlin V12 aero engines produced by the factory for the Spitfire and Hurricane fighters of the Second World War.

The engines will be tested across a 20-hour cycle, gradually increasing both engine speed and load conditions from idle up to 3,500 rpm. Once each engine is fully run-in, a full-load power curve will be measured.

Once testbed running is complete, the next step for Car Zero’s engine will be real-world durability.

When the build of the car is complete it will start a programme of track testing – running for sessions of gradually increasing duration and speed, checking functionality and robustness under ever harder conditions.

The test programme is designed to achieve the equivalent of 35,000km of real-world driving across 8,000km of track driving, and simulates the undertaking of famous rallies such as Peking to Paris and Mille Miglia.


3M opens its first one-stop centre in Malaysia

                ALOR SETAR, KEDAH: Lee Motors Bodyworks is the first 3M authorised autofilm and auto care centre in Alor Setar, Kedah.

The 3M authorised one-stop centre offers genuine 3M products and services.

Each 3M auto care solution will be complemented with the presence of an expert who has 3M training and certification.

Products and services at Lee Motors Bodyworks include 3M glass coating for body and window coating, waxing and polishing programme, interior cleaning package for both leather and fabric surfaces, car and engine wash, wheels and tyre detailing and headlight restoration.

“3M automotive solutions have been the most sought after choice for car enthusiasts. We are confident that with the opening of this centre, Malaysians will get the opportunity to experience 3M’s unmatched value and complete 360 degree auto care experience,” said 3M Malaysia managing director Hideo Yamazaki.

Lee Motors Bodyworks is located at 12-C, Jalan Istana Kuning, Alor Setar, Kedah.

For details, call 018-630 3660.


Cabbies' boss says e-hailing companies like Grab free to operate but ...

                KUALA LUMPUR: Taxi drivers are not against e-hailing companies such as Grab but want them to follow the same rules as those imposed on taxi drivers, says Big Blue Taxi Facilities Sdn Bhd director Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail.

"We don't want the Government to ban e-hailing, we just want e-hailing drivers to adhere to the same rules that govern taxi drivers so that there is a level playing field between us," he told reporters here today.
 Shamsubahrin
He said that Transport Minister Anthony Loke's recent statement that the Government would not bow to the demands of taxi drivers that Grab be banned was misleading, as taxi drivers did not ask for Grab to be banned.

"Please do not talk rubbish. I respect you so much, (so) please don't come up with these kind of statements," he added.

At today's press conference, Shamsubahrin said taxi drivers wanted to meet with Loke as soon as possible to iron out issues, or else they would stage a peaceful protest on Nov 8.

Shamsubahrin Ismail said the taxi driver community had asked for a meeting with Loke to discuss issues faced by the community ever since the Pakatan Harapan came to power - but to no avail.

However in Putrajaya, Loke replied that he will not entertain any request that has an element of threat (ugutan).

"If you want to discuss, we are ready to hold discussions, but do not threaten us," he said, adding that this was not the culture of Malaysians.


MCO weighs on car sales in April

                PETALING JAYA: Total vehicle sales plunged 99% year-on-year to 141 units in April, as the government’s movement control order (MCO) forced all automotive companies to cease operations during the month.

Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Datuk Aishah Ahmad said the figures recorded in April were in fact sales that could not be registered the month before.

“These sales could not be reported earlier in March but were registered before the MCO, ” she told StarBiz.

According to the MAA’s latest data, issued yesterday, a total of 131 passenger vehicles and 10 commercial vehicles were registered last month.

The association said a total of 49,935 units were sold in April 2019.

Year-to-date April, total vehicle sales for 2020 stood at 106,601 units, compared with 192,971 units in the previous corresponding period.

READ MORE: Thai vehicle production in April lowest in 30 years

On its outlook for the month of May, the MAA said sales volume will be much higher than last month’s but lower than the traditional monthly registrations prior to the MCO.

“Businesses resumed after the lifting of restrictions for most economic activities. However, the Road Transport Department started allowing new vehicle registrations only from May 13,2020, ” it added.

The MAA said that companies also faced delays in getting vehicle inspections done at Puspakom branches due to long queues.

“Consumer confidence has not yet normalised and sentiment is still very low. Automotive showroom traffic is low. Banks are more stringent in approving hire purchase loans as well as reducing hire purchase loans quantum, ” it said.

To tackle the rise in Covid-19 infections in the country, the government implemented the MCO on March 18. On May 4, a conditional MCO (CMCO) was enforced to allow businesses to re-open to recover the economy. The CMCO has been extended to June 9.

Last month, the MAA announced that it was revising downwards its 2020 total industry volume (TIV) forecast to 400,000 units from 607,000 previously. The 400,000 units forecast would represent a 34% contraction from 2019’s 604,287 units. It also marks the first time in 13 years since the TIV failed to surpass the 500,000-unit mark.

According to historical data, the last time vehicle sales failed to breach the 500,000-unit mark was in 2007, when TIV stood at around 480,000 units.


Germany’s EV market poised to overtake California’s

                FRANKFURT: Electric-vehicle sales in Germany will surpass California’s for the first time this year, with a range of government incentives propelling Europe’s biggest auto market ahead of Tesla Inc.’s home state.

Customers in Germany bought 98,370 fully electric cars in the first nine months, roughly a third more than what California sold, according to a report from Berlin-based Schmidt Automotive Research.

State-funded subsidies of as much as €9,000 (nearly RM45,000) per battery-powered vehicle have boosted Germany’s electric-car fleet to twice the size of Norway’s, which still reigns as the country with the highest per-capita EV penetration.

Germany overtaking California is a boon for local automakers Volkswagen AG, Daimler AG and BMW AG as they seek to catch up with Tesla.

Once world leaders in automotive innovation, the three German manufacturers combined are valued at less than half their US rival, which is building a factory near Berlin to challenge the companies on their home turf.

Europe is taking unprecedented steps to phase out gasoline and diesel cars, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson banning sales of cars that lack a plug from 2030.

Germany last month said it will extend cash bonuses for buying EVs until 2025, expand the country’s charging network and make payments for topping up batteries easier.

California will phase out sales of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035 as part of its fight against climate change, governor Gavin Newsom said in September.

Schmidt Automotive Research said it used data from IHS Markit, Germany’s motor transport authority KBA and Experian Plc’s AutoCount for its report.


Will autonomous driving kill the sports car?

                NEW YORK: The robot drivers are coming.

Virtually every brand in the auto industry is bragging about its autonomous driving capabilities. In four years, some Fords will even skip the steering wheel entirely. But at least two big names aren’t jumping on the bandwagon just yet. When it comes to “the future of transportation,” Mazda and Porsche got the memo – they just decided to go another way.

Mazda, for one, is sticking to its mantra: “Driving Matters” and doubling down on transmissions tied to stick shifts. Porsche, meanwhile, sold more than 15,000 two-door sports cars in the US last year, 28% of its transactions. Its storied 911 model now comes in 21 configurations, from the base “Carrera” to the nervy new GT3 shown at the New York auto show last week.

We sat down with the North American CEOs for both brands – Mazda’s Masahiro Moro and Porsche’s Klaus Zellmer – to figure out where robots fit in at companies built on steering, speed, and passion. We spoke with Moro first.

Q: Mazda is so focused on driving and racing, how is the company thinking about autonomy?
Moro: It’s a key technology for all manufacturers and Mazda agrees it’s going to be very important. We have full-scale autonomy in development right now. But how we apply this technology will be a little unique. We believe driving pleasure should never die. And we’re selling our products to a core customer who loves driving.

We’ll always take a human-centric approach. The driver will have control and we’ll try to improve peace of mind. If anything happens to the driver, the system will override immediately to bring the car to a safe place.

Q: So, the system is in the background?
Yes. Mazda’s vision of autonomous driving is not bringing you from A to B while you are reading. That’s not Mazda’s way.

Q: Never?
Never.

Q: And you can make that decision because Mazda isn’t a large player?
Right. Mazda is targeting a very small niche of customers. These people really like driving and, to them, a car isn’t a commodity; it’s an emotional expression of their style.

Many customers don’t care too much about driving itself – that’s fine. We focus on a particular type of customer. Our share is 2%; it’s very small.

Q: You’re happy at 2%?
Yes, but I want to achieve a quality 2%, not just 2%. By that I mean, selling the top trims more often, higher brand loyalty, lifelong fans, and a sustainable dealer network.

Later, we spoke with Porsche’s Zellmer.

Q: Porsche doesn’t talk much about autonomy, is that becoming more of a conversation in the Stuttgart headquarters?
Zellmer: Yes. Two years ago, if you raised the question in a town hall environment: “Who thinks Porsche should go into autonomous driving?” Amongst 300 people, you probably saw two raise their hands. It’s much more now.

