BMW 320i Sport: Enticing entry cruiser

                The BMW 3 Series is seen as the preferred go-to sedan by many since 1975 and it’s still going strong for the 320i Sport (G20).

Even after seven generations, many still flock to the brand even if it is for this locally-assembled G20 which happens to still maintain that “pure driving pleasure” credo and packed in with the necessaries to keep fans well satiated.

Our review unit came coated in Mediterranean Blue and equipped with 18-inch Lightweight V-spoke Style 780 bi-colour alloys with 225/45 run-flat tyres all around.

Armed with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, this four-potter will provide 184hp and 300Nm of torque.

There’s plenty of pep coming from the pedal for the rear wheels via the eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission that’s easy to forget it’s even there.

Style-wise, the 3 Series hasn’t departed too much away from being a sporty executive sedan.

There’s enough room for all and it still has enough elements to satisfy the brand’s enthusiasts with its short front overhang and coupe-like body style.

Its musculature is joined by crisp lines along its front hood and flanks to give it some definition and the rear haunch isn’t too bulky to erode that element of elegance.

The front end may seem to have a myriad of components but at least they seem to flow and integrate nicely into each other.

Take the front LED fog lights that have taken up residence in the horizontal T-section of the Air Curtains which flank the air intakes and centre radiator grille on the lower half of the bumper.

This is where the sporty nature of this 3 Series lies.

The upper half is reserved for the adaptive LED headlights and iconic kidney grille.

Inside, the cabin looks and feels premium as expected with its Aluminium ‘Mesheffect’ trim finishers and leather-wrapped sports steering wheel.

The tri-zone automatic climate control is definitely a welcome for guests as they soak in the modern and uncluttered cabin that exudes a clean no-nonsense approach.

Everything seems to well laid out and nicely integrated into the dashboard here with good tactility from the buttons which are in easy reach thanks to the driver-centric cockpit.

The steering feels nice and girthy as the paddle shifters peek at you from the wheel’s three and nine o’clock positions while a digitalized version of an analogue instrument cluster (BMW Live Cockpit Plus) comes with a 5.7-inch display and a crisp-looking 8.8-inch touch-sensitive control display.

The powered front seats offer plenty of thigh, back and waist support with the ability to dial in that preferred seating position.

Rear passengers may not find a generous amount of knee room and the thick C-pillars a tad intrusive, but at least its somewhat negated by the comfortable rear bench that seems more ideal for two.

In all scenarios, the 320i Sport never seems to lag in power delivery but instead will present a more nimble character thanks to a responsive engine and sharp steering.

By far, the 320i heads back closer to its roots with a sporty demeanour and even if it does weigh in at around 1,450kg (kerb), this Bavarian sedan does well to hide it.

Traversing over pot-holes and uneven road surfaces won’t be too unpleasant at best due to the stiff nature of the run-flat tyres which would have forced BMW to dial in more comfort from the suspension.

That said, it’ll still provide drivers with a good sense of directional stability and coupled with a punchy mid-range makes this an everyday event to look forward to.

Bleeding speed quickly won’t be an issue with the brake rotors providing plenty of “bite” depending on how deep the foot travels.

Frankly, it’s a brake feel that’s preferred over the more sophisticated stablemates that bear the “eDrive” moniker.

The brakes are strong in its ways and the transmission’s logic is always on the money to ensure power delivery is omnipresent.

In short, the 320i Sport sedan is one that’s very much worth the current asking price of RM239,883 (without SST) and many should find it hard-pressed to seek another offering that would provide a more complete package at the entry-level than this.

As stiff as it may seem over the numerous potholes that litter our Malaysian roads, it’ll still do its best to soak things up and carry on providing that ideal blend of driveability, performance and necessary accoutrements - be it traffic, twisted routes or simply cruising along on highways.

SPECIFICATIONSBMW 320i Sport (G20)Engine: 1,998cc, turbocharged, direct injection
Maximum power: 184hp from 5,000 to 6,500rpm
Maximum torque: 300Nm from 1,350 to 4,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed Sport automatic
Acceleration (0-100kph): 7.1 seconds
Top speed: 235kph
Features: Six airbags, antilock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, auto brake hold, electronic stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, cruise control, adaptive LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, dynamic reverse camera, tri-zone automatic climate controls with rear air vents, auto-dimming (electro-chromatic) rearview mirror, keyless entry with push-start button, leather seats, powered front sports seats, automatic LED headlights with daytime running lights and integrated turn signals, automatic wipers, electric parking brake, six-speaker infotainment system voice command, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, USB port, and 18-inch alloys with 225/55 run-flat tyres.
Price without SST: RM239,883 (on-the-road without insurance)


China slaps new 10% tax on super-luxury cars

A file picture showing a model posing beside a Ferrari LaFerrari hybrid sports car in Beijing. — EPA
BEIJING: China has imposed an extra 10 percent tax on ultra high-end cars costing over 1.3 million yuan (RM850,000) such as Lamborghinis and Ferraris, the government said, the latest step in a wide crackdown on conspicuous luxury consumption.

Under President Xi Jinping the Communist Party has overseen a sprawling campaign against graft and encouraged thrift among the country’s political and economic elites, targeting showy displays of wealth.

The new tax took effect today and was intended to “guide rational consumption” and promote energy-efficient vehicles, the finance ministry said in a statement late Wednesday.

”The tax increase is a display of the government’s attitude of advocating frugality,” said Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the Passenger Car Association, according to Bloomberg News. China already taxes imported vehicles at a high rate, slapping a 25 percent tax on all foreign cars shipped to China.

The duties - and increased competition from cheaper domestic marques - have driven overall car imports down two years in a row, with 850,000 vehicles imported in the first 10 months of the year, down 6.4 percent from 2015, according to customs statistics.

But ultra high-end brands such as Ferrari have done well, with the Italian sports-car maker seeing a 26 percent surge in its second-quarter sales this year, with 160 units delivered.

The extra charge will likely hit Ferrari and brands such as Aston-Martin, Rolls-Royce, and Lamborghini, as well as top-end models of Mercedes and BMW.

Luxury carmakers have seen massive growth in China, the world’s largest auto market, despite the anti-corruption campaign. They have also become potent symbols of the lavish lifestyles of the nouveaux riches during a time of surging wealth inequality.

Elite families often hire fleets of pricey cars for wedding processions, and wealthy second-generation heirs film themselves racing ultra-luxury sports cars in cities at night.

A notorious 2012 Ferrari crash that killed the son of a high-level official disrupted a once-in-a-decade party leadership change and precipitated his father’s downfall.

Reports said the son was accompanied in the car by two female passengers, one of them naked. Some luxury dealers said they planned to stay open all night Wednesday to take orders before the tax came into force.

Passenger vehicle sales in China surged by an average of more than 12 percent annually from 2010 to 2015, but an economic slowdown has reduced the speed, with expansion dropping to 4.7 percent last year with total sales of 24.6 million.


Supercars seized from Equatorial Guinea vice president net US$27mil at auction

A 2014 Lamborghini Veneno Roadster sold for 8.28 million francs (RM35mil). — Reuters
GENEVA: A collection of 25 supercars seized from Equatorial Guinea’s vice president as part of a Swiss money-laundering probe fetched nearly 27 million Swiss francs (RM114mil) at an auction held by Bonhams on Sunday.

A 2014 white Lamborghini Veneno Roadster sold for 8.28 million francs (RM35mil) including commission, about 50% more than its pre-sale estimate, in heavy three-way bidding.

“The top lot of the collection and rarest of all, one of only nine built and introduced for the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini,” said James Knight, group chairman of Bonhams Motoring Department, as he opened bidding.

 Teodoro's supercars were seized and went on auction. — Image source: instagram.com/teddynguema

The buyer was anonymous, but the saleroom burst into applause as the hammer came down at the event in a 12th-century abbey in the grounds of Bonmont golf and country club in the village of Cheserex, 30km from Geneva.

Geneva prosecutors said in February that they had closed an inquiry into Teodoro Nguema Obiang for money laundering and misappropriation of public assets with an arrangement to sell the cars to fund social programmes in west African state.

Known as Teodorin, he is the son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled Equatorial Guinea for 40 years. Rights groups label his administration as one the world’s most corrupt.

A Reuters tally of official hammer prices, VAT and 15% commission, showed a total of 26.93 million francs.

 A 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari (left) and a 2010 Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 Coupe during an auction preview by Bonhams, Both cars also belonged to Teodoro. — AFP)

A 2011 Aston Martin One-77 Coupe, which Knight described as an “absolute rocket ship”, went for 1.55 million francs (RM6.6mil). “Proceeds are for charity,” he said.