But if you think about it, autonomous driving started decades ago with cruise control, adaptive cruise control, with lane-keeping assist. Of course, we’ll have an autonomous drive mode in all of our cars. You will be able to press that button and the car will take you home, because our customers also experience traffic situations they don’t enjoy and they want to do something else. That does not conflict with grabbing the steering wheel and doing the manual shifting.

You have to let the customers choose. We’ll deliver customers the possibility of autonomous driving mode.

Q: So it’s not something you need to talk about overtly? It’s just a feature like cruise control?
Yes, like stability management, like brake assist – that’s exactly it.

Q: Autonomy is not at odds with your talk of driving experience?
It’s not, as long as a driver can do both.

Q: Is it surprising that so many car executives talk about autonomy, as if it’s some kind of Holy Grail?
The fact that so many people talk about it shows that it’s not an issue the car industry can solve on its own. If you look at farming, tractors have had autonomous driving for years. You push a button and the tractor does the deal and you can lie in your sunbed. But there’s no oncoming traffic, there are no pedestrians, there’s nothing else. It’s more the environment we live in that’s a challenge.

Q: What’s the right size for Porsche? Is there a volume at which the brand becomes a little less special?
That’s a question we discuss internally and we do so exactly how you put it. If you imagine a supermarket parking lot with 1,000 vehicles. Right now, three of those are Porsches. Are we still something special? Are we still exclusive? Yes. It’s more the way you handle growth than defining a number that we shouldn’t exceed.

Look at the new Macan (SUV), which adds a lot of volume to our business model. At the same time, we introduced the 918 Spyder (sports car). If you look at your business as a pyramid and you add something to widen the bottom, you have to make sure that you stay in that top-notch corner as well with something that helps people understand that this brand is still, technologically speaking, the best. And the 918 Spyder sort of counterweights increasing that footprint.

Porsche is not looking for volume; Porsche is looking for fans.


Thousands vie for five positions in Tesla Malaysia recruitment drive

                PETALING JAYA: Eager jobseekers flocked to a job interview held by US electric vehicle manufacturer, Tesla, in Cyberjaya today.

According to Cyberview strategic communications and marketing head Iza Sofia Kasbi, who coordinated the interviews, members of the public started to queue as early as 8am even though the interviews only started at noon.

She said as of 12.30pm, close to 3,000 people had shown up at the office building at Cyberview, as reported by Chinese daily Sin Chew.

Due to the hot weather, Iza also told Sin Chew that the management started distributing mineral water and ice cream for those in line.

Tesla Malaysia had announced that its office was organising a walk-in interview for five positions, as seen in a poster that had been circulating online last week.

The positions were Sales Advisor/Inside Sales Advisor, Enterprise Sales Advisor, Delivery Advisor, Customer Support Specialist and Service Advisor.

The one-day job interview was scheduled until 4pm tod ay.

One hopeful identified only as Fadzrain said the crowded situation looked as if people were lining-up to enter a concert venue.

Because of the hot weather, the 27-year-old decided to stay in his car for a while until someone came up and told him to fill up an application form online instead.

“The line seems longer than the line entering a concert! It was very hot and my friend and I just stayed in the car while observing people queuing.

“I can say it was one of the craziest long queues I have ever seen.

“A guy then approached and told the candidates to go back home and fill in the online form through their career websites,” the Kuala Lumpur native said.

Fadzrain said that he had earlier applied for a position through Tesla’s career website in May and called for others who were turned down to do the same, too.

Checks on Tesla's website showed that the company was also accepting online applications for its office in Malaysia, which included administrative, human resources and sales positions.

Videos and photos showing people forming a line trying their luck to secure the positions offered have since gone viral on social media.

Some Internet users were surprised at the large number of people who were seen queuing outside the office, wishing them good luck.

Meanwhile, a few said Tesla should have expected the large number of people showing up and suggested it consider a better recruitment method.

“Tesla Malaysia should have seen this coming as they are an international company. Maybe they could have used online platforms to recruit instead,” an Internet user said in a tweet today.

In March, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz announced that Tesla would enter Malaysia.


All-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class might just be an S-Class, only smaller

                PETALING JAYA:  The next Mercedes-Benz C-Class is due for launch next year and will be heavily influenced by the newly-launched  S-Class in terms of design and technology.

And the source of this information comes straight from the horse's mouth: Ola Kaellenius, chairman of the board of management for the Daimler group as cited by Australian auto site Cars Guide.

Kaellenius also highlighted that technology transfer across model lines would be speeded up under his watch.

“Back in the day, many years ago now, the logic at Mercedes was ‘we got it in the S-Class’ – that happens every seven or eight years – and then we have a gradual trickle down.

 The all-new S-Class.

“We’ve already departed from this philosophy, I would say, in the last five to seven years. We have switched to say every single new architecture or major model gets innovation," said Kaellenius.

Rumours of the new C-Class powertrain have been swirling around pointing to a diesel-hybrid powertrain for European markets as well as an electrified AMG engine.

The all-new S-Class now features the latest MBUX entertainment system with faster processors and a portrait-orientated touchscreen.

“You alluded to MBUX, I mean, almost deliberately, we launched that in our A-Class, where we have our youngest customer to make the point; ‘Mercedes now has a connected car that can be understood intuitively by everybody and we take it seriously’,” he said.

“We trickle up and trickle down quickly, and we have developed an engineering system now whereby the innovations that we launch can very quickly come to the other vehicles.”


NY film critics name 'Drive My Car' Best Film of 2021

This image released by Janus Films and Sideshow shows Hidetoshi Nishijima (left) and Toko Miura in a scene from 'Drive My Car'.
NEW YORK: The New York Film Critics Circle on Friday named Drive My Car, Ryusuke Hamaguchi's intimate three-hour epic and Haruki Murakami’s short story adaptation, the best film of the year.

Hamaguchi's film, about a widowed actor played by Hidetoshi Nishijima, has been widely hailed since its debut earlier in the year at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won for best screenplay.

Drive My Car, which recently opened in limited theatrical release, is Japan's submission to the Academy Awards. The car itself is a red Saab 900, said to be the beloved vehicle of the character played by Nishijima.

It's only the second time in the last four decades that the critics' top honour went to a non English-language film. (The other was Alfonso Cuaron's Roma three years ago.)

Jane Campion's Montana gothic drama The Power of the Dog led all films with three awards. Campion took best director, Benedict Cumberbatch won best actor and best supporting actor went to Kodi Smit-McPhee.

The New York critics, as it typically does, otherwise spread its honours around.

The New York Film Critics Circle, founded in 1935, will hand out its 89th awards during a ceremony on Jan 10.


Ford EcoSport tested

The Ford EcoSport is the result of the growing demand for SUVs (sport utility vehicles), due to perceived higher levels of safety, wet-weather driving demands and a preference for a higher ride height.

Global demand for SUVs is up 88% since 2008, making utility vehicles the fastest-growing segment around the world, according to IHS Automotive which forecasts market information on the automotive industry.

Based on Ford’s global B-segment platform that underpins the popular Ford Fiesta, the EcoSport (pronounced as “echo sport”) is billed as a five-seater urban vehicle that combines the agility, affordability and fuel efficiency of a compact car with the flexibility and spaciousness of a SUV.

We definitely found its higher ride height to be more enjoyable, when compared with the family sedans or hatchbacks that are priced in the EcoSport’s range.

In rainy weather, we did not worry too much about big puddles of water on the road.

Our test drive unit was the higher-priced EcoSport Titanium variant, which came with nice, dark leather-clad seats.

Although it is a compact SUV, the cabin feels spacious and has a cosy ambience.

It also has smart features such as Ford SYNC, the voice-activated in-car connectivity system which is available in both Mandarin and English for the first time in Malaysia.

Ford SYNC is a nifty hands-free system for drivers to control phone calls or messages and music playback.

As for storing and transporting stuff, the EcoSport is well-designed with useful storage spaces, like a drawer under the front passenger seat, cup holders and door bins.

The rear seats can be split 60:40 to put long objects.

Those who prefer more sunlight in the cabin will like the powered sunroof.

Now, some might not like the large swinging rear door as accessing the rear storage area can be troublesome in tight spaces.

But we found the EcoSport rear design, which has a spare tyre mounted on the tailgate, to be a charming and classic SUV cue.

Also, Ford designers had ingenuously built the tailgate handle into the tail lamp, in order to keep the rear profile sleek.

It is also worthwhile to note that the EcoSport was developed entirely in South America.

This showcases Ford’s capabilities in leveraging on its global design resources to develop compact vehicles.

Built at Ford’s new state-of-the-art Thailand Manufacturing facility in Rayong, the EcoSport was launched in Malaysia in August last year.

The EcoSport can be quite fuel efficient, as Ford says it can go 15.4km per litre of petrol.

It is powered by Ford’s global 1.5-litre twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) four-cylinder petrol engine, which is mated to a six-speed Ford PowerShift automatic transmission with Select Shift.

There is no turbocharged fun here as this EcoSport does not have one of the renowned Ford EcoBoost engines.

If you want an SUV with blink-of-an-eye acceleration, this EcoSport is not your cup of tea.

It does need some prodding of the accelerator to get into higher speeds, at a quicker pace.

When we drove at 80kph on smooth roads, the tachometer needle was at 2,100rpm to 2,200rpm.

At 110kph, the tachometer needle hovered around 2,800rpm.

For city driving or those who don’t mind moving around in a relaxed manner, the EcoSport is a nice SUV that feels very well put together, and represent good value for money.

Our test drive unit came with Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tyres sized 205/60 R16, and the EcoSport has decent, but not outstanding qualities in terms of handling and driving dynamics.

The EcoSport comes with Ford’s Extended Service Plan (ESP) which is a free three-year or 60,000km maintenance programme that covers parts and labour free of charge.

In addition to routine inspection and maintenance services, Ford’s ESP covers free replacement for selected wear-and-tear items, including spark plugs, shock absorbers, engine belts, brake pads and wiper blades.

There is a more affordable EcoSport Trend variant priced at RM92,888 on-the-road with insurance, for those who don’t mind driving with less bells and whistles, fewer airbags and fabric seats.

Paying about RM11,000 more for the Titanium variant gets you extras such as more airbags, Smart Keyless Entry with engine Push-Start Button, as well as rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps and a power slide sunroof.


Electric vehicles are still waiting for Hollywood’s casting call

                DETROIT: Ever since James Dean revelled in teen angst in his Mercury coupe in the 1955 classic "Rebel Without a Cause,” cars have been pumping exhaust into pop culture.

A decade later it was Steve McQueen losing hubcaps in a Bullitt Mustang, then Burt Reynolds burst into box office lore as the cop-fleeing Bandit behind the wheel of a Pontiac Trans Am.

This past weekend, Jason Statham swerved a McLaren 720S under two tractor trailers to escape the motorcycle-riding antagonist in the latest Fast and Furious film, "Hobbs & Shaw.”

But while gas guzzlers have scorched their mark on the silver screen, electric cars are largely still waiting for their turn to reign over the red carpet. Plug-ins may be capturing more cool factor, especially Tesla Inc. and its high-tech rides, but they’ve yet to land much time on screen.

Since these models typically lose money and still make up less than 2% of the US market, automakers still devote much of their precious marketing dollars promoting combustion cars by getting them cast for roles on make-believe roads.

"The business 101 would be that you’re making a ton of money on your large pickup trucks and your large SUVs, so the dollar you put into marketing on those pays back more than the dollar you put into the EVs that you’re losing money on,” said Mark Wakefield, head of the automotive practice at consulting firm AlixPartners.

There have been a handful of recent exceptions. The smash-hit Marvel Studios film "Avengers: Endgame” features Iron Man in an electric Audi e-tron GT, and the car stars as just the kind of futuristic gadget Tony Stark would want to own.

But automakers are still mostly sticking to showing off the sports cars that burnish brand image or their moneymakers in movies and television series. Take General motors Co.: While it was in bankruptcy, the carmaker had trouble keeping Camaros in stock the summer it starred as Bumblebee in the "Transformers” series.

More recently, the company reached out to a diverse audience by placing its GMC Sierra pickup in the revamp of the hit show "Queer Eye.” The Chevrolet Bolt, meanwhile, has been much harder to find on screen.

Placement in a big movie can cost a carmaker millions. TV spots tend to go for much less. When it comes to placing products in Hollywood, television and music videos, "typically you don’t pay for it unless it is central to the plot line or the car name is mentioned,” Michael McSunas, the former leader of product placement for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, said in an email.

Companies will typically pay for a vehicle’s transportation to the set or have an agency handle the placements for them. Overall, the average paid placement for television is around US$30,000 (RM126,000), McSunas said.

"A car in this country is a lot more than a vehicle on four wheels that you get from point A to point B,” said Robert Thompson, a Syracuse University television and population culture media professor.

"Cars are filled with American mythology, and lots of it. And the electric car just hasn’t been around long enough to gather that kind of mythology.”

Electric cars were largely curio for green activists until 2012, when Tesla’s Model S started selling. The Nissan LEAF also was establishing a market position, and the public started seeing more EVs on the road, raising their profile, said Raejean Fellows, president of the Electric Auto Association.

But the road to Tesla getting traction in the market hasn’t been through theatres. The electric-car leader eschews traditional advertising and instead relies on the promotional prowess of its showman CEO, Elon Musk.

The carmakers that do have big advertising budgets have few EVs to feature on film. That will change, but it’s still expected to take years — Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts electric vehicles will take over a majority of the global market around 2037.

When battery-powered cars do get on screen, they’re often lampooned as slow or nerdy.

Cinema Vehicles, one of the largest suppliers of rental vehicles in Hollywood, television and commercials, said it has just one electric vehicle at its Los Angeles lot: a 2011 LEAF.

The car served as the Uber that actor Kumail Nanjiani’s character, Stu, drives in the film "Stuber” about a cop on the hunt for a brutal killer.

The LEAF takes a beating. At one point in the film, two of Stu’s riders giggle at his choice of transportation.

"Stop laughing; this is a LEAF,” Stu tells them. They erupt in even louder laughter.

In the series "Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Larry David’s ride was a Toyota Prius hybrid. David, who played everyone’s bête noire in the satirical series about his own life, was often seen slowly puttering down the street as comical music played in the background.

"An awful lot of the culture of electric vehicles within popular culture has probably tended to be more pejorative than it has been celebratory,” said Thompson, the Syracuse professor. "It’s not right, but there are an awful lot of people out there who make the assumption that people who drive electric cars are also people who eat kale.”

One group trying to turn the mockery on its head is the public-private advocacy group Veloz, which recently debuted a campaign called Kicking Gas, in which Arnold Schwarzenegger pokes fun at the internal combustion engine.

"On behalf of big oil, I want to thank you all for choosing muscle cars that use gasoline,” Schwarzenegger, who plays a car salesman, says over a dealership intercom.

Carmakers won’t want to strike a similar tone in advertising their EVs, since the companies would effectively be shaming what’s in showrooms.

"The golden rule is that you don’t talk bad about your product,” AlixPartners’ Wakefield said.

"Effectively, it is talking bad about the 99% of your portfolio that is selling and, of that portfolio, a third of it is highly profitable.”

"You don’t want to kill the golden goose,” he said.


Bentley shows off EXP 10 Speed 6 concept

                GENEVA: Bentley Motors is showing the future direction of luxury and performance with the EXP 10 Speed 6 at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show.

The concept is a British interpretation of a high performance two seater sportscar.

From the racing success of the company’s early years to the international motorsport success of today, ‘speed’ is part of Bentley’s DNA.

This inspiration is expressed throughout the EXP 10 Speed 6, where iconic Bentley design cues are fused with progressive craftsmanship techniques and modern technologies.

Copper elements are used as accents to both exterior and interior features to highlight the performance hybrid potential of the concept’s advanced new powertrain.

“EXP 10 Speed 6 is one vision for Bentley’s future – a powerful, exquisite and individual concept. The showcar has the potential to be the new pinnacle luxury two-seat sports car," said Bentley Motors chairman and chief executive Wolfgang Durheimer.

"It could be a future model line, alongside the Continental GT and redefining the pinnacle of another market sector, and the styling of the EXP 10 Speed 6 could influence the expansion of the Bentley family. This is not just a new sports car concept – but the potential Bentley sports car,” he added.

In the cabin, two elegant quilted sports seats are positioned either side of the narrow centre console which houses exquisite driver controls and a highly intuitive 12-inch touch screen.

The classic and purposeful Bentley knurled surface is a feature throughout the controls of the car, but now created using steel and copper together to create a two-metal 3D texture.

The doors of EXP 10 Speed 6 feature 3D quilting, milled directly in to solid straight-grain cherry wood.

Each resulting diamond is finished with a copper centre.

The rear interior space is divided into two compartments designed to house a specifically designed four-piece luggage set.

Like the rest of the interior, the rear has been trimmed by the master craftsmen at Bentley in the highest quality Poltrona Frau leather.


Catch the Toyota Racing Fest this weekend

                PETALING JAYA: Stadium Batu Kawan in Penang will be the venue for an auto carnival and premier street-racing action this weekend (Feb 23-24, 2019) as it hosts the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Racing Festival and Round 3 of the Toyota Vios Challenge.

The two-day festival has loads of activities from the display and test drive of new Toyota models, celebrity appearances and engagements, the gathering of Toyota car clubs and car enthusiasts to fun and games for the family, a mini concert and a street food fest.

Racing action on the 1.56km Stadium Batu Kawan street circuit which features 11 corners and 6 straights, will see some 40 drivers competing in the Promotional, Sporting and Super Sporting classes for celebrities, amateurs and professionals respectively.