A black 2015 Koenigsegg One-1 fetched 4.6 million francs (RM19.4mil).

A Swiss bidder said an agent for a collector in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, had bought several supercars.

A gray armoured 1998 Rolls Royce Silver Spur in need of repair - and described by Knight as “perfect for someone who doesn’t have any friends or has enemies” - went for 86,250 francs (RM365,000).

A 1956 Aston Martin Lagonda, owned by the late Claude Nobs, founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival, was among 50 other cars that found new owners.

 People looking at a 2015 Koenigsegg One:1 in front of an Aston Martin One-77 Coupe (2011), red, Ferrari LaFerrari (2015), yellow, and a Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 Coupe (2010), blue, part of some 25 luxury cars owned by Teodoro. — AP

The Rolling Stones, Petula Clark, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury rode in the vintage vehicle, the catalog said.

Thierry Amsallem, Nob’s partner and heir, attended the sale and bought a white 2007 Bentley Azure Decapotable from Obiang’s collection for 112,125 francs (RM474,000).

“It is like new, just 843 miles (1,356km) on it. We’ll use it to drive around performers,” said Amsallem, chair of the Claude Nobs Foundation.


Isuzu D-Max 1.9: The little engine that could

                Once a staple requirement for the commercial sector, the hard-working pick-up truck hard has evolved from being ruggedly robust to refined and sophisticated and serious amounts of comfort dialled in.

These pick-up trucks are known to be a 'tough crowd' to roll with and have a tendency of appealing to the male-skewed demographics with its aggressive styling and...large 'everything' - it's no wonder.

But, for the Malaysian market, it's the features that get the crowd cheering.

Forget what it can do, only because it's a given, but rather what it provides.

So with the new D-Max just launched yesterday with a downsized 1.9-litre turbo-diesel mill, fans of this particular Japanese brand might find themselves frowning upon such meagre provisions. Or is it?

After flying into Krabi, Thailand and driving the D-Max 1.9-litre Blue Power some 200km to Patong in Phuket, Thailand the consensus was clear - this little engine was an obvious case of 'size doesn't matter'.

To go into further detail, the 1,898cc turbo-diesel RZ4E mill felt more willing and capable compared to its larger 2.5-litre 4JK1-TCX.

As explained by Isuzu engine department general manager Isamu Tateyama - the man in charge of downsizing the engine, "the new RZ4E will be the engine that replaces the (2.5-litre) 4JK1."

Technically, the engine isn't new since entering Thailand's market in 2015, followed by the European Union in 2016.

The reason for replacing the 2.5-litre engine is to help Isuzu comply with global emissions standards, but they also felt compelled to provide more in terms of accelerative qualities, fuel consumption and lower maintenance costs.

But why did it take so long to be launched in Malaysia?

It all boiled down to the 1.9-litre engine's ability to accept our fuel quality and provide consistent power delivery in and around our higher-altitude regions.

Among the improvements made, the 1.9-litre oil burner is also significantly lighter by 56kg from its 2.5-litre's over 200kg engine weight and in terms of engineering, that's a massive amount of savings.

In terms of output, the 1.9-litre out-powers the larger 2.5-litre mill with its 150hp (+36hp) at 3,600rpm and 350Nm (+30Nm) of torque from 1,800 to 2,600rpm.

"We improve the engine by including a new combustion chamber with a stepped shape and clothoid curve, coated the pistons with a graphite diamond-like carbon coating, upped the fuel injectors to 200Mpa, redesigned the variable-geometry turbo system and made the engine 13% stiffer," explained Tateyama.

The result saw a decrease in overall friction by 37% at 2,000rpm, which in turn relieves the stresses on the water pump to help cool the engine.

Additionally, the exhaust gas recirculation system - which cycles a portion of the exhaust back into the engine's cylinders, was further improved with a reduction in nitrogen oxide production.

Also, a new high-performance timing chain has been added and has been relocated to the rear of the engine to ease serviceability.

All that gets paired to a new six-speed automatic/manual transmission with lower friction and with the inclusion of Vehicle Launch Assist Control the auto and manual transmission engages more effectively by increasing the engine's revs automatically.

Along with a revised final-drive ratio, driveability has been improved and the engine idle noise reduced.

Specifically for Malaysia, Tateyama added that the engine was tested for 3,500hrs after adding a pre-fuel filter for our Euro2 grade of fuels to ensure reliability and return, at best, a consumption of 8.0 litres per 100km.

With the technicals aside, were the changes made to the engine really that much better? We're happy to report that the new D-Max was.

The common 'clacking' noises heard from diesel engines in general while standing next to it at idle was significantly lower.

Power delivery saw no signs that this engine possessed a lower displacement and yet it had a slightly more 'peppier' power delivery than the outgoing 2.5-litre engine on winding roads and cruising saw engine speeds that weren't excessive.

Flooring the throttle from here gets this pick-up truck hustling as quickly as the cabin gets filled with engine roar.

As Tateyama would explain, it was thanks to Isuzu's revised six-speed auto and manual transmissions that had closer gear ratios to allow for a more spirited driving quality around the 2,000rpm mark for tight winding roads.

That being said, with the last two gear ratios being taller, cruising about at highway speeds kept engine noise intrusion into the cabin at bay.

Front driver and passenger will sit fairly upright and while the steering wheel is height-adjustable, reach still remains fixed.

Although the centre console might seem rather plastic-like, it does attest to the fact that this vehicle was made robust first with luxury accoutrements coming in a close second and this includes leather seats, keyless entry with push-start button and an android-based headunit with reverse camera.

Optional extras are available such as the easy-tailgate lift, flat-bed pull-out and sports bar for the Thai-market among others.

Overall, the suspension will provide for a comfortable ride but the Toyo A33 Open Country all-terrain tyres won't do the D-Max justice on spirited tarmac/asphalt runs which dulls the steering response and feedback.

Afterall, the tyres are high-profiled all-terrain tyres, to begin with, and aren't exactly meant for winding runs, but they do their job nonetheless.

Undoubtedly, the 1.9-litre D-max will serve its purpose as a strong workhorse and it does present a strong case in terms of reliability and power delivery.

Couple this with a slightly revised exterior paired with highly angular projector headlights with integrated daytime running lights to add to its aggressive good looks makes for a hard pick-up truck to ignore.


Local e-bike maker Ezee Bikes Malaysia aims for growth

                KUALA LUMPUR: Ezee Bikes Malaysia is making a push on its range of electric bicycles by emphasising on quality and benchmarking against international standards.

Group CEO Anderson J. Yu said the company is committed to offering quality electric bicycles at competitive prices.

“We design and manufacture our very own electric drive system. Today, our drive system sets the benchmark in performance and efficiency.

 Foldable E-Bike.

He said Ezee Bikes products are capable of meeting international standards such as ISO, European Standard (EN) and Conformitè Europëenne (CE) mark.

“We guarantee our electric bikes come with the highest quality and performance,” Yu said.

He said Malaysia’s home-grown electric bicycle brand Ezee Bikes was ready to make its presence felt locally and in the Asia-Pacific region with its new models at the end of the fourth quarter of the year.

 Gravel E-Bike.

Its factory in Meru, Selangor, will produce electric bicycles that suit various consumer needs like commuters, adventurers, businesses and more.

Also made in the Meru factory are the batteries, electric motor, frames, forks and rims.

Aside from Malaysia, the company also sources quality bike components from countries around the world such as Germany, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam to build reliable electric bikes that withstand the toughest conditions.

 Ezee Trike.

The company's four electric bicycle offerings are the City E-Bikes priced from RM5,000, Foldable E-Bike (from RM4,000), E-Gravel Bike (from RM5,500) and Ezee Trike (from RM4,800).

Ezee Bikes comes with a two-year warranty and can travel up to 80km-100km on a single charge.

Customers can also upgrade their electric bicycle frames with more powerful batteries and motors.

For details, log on to ezeebike.com.


Mercedes-Benz unveils futuristically styled design inspired by the 1900s

                STUTTGART: At this year's Design Essentials convention in Nice, France, Mercedes-Benz revealed a concept inspired by a model created nearly 120 years ago in 1901.

The vehicle, which was high-performing for the time, the Mercedes 35 PS, made its name in history by taking home the crown of various competitions during the year's Race Week inspiring the design of all motorized cars that were to follow.

To celebrate this "historic event (which) carries the pioneering spirit and the styling characteristics of those days far into the 21st century," the brand created the Vision Mercedes Simplex, a futuristically styled version of the award-winning 1901 model.

The model demonstrates the progress the company has made over a century of vehicle manufacturing — specifically in the evolution of their luxurious aesthetic.

According to the brand's chief design officer Gorden Wagener, "Only a brand that is as strong as Mercedes-Benz is capable of the physical symbiosis of history and future. The ‘Vision Mercedes Simplex' symbolises the transformation of the brand-specific luxury of Mercedes-Benz."

While the skeleton of the Vision Mercedes Simplex stays true to the design of the 35 PS, the inside has been outfitted with a 21st century rose gold instrument panel on which digital content is projected.


Updated VW Passat breaks cover

                NEW YORK: The Volkswagen (VW)Passat has been reborn and now leads the way with thee engine options of a 1.8-litre turbocharged TSI, 2.0-litre TDI and a more powerful 3.6-litre VR6 engine with 280hp.

The Passat comes out of Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant in the US and has been endowed with a new front and rear design, featuring LEDs for the first time for both headlights and rear light clusters.

It will be retailed from USD$22,440 (RM98,000) and comes with a new hood, front fenders, grille, front and rear bumpers and trunk lid, while the roof, doors, and the body side stamping are the only sheet-metal left unchanged.

Additionally, chrome accents have been added to the trunk, window surrounds, bumpers, and door trim

Changes to the interior include an updated instrument panel with two large gauges and the centre stack now incorporates VW’s latest second-generation modular infotainment platform (MIB II) touchscreen system that now includes USB and Bluetooth connectivity as standard.

The display utilizes a capacitive touch sensor (similar to smartphones and tablets) enabling gesture controls like swiping and pinch-zooming rather than the resistive touchscreens that require pressure and have slightly longer response times.

Most MIB II units also feature a proximity sensor, which detects when a hand is nearby and automatically switches its display to allow easier selection of specific features. USB and connectivity are standard on all 2016 Passat models.

Furthermore, the German automaker has also provided Car-Net App-Connect that supports smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink.

The interior also features a new steering wheel and column stalk design, two-tone decor panels, chrome and piano black trim, heatable rear seats as well as the Easy-Open keyless access that also opens the trunk by moving a foot near the rear of the vehicle.

For those opting for the VR6 variant of the Passat, it means the car gets equipped with a more sporty outlook that includes a stylised front bumper with contrasting black accents, a modified rear diffuser and 19-inch anthracite Salvador aluminium-alloy wheels with 235/40 series tyres.

In terms of safety, the updated Passat receives automatic post-collision braking system and a rearview camera as standard.

Depending on variant, it also gets fitted with adaptive cruise control (ACC), forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking (Front Assist), blind spot monitor with rear traffic alert, lane departure warning (Lane Assist) and parking steering assistant (Park Assist).

“We applied a progressive design strategy with the new Passat, giving the car a dynamic presence and a more sophisticated look and integrated several new design elements, including a sculpted, domed hood that significantly sets the car apart from its predecessor,” said Volkswagen head of design Klaus Bischoff.”


Malaysia Commercial Vehicle Expo 2017 to be at MIECC

                KUALA LUMPUR: South East Asia's largest exhibition dedicated to commercial vehicles, the Malaysia Commercial Vehicle Expo (MCVE) 2017 will return for its third instalment this year with the theme of ‘Connected Mobility’.

Previously known as the Malaysia International Bus, Truck and Components Expo (MIBTC), the biennial event will be held at the Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC) from 18 to 20 May 2017.

This year’s MCVE will see an exhibition space of 8,000 sqm being occupied by past exhibitors as well as new ones such as Chevron Malaysia, CIMC Vehicles (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and a range of service providers from the transportation and logistics industry.

Representatives from PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd and Cho Thavee Public Company Limited among others, are also slated to speak during the event.

The Association of Malaysian Hauliers (AMH) is one of the several supporting partners of this year’s MCVE.

Nazari Akhbar, president of the AMH said, “We are entering a new era of digital logistics, which is changing the way goods are delivered and with a greater demand for efficiency. We hope through the various innovations on connected mobility showcased in the expo, hauliers and fleet operators will be able to learn how they can leverage new technology to achieve fuel savings, plan routes better and increase overall efficiency of their operations”.

“Safer vehicles and roads will continue to be our key focus as the nation progresses into an age of connectivity and mobility. I am delighted to know that this area will receive strong emphasis during the expo”, said Professor Wong Shaw Voon, director general of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS).

The MCVE will offer inclusive fringe activities for drivers and members of the Asian Trucker Drivers Club, sponsored by Volvo Trucks and Giti Tire.

The Scania Driver Competition MCVE Edition will once again return, but with tougher rules and scenarios for its third edition.

In addition to the food trucks and Scania Driver’s Lounge, this year’s MCVE will feature a Rest and Relax (R&R) area where visitors can enjoy light refreshments while having discussions with their business contacts.


Hyundai Grand Starex to get telematics system

                PETALING JAYA: All Hyundai Grand Starex registered from May 1 are pre-installed with a telematics system for enhanced driver and passenger safety.

A concierge service is also included in which makes it easier and more convenient for owners to book a service appointment or to locate and report a stolen vehicle.

The telematics system comes integrated with six services namely eCall: Automatic Accident Detection, Manual eCall: Emergency Assistance, bCall: Breakdown Assistance, Service Assist, Mobile App – Connected Security Features and Stolen Vehicle Tracking.

An SOS call can be made instantly with Manual eCall by just pressing the SOS button mounted on the map console of the Grand Starex.

Once the SOS button is activated, the vehicle owner will receive a call from the Secure Operating Centre (SOC) on the emergency.

Upon confirming the assistance needed, the SOC will then dispatch the required help, whether it is for an ambulance, the police or a tow truck.

However, should the telematics system detect a great impact to the vehicle, a crash alert will automatically be activated via the eCall without having to press the SOS button.

The SOC then contacts the vehicle owner immediately to check on the situation.

Should there be no response from the vehicle owner, an ambulance and the police will automatically be dispatched to the location based on the tracking device that comes with the vehicle.

A breakdown service on the other hand, can be activated using the bCall and the breakdown service will immediately be dispatched to the location.

The telematics system also comes with a Mobile App that offers a host of other convenient features, such as finding the location of the vehicle by activating a smart alarm to locate the vehicle with the sound of the horn and blinkers, reporting a missing vehicle, making other non-emergency reports and enquiries, recording trips made by the vehicle as well as the driver’s behaviour analysis.

The Service Assist is also a convenient feature.

The system tracks the vehicle’s mileage via a satellite and then sends a ticket to an authorised Hyundai service centre which will then schedule an appointment with the vehicle owner.

The concierge service also includes reminders for the renewal of insurance and road tax as well.

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) managing director Low Yuan Lung said the telematics system and its service would be complimentary for the first three years. After the three-year period, vehicle owners can opt to renew for RM380 per year.

“Existing Grand Starex owners who are keen to have this system installed in their vehicles can head over to any of the Hyundai authorised service centres to have it installed for RM1,998.

“Our service advisors will be able to assist with the installation and answer enquiries on the system,” said Low.

The Grand Starex is a large 11-seater MPV that features a 2.5L turbodiesel engine that is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, swivel seats on the second row, a suite of safety features, overhead display monitor and more.

The Grand Starex A2.5L CRDi Executive Plus retails at RM165,888 while the Grand Starex A2.5L CRDi Executive Prime retails at RM173,888 (pricing exclude insurance and is applicable only in Peninsula Malaysia).

Monthly repayment starts at RM1,348 with the new step-up financing plan.

All Grand Starex now comes with three years or 50,000km free service and a five-year or 300,000km warranty.

Hyundai had introduced the Staria in April, and it is expected to replace the ageing Starex.


Volvo Car Malaysia closes 2021 with 14.3% higher volume

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo Car Malaysia closed 2021 strongly with total sales of 2,229 units, a 14.3% increase from the previous year.

This marked the sixth consecutive year of sales growth, a positive sign for further growth into the coming year.

The sale of 2,229 units also sets a new record for the highest sales performance since the establishment of Volvo Car Malaysia.

Another milestone was the highest sales performance per month on record, with 524 units sold in December 2021 alone.

 XC40 Recharge T5.

Almost 73% of all new Volvo cars sold in Malaysia were Recharge models.

Volvo Car Malaysia managing director Charles Frump said the company was proud of its record-breaking achievements in 2021.

 Frump.

"Despite a challenging year, we have gained customers' confidence in providing them with the freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way.

"The collective efforts of our dealers and staff have laid the groundwork for an electrifying 2022,
encouraging us to charge towards our goal of becoming a fully electric car company by 2030," he said.

On a global scale, Volvo Cars sales grew by 5.6% to 698,693 cars in the full year 2021.