Catch the star-studded line-up of celebrities who include Diana Danielle, Janna Nick, Nabil Ahmad, Khai Bahar, Akim Ahmad, Mohd Shukri Yahaya, Shawn Lee, Wany Hasrita, Nabila Razali and Aiman Tino in action on the track and on stage.

“The atmosphere in Penang over a race weekend is phenomenal going by the overwhelming reception we received when we first embarked on the TGR Racing Festival here in 2017, and it gives Toyota great pleasure to return to Stadium Batu Kawan with an even more exciting line-up of activities for fans,” said UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd Pesident, Ravindran K.


All systems go for holiday season at Causeway

                JOHOR BARU: All 77 car and bus lanes at the Causeway will operate for the coming festive period due to the high volume of traffic expected both ways, the Immigration Department announced.

Johor Immigration chief Datuk Rohaizi Bahari said all 48 lanes at the Second Link in Tuas will also be open.

He said the department was prepared for increased traffic at the Causeway and Second Link as hordes of Malaysians and Singaporeans cross paths during the festive break.

“I hope motorists plan their journeys to avoid being stuck in traffic congestion,” he told Sunday Star yesterday.

The other offices are at the Home Ministry Complex at Setia Tropika here, Kulai, Batu Pahat, Kukup, Segamat, Mersing, Muar and Kluang.

Rohaizi said applying for a new passport and renewals would only take about an hour after payment was made.

He had another piece of vital advice to Malaysians – check if you are on the Immigration travel blacklist.

He said those who failed to pay their National Higher Education Fund Corporation loans or settle their taxes would be barred from exiting, with bankrupts also disallowed.

Recently, Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said almost 800,000 Malaysians are on the travel blacklist and will not be able to travel overseas.


Ghosn's ties with Nissan CEO in the spotlight

Saikawa and Ghosn.
TOKYO: Almost three weeks after his shock arrest in Japan, Carlos Ghosn’s relationship with his former protege is emerging as key to determining what may have triggered the investigation that has put the car industry titan in a Tokyo jail cell.

Ghosn, who was ejected as Nissan’s chairman shortly after his arrest, planned for months to shake up senior management at the automaker and had made known his plans to replace chief executive officer Hiroto Saikawa, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing unidentified people familiar with the situation.

Ghosn, who promoted the Nissan lifer to the CEO position in 2017, wanted to carry out his plan at a board meeting in November, one of the people told the WSJ.

But people familiar with Ghosn’s case and with Nissan’s operations told Bloomberg News there was no plan to eject Saikawa last month, or before the end of his term, which was due to run until April next year. Any change in top management would have required the approval of the carmaker’s board, they said.

Saikawa couldn’t be reached for a response, the WSJ said, and the office of Ghosn’s lawyer, Motonari Otsuru, declined to comment.

Relations had been strained between Saikawa and Ghosn for some time, the people who spoke to Bloomberg said, declining to be identified discussing private information.

The Nissan CEO emerged this year as an opponent of Ghosn’s ambitions to deepen the company’s alliance with Renault SA via a merger. Saikawa publicly played down the chances of that being realized in May, prompting a dressing-down from Ghosn, according to a person familiar with the matter, who told Saikawa that he was jeopardizing Nissan’s credibility.

READ MORE: Prosecutors indict Nissan, Ghosn, reports say as focus on CEO role

But from virtually the moment Ghosn was taken into custody by Japanese police Nov 19, Saikawa moved rapidly to show he was in control.

The CEO appeared alone at a late-night press conference just hours after the arrest and issued a frontal condemnation of Ghosn’s alleged behaviour, calling it “the dark side of Ghosn’s long reign.”

Asked outright if a coup was under way at Nissan, Saikawa replied: “That is not my understanding. I didn’t make such an explanation and think you should not think of it that way.”

Ghosn, who remains CEO of Renault despite his situation, is set to be indicted for financial crimes as soon as Monday, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg last week. Prosecutors are also planning to re-arrest Ghosn on new charges not yet made public, said the people.

The Franco-Brazilian executive has been accused of under-reporting his income and misusing Nissan assets, crimes that could incur a sentence of at least 10 years in jail, according to Tokyo prosecutors. Ghosn has made few formal comments since being detained besides denying reports that he passed on personal trading losses to the carmaker.

Deferred income has also emerged as key to the probe: read more here.

Ghosn’s downfall has rocked the auto alliance he has created and led for decades, with Nissan said to be angling for more power in the pact in the wake of his arrest.


Grab keeping phone use among its drivers to a minimum

Goh.
PETALING JAYA: Drivers of e-hailing services rely heavily on their smartphones to scout for customers and also for navigation.

With that in mind, e-hailing service Grab has implemented a function in its app to ensure that its driver-partners do not flout the rules on the road.

Grab Malaysia country head Sean Goh said it enhanced the safety of its driver-partners and passengers through GrabChat, a feature embedded in the Grab application.

He said GrabChat comes with a set of responses which help minimise the time spent on the phone, making it more convenient for drivers and passengers to communicate.

“This is part of our Better 365 campaign, aimed at improving the safety and welfare of our driver-partners and passengers.

“We also encourage our passengers to share feedback on drivers who use their mobile phones while driving, or if they drive recklessly,” he said.

Goh added that this will help Grab identify drivers who may pose a safety threat to passengers and other road users.

“We are continuously improving our service to provide safe and dependable rides to Malaysians.

“All Grab drivers undergo basic safety training and programmes like our telematics initiative help reduce speeding,” he said.


BMW now selling oil service packages on Lazada

                CYBERJAYA: E-commerce site Lazada has been used by Volkswagen for selling special edition cars since late 2017. Now BMW is also exploiting the site by offering BMW engine oil service packages to provide customers with easier access to genuine BMW Engine Oil and service.

Participating dealers are offering on Lazada the packages from RM450 onwards for specific models of the 3 Series (E46 and E90) and 5 Series (E60). The packages include BMW engine oil, BMW oil filter and labour.

To take advantage of the offer, buy the BMW oil change service at any of the participating dealers on Lazada. The dealer will call the car owner within one business day to schedule an appointment. The car owner then drives his car in on the day of appointment for the oil change service.

"This marks the first offering by BMW authorised dealers after-sales on an e-commerce platform, which enables BMW owners to enjoy peace of mind ownership experience from wherever they are, be it on their computer, laptop, or smartphones,” said BMW Group Malaysia managing director Harald Hoelzl.

The packages are valid with the following participating BMW authorised dealers: Auto Bavaria Glenmarie, Auto Bavaria Johor Baru, Auto Bavaria Kuala Lumpur, Auto Bavaria Penang, Auto Bavaria Sungai Besi, Ingress Auto Damansara, Lee Motors Auto Care: Alor Star, Seong Hoe Premium Motors Melaka, Tian Siang Premium Auto: Butterworth, Tian Siang Premium Auto: Ipoh and Wearnes Autohaus Tebrau.


Jaguar Land Rover’s venture unit invests in blockchain firm for sustainable supply chain

                LONDON: InMotion, Jaguar Land Rover’s venture capital and mobility services arm, has invested in blockchain technology firm Circulor.

The investment will enable Jaguar Land Rover to source premium materials with greater transparency as to the provenance, welfare, and compliance of suppliers throughout its networks.

The technology can trace valuable raw materials throughout a global supply chain from origin to supplier, with Circulor already using blockchain to boost the traceability of minerals used for electric vehicle batteries.

The technology uses a combination of GPS, biometrics and QR codes to digitally verify the movement of raw materials at every step of the process. As well as tracking compliance, the digital process will enable Jaguar Land Rover to assess the carbon footprint of its supply network.

Blockchain technology is impossible to modify or tamper with, giving customers complete confidence that the supply chain is authentic, and all materials have been sustainably sourced.

“The implementation of blockchain technology provides a great opportunity to make a systemic change in supply chain compliance, not just for the automotive world but for other industries, too,” said InMotion Ventures managing director Sebastian Peck.


Hyundai banks on sports cars to regain edge

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Co, whose former growth was driven by value-for-money vehicles, is developing sports cars in its latest attempt to spruce up its brand image while it tries to stem a slide in mainstream sales and profits.

At the Frankfurt Motor Show on Tuesday, Hyundai presented concept and rally cars using technology from its new "N" sub-brand - named for German race track Nurburgring and its own Namyang research and development centre.

The cars are meant to give a glimpse of features like new powertrains and slick handling devised in a high-performance push led by a 30-year veteran engineer hired away from Germany's BMW AG.

 Biermann.

Emulating German rivals has become a feature of strategy at Hyundai, the world's fifth-largest automaker by sales along with affiliate Kia Motors Corp, as firms like BMW and Volkswagen AG have grown in its backyard. While its niche luxury Genesis sedan is selling well, Hyundai has slid to six straight drops in quarterly profit on weak sales of the mass-market sedans which fuelled its rise.

"Hyundai doesn't stand for high-performance car...not yet," said Albert Biermann, the 58-year-old former chief engineer for BMW's "M" sports car brand. Biermann spoke in a recent group interview at Hyundai's Namyang facility just outside Seoul, where Peter Schreyer, another German, holds sway as design chief for both Hyundai and Kia.

"This will change," said Biermann, who joined Hyundai in April to head up development of high-performance models at Hyundai and Kia. "There's a clear commitment and a plan to develop and sell a high-performance car."

Hyundai officials declined to disclose financial targets, investment, pricing or strategy details for N sports car models. But Biermann said he expects Hyundai will start selling its first car under the sub-brand within two years, with a target audience that goes beyond a niche market.

"We will perform on the competitive level, but we will try to make these cars available for the wider customer base," said

Biermann, the second-highest-ranking foreign executive at Hyundai after design guru Schreyer.

Analysts said developing a reputable high-performance brand will take Hyundai time. BMW's M and the AMG line produced by Daimler AG's DAIG.DE Mercedes-Benz have been around for decades.

But they said the gambit is a positive long-term move for the automaker.

"Hyundai will lag behind the global auto industry if it does not develop high-performance and eco-friendly technology," said Kim Pil-soo, a professor of automotive engineering at Daelim University.


Frankfurt Motor Show: EVs make their presence felt

                FRANKFURT: The Thunder Power concept debuted at this year's Frankfurt motor show that's meant for the premium and electric vehicle (EV) markets and it hopes to hit the ground running, silently and for 600km between charges, by 2017.

The company also hopes to compete in terms of power and appearance with a claimed 430bhp electric motor that'll send the electric vehicle to 100kph in under five seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250kph.

Styling is described as European, and a close look reveals hints toward Jaguar and Maserati in there though there's also an element similar to Mitsuoka.

Inside, the lines are very clean and very European in terms of fit, finish and material, and there's a great wrap-around TFT screen that runs the length of the dashboard in place of normal dials.

The company is being helmed Peter Tutzer and Franz Schulte formerly of Bugatti and Ford respectively

Also making its debut is the new Artega Scalo, which is also a pure EV, but its makers aren't new to the market.

Artega was a German sportscar company that went under in 2012 and has made a return by announcing its electrically powered relaunch with what looks like a traditional mid-engined supersports car - low slung with wide hips and big air intakes.

And while it can hit 100kph in just 3.6 seconds, it does so with electric motors and has a claimed range of 400km between charges.

The car, if connected to a 64kW DC charger, will be ready fully charged in an hour.

As for Borgward, it was once a premium German automotive brand that made cars till 1961, before going under and today it debuted its BX7 - a clean-looking sculpted crossover with a premium interior.

Initially power will come from a turbocharged petrol engine but the company is aiming to move to a hybrid set-up and then eventually to full electric power.

It also has very serious ambitions for the car, believing it can challenge BMW, Audi and Mercedes in China and eventually in Europe with a strong sales forecast of 500,000 units per year.


Shell Malaysia to offer more food choices to customers

                KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Malaysia will soon be offering customers a broader selection of snacks, titbits, and confectioneries come January 2021.

This is following the winners’ announcement for the ‘Realisasi Impianmu Bersama Shell’ initiative, which ran from Aug 18 till Nov 20, November 2020.

More than 300 local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) registered for the initiative and underwent a stringent evaluation process that looked into product quality, innovation, and distribution capabilities.

At a virtual media event, six main winners were named as recipients of the coveted Shell Private Label Contract where they are given the opportunity to have their products offered at more than 600 Shell Select stores nationwide.

Shell will be providing the top winners with marketing, packaging and logistic support. Additionally, 23 other SMEs were announced as Shell Product Listing partners which will provide them similar opportunities at a few selected stations.

“We are very excited to announce the winners of this initiative. This is a cause that is very close to our hearts. ‘Realisasi Impianmu Bersama Shell’ was conceived to lend a hand to our SMEs by giving them the opportunity to sell their products in our stores. With this, our customers will see a broader range of product offerings in our stores.” said Shairan Huzani Husain, Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd.


4,500 cops on duty for Ops Selamat this Hari Raya

                KUALA LUMPUR: Over 4,500 Traffic Investigations and Enforcement Department personnel will be on duty for Ops Selamat this Hari Raya, says Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador.

According to him, the campaign would start on May 29 and end on June 12 as the police expected a huge increase in vehicles on the road during the festive season.

He said they were expecting between three and four million motorists during the Hari Raya festive season.

"Motorists should exercise patience as there will be thousands of vehicles on the road at any given time, and traffic jams are unavoidable.

He added that those who think they could outsmart the police should be prepared to receive their summonses in the mail two weeks later.

He said motorists should not try to buy their way out of a summons either.

"I have given stern instructions to my men to stay away from bribery.

"We will give you a warning if you try it once, but if you continue to insist, we will have you arrested," he said.

Abdul Hamid also urged motorists to avoid using the emergency lane during traffic jams.

"This is one of the offences which we will not compromise on. If you are caught, you will face the maximum RM300 fine," he said.

Other offences that incur the maximum compound are speeding, overtaking at double lines and failing to obey the traffic lights.


Govt says it will ensure Geely abide by labour laws

                KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese carmaker Geely will be monitored to ensure that locals are prioritised, following its purchase of a substantial stake in Proton last year, said Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran.

"As for Proton, we will carry out comprehensive investigations if there are grounds to do so," he said when replying a question by Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid (PH-Kapar) in Dewan Rakyat today.

Abdullah Sani had asked if the Government would ensure that Zhejiang Geely Holdings Group would take care of local workers, after acquiring a 49.9% stake in Proton last September.

Kulasegaran said that employers are bound by regulations on the hiring of foreign labour.

Abdullah Sani also lamented that the Labour Department had only 400 labour inspectors to check on employers to ensure they abided regulations on the hiring of foreign workers.

In response to this, Kulasegaran admitted that there was a shortage of labour inspectors.

"There are currently only 350 labour inspectors.

"We have applied to the Ministry of Finance to increase their numbers," he said.

He also noted that labour inspectors had to rely on old vehicles when on their rounds, posing a risk to their safety.


Harley-Davidson exits India

                NEW DELHI: Harley-Davidson has announced that it will cease its sales and manufacturing operations in India.

The US motorcycle builder's exit points to one of many cost-cutting measures that it has employed in order to keep itself afloat at home in Milwaukee.

To do so, the company has decided to remove itself entirely from the world's largest motorcycle market after a decade-long attempt to capture significant market share.

The Indian motorcycle market is said to be worth about US$17mil (RM71mil) per annum in bike and scooter sales.

However, the company is not removing itself entirely but will instead maintain a "scaled-down" office in Gurgaon, south of the capital in New Delhi.

In recent months, the company attempted to remain in the Indian market by moving dealerships to more affordable locations within the country.

Such actions incurred a US$75mil (RM322.5mil) restructuring cost and the removal of roughly 70 redundancies - including the closure of its Bawal plant.


Cashless toll collection results in expected effect

                GEORGE TOWN: Traffic at the Penang Bridge toll plaza was smooth on the first day of the implementation of the cashless transaction system.

A check by The Star showed that there was no congestion leading to the toll plaza area just before motorists cross over to Penang island.

The sales office at the bridge toll plaza was also not crowded, with customers reported to be waiting for only about half an hour for their turn to buy the PLUSMiles and Touch N’ Go cards.

Some motorists who were caught unawares that the new system was implemented yesterday, had to buy their card at the toll booth, as there was no way for them to make a turn back to the sales office at the toll plaza.

Five toll plazas in Penang and Kedah including the Penang Bridge have gone fully electronic for its toll collection system using PLUSMiles and Touch ‘N Go cards.

The other toll plazas are the Kubang Semang toll plaza in Penang, while in Kedah are the Lunas, Jitra and Bukit Kayu Hitam toll plazas.

These toll plazas will only accept the PLUSMiles and Touch N’ Go cards, or the SmartTAG device.

Motorists using the bridge will enjoy a special RM5.60 rate with Touch N’ Go cards bought at the Penang Bridge office after showing proof of a Penang address in the MyKad. Others have to pay RM7.

For bikers, it is RM1.10 for Penangites and RM1.40 for those from other states.

Road users are expected to benefit from the new system in the long term.

PLUS Malaysia Berhad chief operating officer Mohammad Fuad Khusairi said the objective of implementing the cashless transaction system was to reduce traffic congestion.

“Currently, we have an average of about 82,000 transactions at the Penang Bridge toll plaza every day.

“On a fair weather day, we expect 30% to 50% smoother traffic flow with the new electronic system compared to the old system of cash counters.

“The SmartTag can handle more than twice the traffic than cash transactions within the same period of time.

“Hopefully, by 2017 we will implement the electronic cashless systems throughout the country,” he said in a press conference after launching the system at the Penang Bridge toll plaza at noon yesterday.