This results also demonstrated the continued popularity of Volvo Cars’ Recharge line-up of cars with a fully electric or plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Sales of Recharge models grew by 63.9% in 2021, compared with 2020.

Recharge cars made up 27% of the company’s total sales volume in 2021.

Almost 40% of all new Volvo cars sold in December were Recharge models, whereof fully-electric cars made up 7.4%.


Ford claims Mustang 'best-selling' sports car

                DETROIT: The best-selling sports car for the last 50 years in the US is celebrating its 56th "This Mustang Day" birthday with two global sales crowns, earning it world’s best-selling sports car and its fifth consecutive best-selling sports coupe title.

“We’re proud of our growing Mustang stable and performance variants,” said Ford chief operating officer Jim Farley.

The Mustang model managed to sell over 102,090 units, according to the most recent new vehicle registration data from IHS Markit, making it the best-selling sports car in the world in 2019. During this period, Mustang sales in Germany increased by 33%, in Poland sales rose by nearly 50%, and in France, they nearly doubled.

The year 2019 also marks the fifth consecutive year that Mustang was the best-selling sports coupe in the world. Sports coupes, as defined by IHS Markit, include two-door and convertible models.

In addition to continually adding personalization and technology options, Ford keeps up the Mustang momentum with the nameplate's greatest-ever performance lineup.

With up to 12 enthusiast models available globally, Ford offers customers a new golden age of Mustang performance. These Mustang variants include EcoBoost® and GT models each with two Performance Pack options, Mustang BULLITT, Mustang Shelby® GT350 and available Handling Pack, Shelby GT350R, plus Shelby GT500 with Handling Pack and Carbon Fiber Track Pack options.

“From Sweden to Shanghai, more and more driving enthusiasts are enjoying the feeling of freedom and the American open road in these new Mustangs. We are honoured to serve our owners, enthusiasts and fans for 56 years and counting,” added Farley.


Audi launches electric SUV in Tesla’s backyard, with assist from Amazon

                SAN FRANCISCO: Audi on Monday staged the global launch of a new electric sport utility vehicle on the home turf of rival Tesla Inc, and highlighted a deal with Amazon.com Inc to make recharging its forthcoming e-tron models easier.

The Audi e-tron midsize SUV will be offered in the United States next year at a starting price of US$75,795 (RM314,000) before a US$7,500 (RM32,000) tax credit. It is one of a volley of electric vehicles coming from Volkswagen AG brands, as well as other European premium brands including Daimler-owned Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo Cars and Jaguar Land Rover.

All aim to expand the market for premium electric vehicles and also to grab share of that market from Palo Alto, California-based Tesla, which has had the niche largely to itself.

“I want Audi to be the number-one electric vehicle seller in America over the long term,” Audi of America president Scott Keogh said in an interview on Monday.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is also head of rocket company SpaceX, planned to mark the e-tron launch occasion by staging a SpaceX event in Los Angeles at roughly the same time on Monday evening as Audi’s unveiling.

Audi and parent Volkswagen are using the US launch of the e-tron SUV in mid-2019 to take aim at one obstacle to expanding electric vehicle sales - the lack of convenient ways to recharge their batteries.

READ MORE: Audi e-tron delivers practical range

Audi will partner with online retailer Amazon to sell and install home electric vehicle charging systems to buyers of the e-tron, the companies said on Monday. Amazon will deliver the hardware and hire electricians to install them through its Amazon Home Services operation.

Amazon’s partnership with Audi to provide home charging systems is the first time the online retailer has struck such a deal with an automaker, and signals a new front in Amazon’s drive to expand its reach into consumers’ homes beyond the presence of its Alexa smart speakers in living rooms and kitchens.

“We see charging installation as a very important business,” Pat Bigatel, director of Amazon Home Services, told Reuters at Audi’s launch event in San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic Center.

Audi executives said home charging stations would cost about US$1,000 (RM4,143) , depending on the home’s electrical system.

Tesla offers wall connectors for home charging at a US$500 (RM2,071) list price, and will arrange for installation, according to the company.

At the same time, Electrify America, a company funded by Volkswagen as part of its settlement of US diesel emission cheating litigation, plans to launch next year the next round of installations of public charging stations, Electrify America executives told Reuters.

Tesla has developed its own network of Supercharger charging stations with more than 11,000 chargers in North America.

Electrify America plans to have 2,000 chargers installed by mid-June next year. Those will be open to any vehicle, and customers can swipe a credit card to recharge.

“We want to work with all” automotive brands, said Giovanni Palazzo, Electrify America’s chief executive.

Lifting the curtain

Audi has been heralding the launch of the e-tron SUV for some time, but until Monday it had not shared many details of the vehicle.

The e-tron is electric, and has two electric motors - one in the front and one in the rear - driving all four wheels. The Hungarian factory building motors for the e-tron will start with a production pace equivalent to 200 vehicles a day, Audi officials said.

In Europe, the vehicle will use cameras instead of conventional mirrors to give drivers a view to the rear. That feature is still not approved by US regulators.

However, in many other respects the e-tron is a conventional, mainstream luxury SUV. It offers seating for five, and its length and wheelbase position it in the centre of the market for midsize, five-passenger luxury SUVs such as the BMW X5. The e-tron is 13 cm shorter than the Tesla Model X, and it has conventional doors. The Model X uses vertically opening ”falcon wing” doors.

The e-tron will have an advanced cruise-control system that can keep the car within a lane and maintain a set distance behind another vehicle, but the system will be designed so that drivers must keep hands on the wheel. Audi officials said they do not have official range estimates for the e-tron SUV under US testing procedures.

The e-tron's 95 kWh battery has less capacity than the 100kWh battery used in the Tesla Model X 100D model, but more than the base Model X 75D.

The Model X 100D is rated at 475 km of range by the US government.


Upgrade to enjoy more benefits, Proton tells dealers

                KUALA LUMPUR: Proton has given its dealers until 2020 to upgrade their outlets.

It said the target for 2018 is to substantially increase the number of 3S (sales, service and spare parts) outlets nationwide to enhance overall customer experience with the introduction of new models this year.

"Currently the 3S/4S dealership nationwide is equivalent to only 30 per cent of our total dealerships and 70 per cent are 1S (sales) facilities where the dealers only sell vehicles without offering any after sales servicing."

"We recognised that a substantial sum of money needs to be spent by the dealers on this exercise. Therefore, we have introduced a special scheme that offers upfront support to assist dealers in upgrading to brand new premises," it said in a statement today.

The national carmaker said additionally, these dealers would enjoy extra margins on cars sold for up to three years.

Proton said in the past dealers enjoyed a four per cent margin based on a monthly volume of 40 units agreed with the company to qualify for their sales incentives.

It has revised the scheme by lowering the threshold to encourage overall business growth for dealers.

The scheme is in line with current challenges faced by dealers and the company will continue to monitor the situation to ensure business growth is achievable.

In addition, it said quarterly incentive scheme were also provided throughout the year, where dealers could earn extra income by exceeding their sales targets, as well as state incentive support for on-ground activities by dealers.

Commenting on the Malaysian Association of Malay Vehicle Importers and Traders' claim that bumiputra dealers were working under pressure, Proton said it acknowledged the tough challenges they faced.

The national carmaker said since 2000, a decline in market share and sales volume had affected the company's ability to finance its research and development activities, which led to the company falling behind its competitors in technology and product competitiveness.

It also indirectly affected investments in developing the network, staff and manufacturing abilities of the company, it added.

In its efforts to address the decline, the national carmaker tried various approaches ranging from platform sharing with other brands to developing its own engines and transmissions to reduce dependence on imported parts.

"While these actions brought about positive results, none were able to arrest the continuing decline in sales and market share that were apparent both in Malaysia, as well as in foreign markets."

"Therefore, the need for a foreign strategic partner quickly became apparent if Proton wanted to stage a recovery to its former position at the head of the Malaysian automotive market."

"It would also help in our aspirations to grow the brand both locally and abroad, which is a key thrust for the future business plans of the company."


Mercedes AMG Petronas works with Schuberth

                MAGDEBURG (Germany): German helmet manufacturer Schuberth is an official supplier to the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team for the 2015 season onwards.

Based in Magdeburg, Germany, Schuberth has worked closely with Mercedes AMG Petronas to develop a new helmet designed to protect the team’s crew members as they take part in Formula One pit stops.

The new helmet, which will debut at the Australian Grand Prix, features the Schuberth-patented seamless inside and a carbon fibre outer layer.

Schuberth will also make the model available as a high-end helmet for winter sports purposes.

Schuberth is amongst the world’s leading manufacturers of helmets for motorcycle, Formula One and motorsport use, and of innovative head protection for professionals, fire brigade, police and military purposes.