Businessman Saw Kam Sing, 52, who was spotted buying a PLUSMiles card at the sales office at the toll plaza in Prai yesterday, said the new system would help him save some money.

With the card bought at the sales office, he only needs to pay RM5.60 instead of RM7 when using the bridge.

“Also, I can now top up several hundred ringgit at one time and continue swiping the card each time I cross any of the five tolls.

“It’s so convenient and saves a lot of time as I don’t have to queue up to pay cash,” he said.

Farmer Cheoh Kheng Jac, 25, was confident that the new system would ease traffic flow.

“I believe traffic congestion will improve with the new cashless system.

“There will be less time wasted in returning loose change,” he said.

Sales executive Jess Png, 28, from Butterworth, said there would no longer be long queues due to cars switching lanes from now on.

“Hopefully, when all are using the card or the SmartTag device, the traffic flow will be more consistent and reduce queuing time,” she said.


Audi hopes to charge e-cars with solar panels soon

                BERLIN: Insufficient electric engine range and poor charging infrastructure are still keeping some drivers from buying electric cars – and this is why Audi wants to boost its recharging capabilities on the road by using solar cells as another means to give cars extra juice.

The German carmaker has announced that a first prototype for solar charging will be completed by the end of 2017. Initially, a film with solar cells will be installed in existing panoramic glass roofs. The cells will be very thin, and will also work in low light or low heat.

To begin with, the electricity will flow into the electrical system to supply energy to the air-conditioning system or seat heating. This, in turn, extends the car's electric range.

Further ahead, the entire roof will have solar cells, with the project aiming to eventually shift solar power directly to the vehicle's drive. For the project, Audi is teaming up with a subsidiary of a Chinese solar cell company.


MPV driver clocks up 20km on bridge’s motorcycle lane

                GEORGE TOWN: The driver of a Honda Stream drove more than 20km from Batu Maung on the island to Batu Kawan on the mainland using the dedicated motorcycle lane on the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge.

This is believed to be the second incident in less than a year.

Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd corporate communications manager Azizi Azizan said the incident happened at about 7.20pm on Saturday.

“The driver drove all the way from Batu Maung to the interchange exit, before the Bandar Cassia toll plaza.

“The mainland-bound motorcycle lane is wide enough for cars because it also functions as an emergency lane,” he said yesterday.

Azizi was not sure if the driver had mistakenly entered the motorcycle lane.

A photo of the car appeared on the Penang Kini Facebook page, drawing comments from hundreds of people.

“We have signboards informing road users of the motorcycle lane,” he said.

He said cars would not be able to enter the island-bound motorcycle lane because of the toll plaza.

Azizi added that the first incident happened at the end of last year.

“In the first incident, the driver of a car drove on the motorcycle lane for about one kilometre before reversing his car to the right lane,” he said.

Azizi would bring the matter up to the management today to discuss a solution.

He advised road users to be alert by observing signboards and to use the correct lane.

Penang traffic police chief Deputy Supt Tan Boon Hooi said he would check on the matter.


May 11-17: Fuel prices unchanged

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail prices of RON97 and RON95 petrol and diesel will remain unchanged for the period from May 11-17.

The Finance Ministry, in a statement today, said that RON97 petrol remains at RM3.35 per litre, RON95 (RM2.05) and diesel (RM2.15).

The weekly retail prices of the products were set based on the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.


Mazda promotion from March 5 until April 3

                PETALING JAYA: Mazda distributor Bermaz Motor is organising a sales promotion at its branches from tomorrow and throughout the coming weeks.

The Mazda Zoom Zoom Carnival will end at 1Utama shopping centre here on March 30 to April 3.

During this promotional period, customers stand a chance to win Mazda vouchers and EPOS watches upon booking.

Those who buy a Mazda at the carnival will enjoy a three-year free maintenance on their cars including free parts and labour. The free parts promotion excludes the BT-50 pick-up truck.


2018 Detroit Auto Show: Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept

                DETROIT: Like molten metal being forged into a fine Japanese sword, the lines of the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept have the potential to shape the future of a flagship luxury crossover for Lexus.

Lexus established the luxury crossover segment two decades ago with the global debut of the RX 300 at Detroit.

It remains the top-selling luxury crossover despite nearly 50 competitors that have since entered the segment.

Now, the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept introduces a new genre of luxury vehicle: the flagship crossover which combines high performance with unrestrained luxury.

The innovative spirit of the LF-1 was created at CALTY Design Research in California.

The design language is rooted in the simple yet elegant design concept dubbed molten katana.

This design visualization fuses the organic shapes of liquid metal with the sharp edges of a traditional Japanese sword.

Imagining that shift from a smooth, flowing mass into a solid, chiseled shape formed the basis for the fluid, yet aggressive design of the LF-1 Limitless.

Like all current Lexus models, the spindle grille on the LF-1 is a core element to the overall design.

The grille itself features a three-dimensional design with colors developed in-house by CALTY.

Ridges radiating away from the central emblem suggest magnetism guiding metal filings into shape.

There is no chrome, as the LF-1 instead uses LED lighting around the grille that greets you on arrival.

Luxurious comfort for every passenger was CALTY's goal for the cabin.

The LF-1 adheres to the Japanese tradition of omotenashi, or hospitality.

The cockpit is designed to allow the driver to concentrate on the task at hand by removing distracting analog knobs and buttons in favor of motion-activated controls and a minimalist display directly ahead.

The front passenger space is far more open, with even fewer controls and a wide unobstructed dashboard.

Those in back get the same seats as those in front with expansive legroom and individual display screens for adjusting the climate control or entertainment options.

Additional metallic accents throughout the interior contrast with the dark Cocoa Bean leather trim and seats covered in Chiffon White perforated leather.

There is also a four-dimensional navigation system which builds on traditional systems by adding the element of time to the equation.

It acts as a concierge for the occupants by anticipating the needs of the driver and passengers based on the progress, traffic and road conditions along the programmed trip, suggesting fuel stops, rest breaks and restaurants, even offering to make hotel reservations.


Motorcycle won in Boon Siew Honda lucky draw

                KUALA LUMPUR: A Boon Siew Honda customer from Malacca has won the grand prize of a Honda EX5 Dream Fi motorcycle after the company's recent User Card Lucky Draw at a Kuala Lumpur branch.

There were 46 winners in the lucky draw, and prizes included 10 Honda raincoats, 15 Honda helmets, and 20 pieces of RM50 meal vouchers.

Present at the lucky draw session were Boon Siew Honda's Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Impian dealers, as well as the company's senior management.

“Customer feedback is very important, for Honda. We highly appreciate the feedback and therefore the participants were rewarded with a chance to win a brand new bike after submitting forms to us,” said Boon Siew Honda CEO and managing director Nobuhide Nagata.

The User Card Lucky Draw programme was introduced in 2013.

Since then, more than 500 prizes including seven new Honda bikes have been won.

Currently, there are two draws per year.

To participate in User Card Lucky Draw, those who buy a brand new Honda motorcycle have to complete the User Card form and mail it (postage

exempted) to Boon Siew Honda.


95% of countries use digital car plates, time for Malaysia to do the same, says Dr Wee

                KUALA LUMPUR: It is time for Malaysia to implement digital car plates or e-plates, using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam).

According to the former transport minister, 95% of countries in the world have already implemented RFID digital car plate systems.

“That means only 5% of countries, including Malaysia, are using normal plates.

“Many of our neighbouring countries have used the e-plate system,” said Dr Wee, while debating the Transport Ministry’s allocation in Budget 2023 at the committee stage in Parliament today.

The MCA president also said new car purchases come with an additional charge of between RM150 and RM300 to purchase acrylic car plates.

“The amount can be used for placing the necessary components inside the e-plate,” added Dr Wee.

Dr Wee also said the proposed new e-plate system can be implemented in phases.

“We don’t have to make it compulsory, but we start with this (implementation in phases),” added Dr Wee.

Dr Wee also said e-plates will be able to curb car theft with the RFID technology.

“With the RFID, automatic number plate recognition can also be implemented,” added Dr Wee.

Meanwhile, Dr Wee urged the government to give more allocation to the Transport Ministry to carry out the digitalisation of the Road Transport Department (JPJ) which will benefit Malaysians in general.

Dr Wee said JPJ’s MySikap system is based on a “mainframe” system, which had been in place for over 20 years.

“It is time for digitalisation at the JPJ,” added Dr Wee.

In response, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the e-plate system would not be compulsory for vehicle owners if it is introduced by Putrajaya.

Loke said making it compulsory would impose more costs on vehicle owners.

He said the e-plate system might be implemented gradually and for new vehicles.

“We will look into this issue along with changes to the system,” he added.

Loke also said the ministry’s digitalisation department is looking into replacing its current mainframe IT system into a cloud-based one.