“We are delighted to be working with Schuberth. The development of safety protection and procedures in Formula One is at the forefront of our business,” said Mercedes-Benz Motorsport head Toto Wolff.


Vios one-make race series will use street circuits

                SEPANG: In a collaboration between UMW Toyota and Toyota Gazoo Racing Team, the Vios Challenge one-make race series will be held on the streets of Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Johor.

The new race series will feature four races with the inaugural event to be held in August before ending in March, 2018, with 30 race-prepared Toyota Vios 1.5 J vying for the top spot on specially-created street circuits.

Anyone with a national racing licence issued by the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) is eligible to join the race series costing RM90,000, which includes all necessary parts, engineering and testing for the Vios as well as one FIA-approved racing suit and six training sessions for novice racers.

The Vios will be fitted with parts from Toyota Racing Development (TRD) such as an aerodynamic kit, exhaust system, clutch system, limited-slip differential, suspension system, brake pads, tower bar, lower brace bars, roll cage and Enkei wheels with 195/50 series tyres from Toyo Tires.

In addition, all drivers will need to undergo a qualifying round to be conducted in May with instructors and race engineers from TRD Japan in attendance.

Among the list of confirmed drivers, most of whom will be making their race debuts, are eight local celebrities of Danny Koo, Geraldine Gan, Venice Min, Shawn Lee, Diana Danielle, Shukri Yahaya, Fattah Amin and Janna Nick.

The race car will be prepared by Wing Hin Motorsports, under the the supervision of TRD Japan, and will be modified to produce about 10% more power than stock.

The regulations, drivers and race management are subjected to FIA rules and will be under the scrutiny of AAM.

"The sporty, fun and vibrant character of the Toyota Vios has been understated at times and in line with our 'All About The Drive' campaign, we believe that the Vios Challenge will be able to effectively help us demonstrate these characteristics especially to younger Malaysians," said UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran Kurusamy.

More than 370,000 units of the Vios have been sold in Malaysia since its local introduction in 2003.


BMW said to team up with Intel, Mobileye on self-driving cars

                Intel has elbowed its way onto the car dashboard by producing the components inside entertainment and information systems in vehicles. - EPA

NEW YORK: Intel Corp is working with Mobileye NV to develop self-driving car technology for BMW AG, said people familiar with the matter.

Senior executives from each company will hold an event on Friday to discuss the driverless-vehicle initiative, said the people, who asked not to be named because the details are private. Jerusalem-based Mobileye has been an early leader in providing cameras, software and other components that allow vehicles to see the world around them. BMW has been a client of Mobileye, along with General Motors Co. and Tesla Motors Inc. As automakers and their suppliers race to create systems to replace human drivers, most companies are betting on some form of artificial intelligence, which requires powerful processing.

Intel is the world's biggest chipmaker, thanks to its control of the computer-processor market. The company has elbowed its way onto the car dashboard by producing the components inside entertainment and information systems in vehicles. However, it still lags behind companies such as NXP Semiconductors NV and Infineon Technologies AG in providing chips to the auto industry.

People are increasingly deciding which car to buy based on technology rather than horsepower. Automakers are turning to tech companies to keep up with the expectations of consumers, who are used to a seamless smartphone experience.


Tesla pulls games on moving car screens after US safety probe

                WASHINGTON: Electric carmaker Tesla Inc will stop allowing video games to be played on vehicle screens while its cars are moving, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday.

The move follows an announcement by the NHTSA on Wednesday that it had opened a formal safety investigation on 580,000 Tesla vehicles sold since 2017 over the automaker's decision to allow games to be played on the front center touchscreen while they are in motion.

This functionality, referred to as “Passenger Play,” may distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash, the NHTSA has said.

Tesla has informed the NHTSA that a software update will lock the "Passenger Play" feature and make it unusable when the vehicle is in motion, a spokesperson for the agency said in a statement.

"The NHTSA constantly assesses how manufacturers identify and safeguard against distraction hazards that may arise due to faults, misuse, or intended use of convenience technologies, including infotainment screens," the agency said.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Safety advocates have raised concerns that drivers may not pay attention on the road, especially when Tesla vehicles are operating in semi-autonomous mode known as Autopilot.

A driver's distraction - likely from a phone game application - was one of the causes of a fatal crash of a Tesla car operating in Autopilot in California in 2018, according to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The NHTSA in August opened a safety investigation on 765,000 Tesla vehicles over its Autopilot system after a series of crashes involving the system and parked emergency vehicles.


Fastest Camaro ever at Germany’s Papenburg High Speed Oval

                DETROIT: Slide over to the next lane. The Camaro ZL1 Coupe has a top speed of 198mph (318kph).

Chevrolet tested the max velocity of the ZL1 (with 10-speed automatic) on the High Speed Oval at Germany’s Automotive Testing Papenburg GmBH proving ground.

Compensating for wind speed, the top speed is the average achieved from running the ZL1 in both directions on the 7.6-mile (12.3km) loop — 325.6kph in one direction and 311kph in the other direction.

“This test caps an impressive list of performance stats for the Camaro ZL1, which was designed to excel at everything,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “It’s the most capable — and fastest —Camaro ever.”

 ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg GmbH – 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Top Speed Testing Southbound Run

The Papenburg testing was conducted on the ZL1’s production Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires with pressure set at 44 psi, the recommended setting for extended high-speed driving.

The car’s only deviations from stock were mandatory safety equipment and data logging equipment.

Papenburg’s high-speed oval features 2.5-mile (4 km) straights and 1.3-mile (2.15 km) turns with 49.7-degree banking on the top lane.

The steep banking allowed Chevrolet test drivers to run the ZL1 flat out around the track without lifting off the throttle in the turns.

“The ZL1 was developed with high-speed performance in mind, incorporating a balanced aerodynamic package that reduces lift without significantly affecting drag,” said Oppenheiser. “After testing the car in standard settings, which produced the 318kph average, we set the front and rear camber adjustments to 0 degrees and the tire pressures to the maximum allowable sidewall pressure, and saw the ZL1 average over 200 mph (321.9kph).”

Special aero features include a stanchion rear spoiler that offers an advantageous lift/drag ratio compared to a blade-style rear spoiler, and a patent-pending auxiliary transmission oil cooler cover that reduces front-end lift with no drag penalty.

The front-to-rear aero balance was also fine-tuned for high-speed stability.

The 650hp, supercharged LT4 engine powering the ZL1 is matched with a standard six-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Match or an available, all-new 10-speed automatic transmission.

Additional features include:

Magnetic Ride Control
Electronic limited-slip differential (coupe only)
20-inch forged aluminum wheels
Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 summer-only tires measuring 285/30ZR20 in front and 305/30ZR20 in the rear
Brembo brakes with six-piston Monobloc front calipers and two-piece rotors

The 2017 Camaro ZL1 starts at US$63,435 (RM283,313) for a coupe with the manual transmission, and US$65,830 (RM294,009) for a coupe with the 10-speed automatic.


Toyota to absorb Toyota Marketing Japan Corporation

                TOYOTA CITY: Toyota Motor Corporation announced today it will absorb its wholly owned subsidiary, Toyota Marketing Japan Corporation, from April 1, 2018.

The move is aimed at improving marketing for the domestic market that extends from product planning to dealer initiatives.

Toyota set up Toyota Marketing Japan as a specialist and independent marketing company in October 2009 to help refine its marketing.

For a while, the model-centric advertising campaigns by Toyota Marketing Japan worked but Toyota decided a new strategy was required in the rapidly changing marketplace today.

The revamp would enable Toyota to respond better to challenges and opportunities posed by a connected society and the popularity of mobility services, it said in a statement.


VW Jetta exits local market

Update: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia managing director Erik Winter said on Aug 27, 2018 that the Volkswagen group is now making the seventh-generation Jetta only for left-hand drive markets, which formed the bulk of its global sales. No right-hand drive Jetta are being produced at this time, and Winter could not say when the latest Jetta will make its way to Malaysia.

PETALING JAYA: The VW Jetta will no longer be on sale in Malaysia.

Local production of the sixth-generation model has already stopped, says a VW spokeman.

Existing stocks of the Jetta have been snapped up by buyers taking advantage of festive promotions and a tax holiday, which is set to end on Aug 31. The Sales & Services tax will make a comeback from Sept 1, replacing the unpopular Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia has also removed the Jetta from its official website. No reason was given for the exit of the Jetta but it is an old model that looks like it is being phased out. Unlike the PQ35-based sixth-gen Jetta, the latest seventh-generation model that was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show and based on the MQB modular platform has also been dropped from the European market.

READ MORE:
VW unveils all-new Jetta in Detroit but drops it from Euro markets
VW Jetta aims to beat land speed record with Golf R engine

The Jetta, introduced locally in September 2016, came in three variants, priced from RM109,000 to RM129,000 at the time.

An AllSTAR version debuted in August last year with RM3,000 worth of accessories including aluminium sport pedals, rear trunk spoiler, ‘ALLSTAR’ scuff plates, emblems and carpet mats. It was priced at RM109,990.

Like most car makers, Volkswagen sales in Malaysia were turbocharged by the tax holiday. Volkswagen saw a hefty increase of sales of 676.8% in June compared to May.

In 2017, Volkwagen sold 6,536 cars, an 8.1% growth over 2016. Over 94% of them were locally assembled.


Order taking starts for refreshed Civic, now with Honda Sensing

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has officially opened its order books for its facelifted Civic ahead of its official launch towards the end of this year.

Budding customers are able to place a booking for the Civic at all 98 Honda dealerships nationwide.

The Civic is still locally assembled and remains powered by a 1.5-litre VTEC turbocharged engine producing 173PS and 220Nm of torque and still mated to a continuous variable transmission (CVT). A 1.8-litre naturally aspirated variant is also available.

This year, the Civic is being offered with the full suite of driver-assist technologies - Honda Sensing but it's restricted to the top version, namely the 1.5 TC-P. The addition of Honda Sensing is expected to bump up the price of the range-topper, which currently stands at nearly RM129,000.

As an indication of how much Honda Sensing will jack up the price, the 1.5 Turbo RS with Honda Sensing costs Thai buyers an extra RM16,000. Honda Thailand has been selling the new Civic since January this year.

The technologies comprise eight features that include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow (LSF), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS).

There's also Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Auto High-Beam (AHB) – all of which will provide Driver’s Cruising Aid, Frontal Collision Deterrence and Side Collision Deterrence.

It will also be equipped with LaneWatch camera which uses a camera-based technology in favour of blind-spot monitoring that enhances the driver’s view of traffic on the left side compared to using only the side view mirror.

Other standard features include Remote Engine Start, Electric Parking Brake and the latest feature - Front Sensor.

Standard safety features including six airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Multi-Angle Rearview Camera and ISO Fix anchor points.

Gracing the exterior of the Civic are its newly designed front bumper, rear bumper garnish, boot lid spoiler, blackened front grille and new 18-inch wheels.

“The Civic is the third Completely Knock-Down (CKD) model from Honda Malaysia to be introduced with Honda Sensing which offers a complete package that we believe will be attractive to customers in Malaysia," said Honda Malaysia managing director and CEO Toichi Ishiyama.


No launch yet, so Maserati Grecale did this instead

                MILAN: What do you do if you are a car maker and have to postpone your car launch?

Well, drum up some filler buzz, of course.

That's what Maserati was thinking when it delayed the launch of its Grecale SUV on Nov 16 to early 2022, blaming the global chip shortage for the change in dates.

The launch was replaced by a showy event where the folks at Maserati lined up the Grecale prototypes to form a huge Trident.

The outline was over 100 metres long and was made up of 80 cars.

As part of its global testing programme, over 250 development units of the Grecale are distributed across Japan, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, China, Finland and Italy.


Tesco, Volkswagen to develop UK electric vehicle charging network

                LONDON: Britain’s biggest retailer Tesco and German car maker Volkswagen have teamed up to develop an electric vehicle charging network in the UK, they said on Friday.

Under the partnership, Tesco and Volkswagen roll out over 2,400 electric vehicle charging bays across 600 Tesco stores in the next three years.

Electric cars and other vehicles using alternative fuels account for about 6 percent of sales in Britain and are the fastest growing part of the market, rising 22 percent so far this year, helped by government schemes supporting them.

The charging bays will be installed by Pod Point, which has installed over 2,500 publicly available charge bays at locations including retailers, service stations and transport hubs.

Pod Point said the Tesco/Volkswagen deal would lead to a 14 percent increase in the number of public charge bays in Britain.

Customers will be able to charge electric cars using a normal 7kW charger for free or a rapid 50kW charger for a cost in line with the market rate.

Tesco said the initiative builds on its commitment to use 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030.


Elon Musk's China nemesis survived once, but he has a fight ahead

Li (left) mingling and getting to know his customers, which he believes is an essential part of his role in running NIO. — Bloomberg
SHANGHAI: William Li is being mobbed. At a gala dinner in Shanghai, the founder of Chinese electric carmaker Nio Inc. can barely move forward in the buffet queue before being stopped for another selfie, handshake or hug.

Swapping his usual attire of jeans and a T-shirt for a tailored grey suit and blue dress shirt, the tall 46-year-old happily obliges with a smile.

Li manages to spoon a small amount of fried rice and vegetables onto his plate, but he’s not here for the food.

Over the next three hours, Li poses for hundreds more photos, chatting with customers of the automaker he started just over six years ago and has built into a way of life — at least for the people who buy his cars — with clubhouses, a round-the-clock battery recharging service and even clothing, food and exercise equipment, all decked out in Nio’s geometric logo.

As Li works the room, a video backdrop shows six performers, each wearing a different-coloured Nio hoodie, singing a self-composed song dedicated to the company. “Meeting with Nio, we want to be better selves," the not-so-catchy ditty goes.

While other billionaire executives may cringe at spending their down time glad-handing customers, for Li this is core.

Nio’s business model relies on creating a sense of allegiance among buyers, who then persuade friends and family to spread the word about its cars.

Dubbed “Rippling Mode", the strategy invokes the ever-widening circles caused by throwing a single stone into a pond, Li says.

The scene here was just what he was aiming for: a passionate customer base with the loyalty of Apple Inc. fans — and a dash of Elon Musk cult-of-personality thrown in.

It’s an approach that’s turned Nio into Musk’s most visible nemesis in a country that seems to be minting Tesla adversaries every other day.

While other electric vehicle companies may pump out more cars aimed at the mass market, Nio is targeting the premium buyers that Musk — who established his first battery plant outside the US on the outskirts of Shanghai in 2019 — needs to realise his ambitions for global growth and long-term profitability.

China is ground-zero in the transition away from gas-guzzlers to alternative-energy cars, with the government intent on dominating a new automotive era that has triggered an onslaught of investment over the past six months and that even the US is now embracing.

The biggest car market on the planet, China is already the world’s largest for EVs. Sales will reach 2 million this year and surge to 6.2 million vehicles by 2025, when they will account for a quarter of all passenger car sales in the country, according to BloombergNEF.

Urbane, early adopters in China’s biggest cities have been at the heart of that transition, and are prime targets for both Nio and Tesla.

Nio’s premium ES6 SUV competes head-to-head with the sporty Model Y that Tesla started making in China last year. It’s a tussle that’s front and centre for Li, who in an interview with Bloomberg talked about how the eldest of his two sons, a first grader, wants to follow in his footsteps.

“One day, he told me that he would study hard and work hard, helping dad beat Tesla when he grows up,” said Li. “It’s going to be too late, I said.”

These days, that prospect is looking less like wishful thinking.

Nio delivered more than 20,000 vehicles, all of them SUVs, in the first quarter at an average price of US$68,000, while Tesla shipped around 17,000 of its Model Y sports utility vehicle in China, which starts at around US$53,000.

Nio's share of the overall China market for higher end cars is second only to Tesla, according to Kang Jun, an analyst at consultancy LMC Automotive, and it's set a “benchmark” for the wider EV space, “particularly in product and service innovation.”

Tesla has also faced a raft of setbacks of late in China, which accounted for more than 20% of all revenue last year.

Increased scrutiny from local regulators has been accompanied by a rising backlash against Tesla and its cars, culminating in one owner climbing on top of a Model 3 at the recent Shanghai Auto Show, claiming the company failed to address issues with her vehicle’s brakes.

The protest, which went viral in China, unleashed a wave of complaints about Tesla’s customer service, the very thing Li — who regularly replies to queries from Nio owners on the company’s app and has taken weekend trips across China to meet customers — has used to differentiate Nio in the cut-throat EV landscape.

But Tesla isn’t the only foe Li has to worry about. A Battle Royale is brewing in China’s new energy car market — where retail sales of battery-powered passenger vehicles jumped 10% to 1.11 million last year, despite the hit from the pandemic — one that will challenge both Nio and Tesla, and set the stage for global control over the future of cars.

After years watching from the sidelines, the big auto-making giants are doubling down on EVs, with Volkswagen AG launching an eight-car range from its platform designed for battery electric cars in China, Toyota Motor Corp. unveiling a new EV platform, and premium carmakers like BMW AG aiming for one-quarter of all Chinese sales to be electric.