On the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad), Dr Wee said many professionals were terminated or transferred after the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) was dissolved and replaced by Apad  in 2018.

“Some (former staff) went into the private sector," added Dr Wee.

“In what way will the Transport ministry help Apad contract officers and staff?” questioned Dr Wee.

Dr Wee said it was important to have skilled professionals in Apad, as it is an agency that regulates all forms of public transportation.

“We used to have an enforcement agency under SPAD. But now, there isn’t any.

“It is time for us to relook into this issue and it has been five years; we need to find a new direction, bring this up to the Cabinet so we can retain skilled staff in our system,” added Dr Wee.

“We will support any initiatives that will benefit the people,” added Dr Wee.


Good vibrations: Wearable sends bikers alerts without causing distraction

                VIENNA: The Austrian startup Motobit has unveiled a wearable device aimed at motorcycle riders. The device uses vibrations to communicate with riders at all times, so they can stay focused on the road and stick to an appropriate speed to help prevent accidents. This innovative device is available exclusively via the crowdfunding website Indiegogo, priced from €109 (RM534).

The device, called Sentinel, connects to the rider's smartphone over Bluetooth and has its own specific application. On the road, riders receive warnings about potentially dangerous situations thanks to a haptic feedback system causing the device to vibrate. Sentinel should ideally be worn on the wrist, but it can also be carried in a pocket or on a belt.

Thanks to its advanced algorithms, Sentinel analyses users' riding behaviour and the course of the road to alert riders when they're going too fast, especially on bends. This can help prevent skidding and other accidents.

Motobit, located in Styria just outside here, has opted to use haptic feedback as a way of communicating with motorcyclists instead of audio or visual notifications. This allows riders to stay focused and keep their eyes on the road. Plus, in the event of an accident, emergency contacts can be messaged at the touch of an easily accessible button.

Note that Sentinel also has a group riding mode. If several friends all have the wearables, for example, they can set a maximum distance to maintain between riders. In other words, if one biker can't keep up, the other members of the group will be automatically notified.

Sentinel is the fruit of more than two years of research. The first shipments aren't expected until spring 2021.

indiegogo.com/projects/sentinel-your-smartest-motorcycle-companion


Karlmann King could be the world's most expensive SUV

                The world doesn't seem to be able to get enough of SUVs at the moment, and just about every manufacturer is either rushing to get into producing their own takes on the genre or expanding their existing portfolios. But if you want to drive an SUV or crossover and retain an element of individuality, it can be a challenge.

However, there's now a surefire way to own and drive an SUV that will make you stand out in any crowd, but it will mean shelling out for what can probably claim to be the most expensive SUV in the world right now.

When it comes to hypercars it's not too difficult to find something ultra exclusive and intensely powerful that will set you back more than US$2 million, but, perhaps surprisingly, it's not quite the same with SUVs. But if you have got a reported US$2.2 million to splash out on a new utility vehicle, the Karlmann King could be just what you're looking for.

It's the perfect antidote for those who think all today's SUVs look pretty much the same because nothing else on earth looks like this. This limited-run vehicle is based on Ford's F-550 platform, has been designed by a Chinese company called IAT, and is being built by a team based in Europe. The makers say it's a "stealth" vehicle and that it offers what they call "an unprecedented visual feast."

How much of a visual feast the Karlmann King provides is obviously in the eye of the beholder, and just how stealthy this monster actually is could also be open to debate. But it's probably fair to say that if Batman was looking for an SUV to add to his collection, this is where his search would begin and end.

The Karlmann King measures in at almost six meters from front to back and weighs in at 4.5 tonnes. But if you want to go for the optional bulletproofing (and why wouldn't you?), this mighty beast will then tip the scales at an astronomical 6,000kg.

What's perhaps a little less impressive is the engine powering the KK, which is the 6.8-litre V-10 that normally powers the Ford F-550. The 395 bhp it's said to produce in this case would normally be more than sufficient for an F-550, but it could probably do with quite a bit more here, especially in bulletproof form.

It might be ponderously slow, but your wait to get where you're going will be a comfortable one as the interior is on a par with a Rolls-Royce. Then again, it needs to be with a price of almost US$2.2 million.


UK survey shows many would drive off after denting another car

                LONDON: Many motorists who have shunted and damaged another car while parking would be happy to just drive off without leaving behind personal details, a survey by a British parking space rental company has revealed.

Almost one in five Brits would not leave their contact details if they dented another car when parking and no one else had seen them, the study by YourParkingSpace.co.uk reveals. It canvassed 500 motorists.

"It would seem there are a significant number of motorists prepared to flout motoring etiquette by not leaving their contact details if they hit another car when parking and had not been spotted," said YourParkingSpace.co.uk company director Harrison Woods.

The alarming figures on driving honesty are likely to apply to many other countries where whacking a parked car is usually a driving offence subject to a fine if motorists are caught.

Motorists who bump and dent another car are legally obliged to give their name and address to anyone else involved, as well as passing on details to insurance companies. In more serious cases the police must be called.

The survey showed that one in 10 motorists have actually dented another car when parking and that more than a third of Brits claim to have seen someone else denting another vehicle.

The good news is that the majority of British drivers would intervene if they saw someone else denting another car when parking — just over half said they would be willing to step in.


VW ID.3 electric hatch completes 28,000km marathon drive without a hitch

                WOLFSBURG: VW's ID.3 electric hatch has successfully completed a marathon test drive across Germany covering 28,198km.

In the process, the team involved in the mission also set the world record for the “longest continuous EV drive through a single country”.

The 65-day journey from Oberstdorf to Sylt ended on Dec 1 as scheduled despite the restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The goal of the test drive was not only to gauge the long-distance capabilities of the new Volkswagen model but also the charging infrastructure in the country.

At the heart of this endurance test was a Volkswagen ID.3 Pro S pre-production model with a battery capacity of 77 kWh. The vehicle boasts a range of up to 549km in the WLTP cycle and will be launched in spring 2021.

The test drive by Rainer Zietlow and his co-driver Dominic Brüner was organised by the Institute of Transport Logistics (ITL) at TU Dortmund University.

The drivers were instructed to only use quick-charging stations with a minimum charging output of 60 kilowatts across the country.

The 125 kilowatts maximum charging capacity of the ID.3 Pro S was provided at most of the tested quick-charging stations and the Volkswagen We Charge payment system granted access across all brands. Over the two-month project the team visited stations operated by a total of 69 charge point operators.

On average, the test vehicle consumed 19 kWh per 100 km covered during this marathon test drive while the longest stretch without charging was 420km.

“The charging infrastructure (in Germany) is already relatively well developed nowadays," said Zietlow.

"A total of 652 stations were compatible with We Charge. However, at some sites there is still potential for improvement, for instance some charging stations are located off the beaten track or they are poorly lit at night.”


Honda CR-V Black Edition unveiled from RM162,000

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has unveiled the CR-V Black Edition, a new variant that features all dark finishes for a stylish and confident outlook.

Priced at RM161,913 (on-the-road price without insurance and without sales tax), the CR-V Black Edition expands Honda Malaysia's line-up of the best-selling sports utility vehicle to the current three variants of 2.0L 2WD, 1.5L TC-P 2WD and 1.5L TC-P 4WD.

The CR-V Black Edition stands out with its bold and rugged appearance, combined with Next Generation Advanced Safety Technology and premium features.

Enhancing the CR-V Black Edition’s aggressive look are the New Black Front Grille with Honda Signature LED Headlights and New Black Front Bumper Garnish.

Inside, the steering wheel, 7-inch Interactive Thin Film Transistor (TFT) meter and air conditioning garnish are finished in piano black while the centre console, dashboard and door trim sport a black wood garnish.

The all-black theme is also carried through to the headlining and seats with the “Black Edition” embroidery on the front seats.

Under the hood is a 1.5L VTEC Turbocharged engine which delivers 193PS and maximum torque of 243Nm that is more powerful and fuel efficient than a naturally aspirated 2.4L engine.

Its smart features include Remote Engine Start, Hands-Free Power Tailgate and the full suite of Honda Sensing driving aid.

Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Madoka Chujo said the CR-V was the first Completely Knocked-Down (CKD) model in Honda Malaysia’s line-up in 2003.

Since then, the CR-V has consistently been well accepted by the Malaysian market with more than 108,000 units sold to-date.

“In view of the good market acceptance, we introduced the CR-V Black Edition to provide more options for our customers who prefer an SUV with a full package of spaciousness, comfort, safety, performance and next-level aesthetic,” she said.


Three new Harleys enter the fray

                KUALA LUMPUR: Three new Harley-Davidson have been introduced to Malaysia today. They are the Roadster, Softail Slim S and CVO Pro Street Breakout.

This comes following the entry of the Dark Series (Iron 883 and Forty Eight) earlier this year.