At the same time, Big Tech is eyeing the sector, lured by the technological possibilities.

Chinese search-engine titan Baidu Inc. to smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp. and networks giant Huawei Technologies Co. have pledged almost US$19 billion into the EV and autonomous driving space since the start of the year alone.

Smaller companies like Nio — which is listed with compatriots Xpeng Inc. and Li Auto Inc. in New York, putting them on the radar of US investors — will face greater pressure as multinationals enter the fray, said Zhang Xiang, an auto-industry researcher at North China University of Technology in Beijing.

“It’s by no means a time they can rest easy.”

Nio has already had one near-death experience.

Carmaking is typically a capital-intensive business, but with Nio, Li has sought to create a brand beyond the vehicles, an approach he describes as “the pursuit of being a user-enterprise."

The most visible manifestation of that was the Nio House, an elite drop-in center for the company’s customers — even offering art and music classes for their kids — and located on prime real estate in some of China’s biggest cities. It was coupled with extravagant marketing events.

The carmaker holds annual Nio Days, and at the first in 2017 paid for flights and luxury hotels for everyone who ordered a vehicle a year before production started. R&B star Bruno Mars headlined the 2018 event. When its public charging facilities are overwhelmed, Nio has a fleet of cars that can take portable battery chargers to users wherever they’re parked.

Such largesse, along with a major recall after some cars caught fire just as China shifted subsidies from EV purchases to support the charging network, saw Nio rack up US$5 billion of losses in its first four years of existence (Tesla took about 15 years to reach that particular milestone). By the second quarter of 2019, the company was losing around US$5 million a day.

“It was our darkest time," Li said. A team met nightly to comb through expenses, from salaries to the cost of Nio Houses. “It was easy to calculate how much we could earn from selling cars, but we had to mind for everything to sustain a normal operation,’’ he said. “Every dollar counted.”

By October 2019, it looked like the gig was up. After posting a worse-than-expected quarterly loss, Nio’s shares plunged to a record low of US$1.32. At its nadir, the carmaker had lost more than 70% of its market capitalisation — about US$5 billion in value — from its New York initial public offering a year earlier.

Even a US$200 million cash injection from a sale of convertible notes to Li and an affiliate of Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. — an early investor in both Nio and Tesla — wasn’t enough to shore up the company’s seemingly insatiable need for cash.

The setbacks kept coming. Nio couldn’t afford the final payment on an imported stamping presser, a large machine used to shape a car’s panels. Worse, it had to sell the presser at a discount to Tesla, which promptly installed it in its new Shanghai plant, built with loans and support facilitated by the government. Soon after, a deal for as much as 10 billion yuan (US$1.6 billion) in funding from a Beijing local government-backed firm fell apart. Analysts started to openly speculate that Nio may be delisted or taken over.

The situation got so dire that in late 2019, He Xiaopeng, the engineer founder of Guangzhou-based Xpeng, itself in a tenuous position with just 3 billion yuan in cash, proposed a merger of the two struggling electric carmakers, according to an interview He gave to Chinese state media. Li rejected the offer.

“Nio was already in the intensive care unit, while Xpeng was waiting outside,’’ Li recalled. “A merger would bury both of us.”

(Xpeng went on to be the third Chinese EV startup to list in the US, raising US$1.5 billion in August 2020. The surge of investment in the space has seen its shares more than double, even accounting for a recent dip, and the company is now setting up a third Chinese production base to meet demand.)

Then came the lifeline that showed the lengths China will go to maintain its ambition of creating a world-leading EV industry.

In early 2020, the municipal government in Hefei — the capital of Li’s home province of Anhui, about 600 miles southeast of Beijing — came knocking.

Despite the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, which initially paralyzed car sales, a deal was struck in which the Hefei government would lead an injection of 10 billion yuan into Nio, more than the company’s entire revenue for 2019.

Coming just months after Nio said it wouldn’t have enough money to continue operating for another year unless it got more funds, the agreement essentially provided the company with a state-backed security blanket.

That can be a key advantage in China, where the government is the biggest player in almost every industry and has a hand in everything from manufacturing permits to access to capital. It could also provide a decisive edge over Tesla, which seems to have lost the favor it enjoyed early on with Beijing, as tensions with Washington continue to simmer under President Joe Biden’s administration.

For Nio, the quid-pro-quo was supporting local industry. The company abandoned plans to build a factory in Shanghai in early 2019, and instead — unlike Tesla and most traditional automakers — it pays a government-owned manufacturer in Hefei called Jianghuai Automobile Group Co., or JAC, to make its cars. The deal was extended last month for another three years, with JAC agreeing to double monthly capacity to 20,000 vehicles.

“When William Li brought his proposal to us, most people thought it was fantasy that a Chinese carmaker planned to build first-rate intelligent electric vehicles,’’ former JAC chairman An Jin said. “I might be the person with the best knowledge of how Nio came along, with all the challenges and difficulties. In its hardest time, William even devoted his own money to solve the problem. That’s how he fought for his dreams."

At an April 7 ceremony to mark the production of Nio’s 100,000th vehicle, Li said he would work with the Hefei government to establish an intelligent-vehicle production base, including an R&D facility. Construction started later that month, and the industrial park is expected to eventually house manufacturing workshops, along with other players in the EV supply chain.

The Hefei pact, described as a government bailout by Sanford C. Bernstein’s senior analyst Robin Zhu, “put speculation around Nio’s funding issues to bed, at least in the foreseeable future,” he said.

Li, though, also credits his loyal customer base. “We sold over 8,000 cars in the fourth quarter of 2019, which was pivotal to our survival,’’ he said.

“That’s why I always say that our customers saved us. Even if we sold 500 or 1,000 fewer vehicles, that could have triggered a total collapse.’’

Still, the experience was chastening. Nio cut about a quarter of its workforce, slowed its efforts on autonomous driving, delayed wage payments for managers and spun off some non-core businesses.

While the rollout of the costly Nio Houses was suspended for more than a year, the strategy of putting Nio ownership at the center of an owners’ lifestyle and creating an aura of exclusivity, wasn’t forsaken with more modest Nio Spaces rolled out.

Usually around 100-200 square metres, Nio Spaces are located in cheaper locales and also sometimes in smaller cities. They cost about 1 million yuan to set up, much less expensive than the more salubrious Nio Houses.

It seems to have worked — for now. Nio is still yet to turn a profit but its sales have risen steadily since — topping US$1 billion for the first time in the three months to Dec. 31, 2020.

The company narrowed its net loss in the first quarter of 2021 to 451 million yuan, down from 1.69 billion yuan a year earlier and 1.39 billion yuan in the fourth quarter of 2020. Even the businesses that underpin Nio’s lifestyle brand are making money, contributing to 1.1 billion yuan in revenue from non-vehicle sales last year, according to the company’s annual report.

“To enter the car industry and survive isn’t easy,’’ said Jochen Goller, BMW’s China CEO. “Some others have disappeared. I have met with William Li a couple of times and I have to say I am impressed by what he has achieved. Nio is also creating awareness for battery cars, and having the right brands in the segment is helping the market."

The Hefei deal also came around the same time as investors cottoned on to the EV revolution, putting a rocket under Nio’s shares. They surged more than 1,110% last year, besting even the rally that propelled Tesla into the S&P 500 Index. The stock has given up some of those gains since as enthusiasm has eased, but with a market value of $70 billion, Nio is still bigger than Ford Motor Co.

It’s a long way from Li’s relatively humble beginnings. Raised by his grandparents in a small village in the hills of Anhui, known for farming and — more recently — the automobile industry, Li calls himself one of China’s “first generation of `left-behind’ children’’ because both his parents moved to the neighbouring province of Jiangsu to pursue better work. There was no electricity in the village until Li was in his teens.

While majoring in sociology at Peking University, one of China’s top colleges, Li started his first business — leasing internet servers and helping clients register domain names.

The auto industry is where Li has enjoyed his greatest success, however, with the three listed companies he founded in the past 20 years all related to cars. His first, a vehicle-pricing portal called BitAuto Holdings Ltd. was acquired last year by Yiche Holding Ltd. for US$2.8 billion, propelling Li’s personal fortune to US$7 billion. That was followed by online auto-finance platform Yixin Group Ltd., which listed in Hong Kong in late 2017.

Then came Nio. In an internal presentation in 2016, Li recalled looking out the window of his apartment at Beijing’s smoggy skies before the birth of his first son, and decided something needed to be done to tackle the country’s chronic pollution. He started Nio in late 2014 with funding from a group of well-known investors, including Li Auto founder Li Xiang and Richard Liu, the founder of e-commerce portal JD.com. Xiaomi’s Lei Jun was also an early backer.