Roadster
The RM110,000 Roadster puts a powerful level of sport into the Sportster line-up. Its refined performance package includes 43mm inverted front forks with massive triple clamps, powerful dual-disc front brakes, premium rear suspension and new dual gauge instrumentation to
complement the fuel tank and chopped rear fender.

The riding position is aggressive, but comfortable for long rides, thanks to the 19-inch front and 18-inch rear offset-split 5-spokc cast aluminum wheels, lowered bars, mid-mount controls and a new two-up seat. Its 45-degree, 1200cc engine delivers massive off-the-line torque. Turn it loose at the green light.

Softail Slim S
Harley-Davidson has taken everything that was great about the Softail Slim and added a little more. The RM160,000 Softail Slim S has more power with a 1,801cc Screamin Eagle Twin Cam 110B engine that outputs 145Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. The military theme has been taken even further with an olive green paint option with the rest black to the core. The bike features black triple clamp and riser, gloss black headlamp ring, fork slidercovers and lower forks. It also has black brake levers, mirrors and black over/under shotgun exhaust with slash-cut muffler.

CVO Pro Street Breakout
The RM210,000 CVO Pro Street Breakout is all about dark style and massive torque. It features cutting- edge finishes with show-stopping paint and styling details fender to fender. The Aggressor wheel mounts to a 240mm rear tyre complemented by forward controls and race-inspired seat.

And a 1,801cc Screamin' Eagle Twin Cam 110B engine with 151Nm of torque at 3,500rpm and heavy breather intake, inverted forks and new dual-disc front brakes mean the performance matches the power of its style. It's the top-of-the-line take on long, dark American muscle.

The three models were unveiled at Harley-Davidson Kuala Lumpur headquarters in Naza Automall Petaling Jaya. Naza Prestige Bikes Sdn Bhd is the sole authorised importer and dealer for Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the country.


Porsche's electric Taycan draws interest from 30,000 buyers, says paper

FRANKFURT: Porsche has taken down payments from 30,000 customers in Europe for its Taycan, the luxury car maker’s first fully electric model, CEO Oliver Blume told Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper.

These customers have made down payments of €2,500 (RM11,538) each and 10,000 of them have already placed a firm order to buy a Taycan, Blume said, adding that this number exceeded the company’s expectations.

Porsche, which is starting shipment of the Taycan to US dealerships this month and to other markets shortly thereafter, is planning to deliver 20,000 Taycans in 2020.

Porsche is under pressure from peer Tesla, which last month announced that it will build its first European factory and design centre near Berlin.

The purchase contract for the site is being negotiated and construction of the factory will start in the spring of next year, the Bild newspaper reported today.


VW plays it safe with 2017 Golf - VIDEO

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen has taken the wraps off the new Golf and while it is brimming with cutting-edge technology, active safety systems and more powerful yet efficient engines, from the outside at least it's hard to tell the difference between the new model and the one it's replacing.

Over the 40-plus years that the Golf has been in production and nudging hatchback benchmarks higher, one thing that hasn't changed is Volkswagen's “evolution over revolution” approach to keeping the car fresh and ahead of the pack.

And despite the hype over the last month coming from VW's press department about how each subsequent generation of the little car has had a big impact, the latest generation model, revealed at a special event in Germany today is a subtle roll forward aesthetically rather than a giant stylistic leap.

The interior has been heavily overhauled and there are some new engines including a potent technology-heavy 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged unit that can deliver up to 148bhp.

But from the outside at least, the only real clues that the 2017 Golf is different from the current model are new front and rear bumpers, a choice of new alloy wheel designs and some interesting new exterior paint finishes.

Still, there is plenty of difference once you step inside. The biggest change is the digital console with its 12.3-inch high definition display in lieu of traditional knobs and dials that forms the heart of an equally up-to-the-minute infotainment system complete with gesture control recognition.

VW has also decided to imbue the new car with some of the latest active driver safety systems including traffic jam assist, pedestrian monitoring and trailer assist so that reversing or guiding a caravan or horsebox is no longer a stressful rolling exercise in spatial awareness.

On top of that it is also the first car in its class to offer a park assist system that can control the braking and steering when maneuvering into a parallel or perpendicular space.

There's also good news for keen drivers that want fewer rather than more digital toys when it comes to their cars. The flagship GTi hot hatch will also be a little hotter come 2017. VW is retuning the engine for an extra 10hp and is throwing in a seven-speed dual-clutch paddle-operated transmission too.


Cyan Racing and Lynk & Co win first ever title in motorsport

                PETALING JAYA: Cyan Racing and Lynk & Co secured its first ever World Title in motorsport for a Chinese manufacturer with the Lynk & Co 03 TCR, winning the team title of the 2019 FIA World Touring Car Cup in a thrilling season finale at Sepang in Malaysia.

"To win three years in a row with three different manufacturers feels amazing. To claim the teams' title in the first year with Lynk & Co Cyan Racing is 'mission complete'. Next year our goal is definitely two titles," said Christian Dahl, CEO and founder of Cyan Racing.

"After a most difficult race weekend and season, Lynk & Co Cyan Racing has ended it in a historic way. They have built a solid foundation for 2020 and proven their professional level of teamwork and spirit. Thanks to the whole team for their efforts and devotion. We look forward for them to challenge for a double title next year," said Victor Yang, Vice President of Communications at Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.

The team title highlights a new record by Cyan Racing, claiming its third straight World Title.

The team won the 2017 WTCC title with Volvo Polestar, the 2018 WTCR title with an independent programme and the 2019 WTCR title with Lynk & Co, a World Title triple no other team has managed before in the history of World Touring Car racing.

"This has been one of the toughest race weekends the team has ever experienced. Everyone really pulled together when we needed it the most. I am proud of all in the team that we for the third year in succession are the champions of the world," said Fredrik Wahlén, Team Manager of Cyan Racing.


Nautilus car up for grabs

                LONDON: Captain Nemo’s six-wheeled Nautilus car from Sean Connery’s adventure movie ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’ will be auctioned off on July 11 and is currently valued at an estimated £40,000 to £60,000 (RM240,000 to RM360,000).

The car, measuring 6,623mm-long, 2,800mm-wide and 1,397mm-tall is not road-legal in the UK and is not suitable for conventional road driving, but will go under the hammer of international auctioneer Coys at their Blenheim Palace on July 11.

The auctioneers are reputed for selling film, television and celebrity cars and for the last few years, the car – designed by production designer and art director Carol Spier, has been part of a large collection of movie props and costumes at Prop Store’s UK facility.

“I bought the Nautilus from the film company after The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen came out because I loved the car, loved the design and felt it was one of the most emotive vehicles I have ever seen, a true design icon,” said Prop Store founder Stephen Lane

The auction will feature one of the two vehicles – a fully functional and complete vehicle used throughout the film and featured heavily on promotional posters, while the second was rigged with scaffolding for filming the actor's close-ups.

The vehicle started life as a Land Rover fire tender, adapted via a steel frame with the addition of a Rover V8 engine.

The chassis is covered in an intricate ivory coloured fibreglass shell and features a wealth of elaborate embellishments in an aged gold effect on both the exterior and interior.

The interior is trimmed with faux leather and even features the original Land Rover dials.

The wheels each measure 72cm (28.35 inches) and hidden within the arches are hydraulics to adjust the ride height.

The car retains most of its original functionality and shows signs of wear and evidence of running repairs from on-set use, but is still in running condition.

“We are offering an unrepeatable opportunity to acquire one of the cars that actually appeared in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and which will undoubtedly increase in value in years to come,” said Coys managing partner Chris Routledge.


VW 4S dealership opens in Setia Alam

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia and Goh Brothers Motor have launched the latest addition to the Volkswagen network, Volkswagen Setia Alam.

This is the third authorised Volkswagen dealership by Goh Brothers Motor, after the Juru and Ipoh outlets, and the 18th Volkswagen dealership in the country.

Measuring a total of 60,000 sq ft, Volkswagen Setia Alam is four-storey high and bears the current corporate identity, furnishing and equipment that comply with the standards set by Volkswagen.

As a 4S centre, owners will have the ease of enjoying every essential need their vehicles require all under one roof – from sales, service, spare parts to body and paint services.

On its 2,970 sq ft mezzanine floor showroom, a total of eight cars can displayed, complete with a lounge for guests to sit back and relax.

The service centre, which sits on two floors and spans a total of 10,200 sq ft, is manned by 15 experienced technicians who can service up to 30 vehicles per day.

In conjunction with the opening, Volkswagen Setia Alam is inviting Volkswagen owners who have not serviced their cars for over six months for a complimentary 20-point safety diagnostic and health check, which
is available throughout the month of October.

Volkswagen Setia Alam operate from Monday to Sunday from 8.30am to 5.30pm (sales), while aftersales services are available from Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

The dealership is located at 22A,Persiaran Setia Dagang 40170 Setia Alam, Seksyen U13, Shah Alam, Selangor. Call 03-3362 6555 for more details.