When he’s not dining with super-fans, Li’s workday calendar is packed. On a recent Tuesday at the company’s corporate headquarters — which remain in the slick financial capital of Shanghai — he spent the morning locked in executive committee meetings.

In the afternoon, it was more back-to-back meetings with the company’s battery partner, designers, and clients from Europe. In a first, Nio recently announced plans to start selling cars in EV hotbed Norway.

But while the company is on much firmer ground than 18 months ago, questions remain.

“Auto manufacturing has big economies of scale, and at less than 100,000 units a year, Nio hasn’t yet reached the production volume to realize all of those efficiencies,” said Robert Cowell, an equity analyst at Shanghai-based 86Research.

Cost issues linger, with the price of raw materials used in batteries, the most expensive part of an EV, including lithium-ion compound, soaring in recent months.

Like most global automakers, Nio has also been hit by a worldwide shortage of the chips used increasingly in modern cars, leading to the suspension of production in Hefei for five days at the end of March.

And despite the intensifying competition in an industry defined by technological advances and consumers drawn to the next shiny thing, Nio isn’t planning on unveiling any new models until late this year or early 2022.

While Tesla is the main competitor in view, it’s the rivals to come that Li sees as the biggest threat.

“The final game won’t start until tech giants are in,” he said. In March, Xiaomi unveiled plans to invest about $10 billion in manufacturing EVs, while Huawei has collaborated on at least two cars and is developing autonomous driving technologies. Lurking in the background is the biggest tech giant of all — Apple, which has long harbored ambitions to make its own, self-driving car.

“I trust companies like Apple for their determination, software development, intelligence capability, and user connection," Li said. “It’s going to be different competition from traditional car companies.”

For the Nio fans gathered in Shanghai that Sunday evening, that future is already here.

With the event drawing to a close, owners pose for a large group photo with Li at its center, everyone flashing thumbs up. As the lights dim, Li slips out of the hall and into the night, where his driver — in a white Nio ES8 — waits to take him home.


Tech firms shake up China car market

 The Alibaba.com headquarters in Hangzhou.

Chinese technology giants Alibaba and Tencent are promising to build the cars of the future, vehicles linked seamlessly to the Internet and offering shopping and navigation help while on the road.

E-commerce company Alibaba and WeChat messaging app provider Tencent have both announced plans for cars in the past month, along with video streaming platform Letv.

The move could shake up the traditional industry in the world’s largest auto market, but details of their automotive visions are still vague, analysts said.

At the Shanghai auto show this week, the stand of Letv’s partner in the venture, BAIC Motor, displayed the concept for the vehicle, which has two front seats with a steering wheel and a futuristic screen control panel.

“In the mobile Internet era, the auto industry is facing a huge revolution,” Letv CEO Jia Yueting said on his microblog. “The Chinese auto industry can subvert traditional European, American, Japanese and Korean giants.”

 Tencent Holdings CEO Ma Huateng. - AFP

A promotional film at the auto show said the Letv car would have features such as gesture recognition, automatic parking and a fingerprint recognition locking device.

“At the moment we haven’t seen the products, this is all the sort of concept stage,” Namrita Chow, principal analyst for IHS Automotive, told AFP.

In the United States, search engine Google has already made news with its plans for a “self-driving car”, and Apple is reportedly planning to develop an electric car.

Alibaba, whose US$25 billion US-listing last year was the world’s largest, plans an “Internet car” that would use technology to provide a better driving experience including e-commerce, digital entertainment, map and communications services.

In one sense, Alibaba is already in the auto business. Its business-to-consumer platform Tmall.com is now offering for sale more than 30 new cars - including a limited-edition Ford Mustang - launched at the Shanghai auto show, which started on Monday.

Rival Tencent also has plans for an Internet-connected car, while Letv plans an electric vehicle.

China’s market for fully electric vehicles and hybrids remains small, but the government is offering support to the emerging industry.

Both Alibaba and Letv have chosen powerful state-owned firms as partners for their projects, an odd match for the nimble private companies.

Alibaba is working with China’s biggest auto maker, Shanghai-based SAIC Motor.

“The Internet will become a must-have feature of future cars,” SAIC chief engineer Jing Lei said in a statement announcing the cooperation.

 The Tmall site also sells cars.

Last week, Alibaba also announced it had formed a strategic partnership with Shanghai General Motors - a joint venture of General Motors and SAIC Motor - for car finance, big data marketing, after-sales service and online to offline commerce.

Letv’s partner BAIC Motor is the listed unit of Beijing Automotive Group, which reports directly to the central government.

“Production of the car will depend on demand,” said a BAIC Motor official, adding it could be on the market in as little as two years.

Analysts said partnering with an established auto company allows technology players to develop a car with a conventional combustion engine, as electric vehicles are currently the only area open to companies outside the industry under government rules.

Tencent has tapped less traditional partners, Apple supplier Foxconn of Taiwan and luxury car dealer China Harmony Auto, for its vehicle.

“Cooperation is still at a very early stage,” said a Tencent spokesman.


Peugeot Taiping 3S Centre opens

                TAIPING: Nasim Sdn Bhd, the official distributor for Automobiles Peugeot in Malaysia, opened its latest outlet in Taiping and is the third outlet within the state of Perak.

The other outlets are Peugeot Ipoh (Jul 2010) and Peugeot Ipoh Garden (Dec 2014).

Nasim chief operating officer Datuk Samson Anand George said that it was because of Taiping’s current significant infrastructure development and the state being the brand’s fastest growing market that it was decided to open a third outlet.

The new outlet is a 9,000 sq ft 3S (sales, service and spare parts) centre and comes equipped with customer lounges, a Peugeot boutique and complimentary Wi-Fi.

A body and paint facility is also provided and its service centre, with five service bays, can accommodate up to 20 cars daily.

Built at a cost of RM1 million, Peugeot Taiping will serve customers in Batu Kurau, Bagan Serai, Changkat Jering, Kamunting, Kuala Kangsar, Matang, Padang Rengas, Simpang, Selama, Trong and Taiping.

“Through our after sales network expansion and the introduction of several new models, we intend to grow our sales volume in 2015, with a sales target of 6,000 cars in which is in line with MAA’s forecast of a 2% increase in new vehicle sales,” said Samson.

Peugeot Taiping is the first of five outlets planned for launch in 2015.


Kumho Crugen HP91 tyres as standard fitment on BMW X3s

                FRANKFURT: It's all smiles at Kumho as it has sealed a contract to supply its Crugen HP91 tyres for the latest BMW X3.

The 245/50 R19 105W XL sized tyres are supplied direct to BMW’s American plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where the X3 is made. From there, the completed cars are exported to other countries.

Kumho tyres are already fitted to BMW’s 1, 2 and 3 Series cars.

The Crugen HP91 features silica tread compound which Kumho says ensures excellent handling in both wet and dry conditions. In the latest summer tyre test by German car magazine Auto Bild Allra, Kumho’s Ultra High Performance (UHP) tyre was commended by testers for its good traction on sand and mud as well as its excellent balance on wet surfaces.

However, Consumer Reports has offered a word of advice on UHP tyres. While such tyres are designed to handle the higher output of powerful cars, they don’t last as long as regular all-season tyres, it said, adding that they are also pricier.


Peugeot sales power ahead, China now biggest market

                PARIS: Peugeot Citroen on Wednesday reported a turnaround in sales in 2014 after three years of decline, spurred by runaway growth in China, now the carmaker’s leading market ahead of France.

Europe’s second-biggest carmaker sold 734,000 vehicles in China, up 31.9 percent on 2013, taking its share of the Chinese car market to 4.4 percent.

The group’s global sales grew at a more stately pace of 4.3 percent, reaching 2.9 million vehicles.

In China, sales of Peugeot brands grew the fastest, surging 43.1 percent to 386,565 units, one-third of which were SUVs.

Peugeot Citroen’s inroads in China came in a year which saw China’s Dongfeng Motor and the French state acquire stakes in the troubled carmaker as part of a 3-billion-euro (US$3.76 billion) bailout package. Peugeot also opened 100 new dealerships in China in 2014.

France remains the group’s second-biggest market, accounting for 637,682 vehicles sold last year. Sales in Europe as a whole, where the car market is rebounding from years of crisis, grew 8.1 percent to nearly 1.8 million vehicles.

In other parts of the world, such as Russia, which has been hit by Western sanctions and plummeting oil prices, and Brazil, which is battling low growth, conditions were more “difficult”, the group said.

Peugeot Citroen is on a drive to restore profitability by slashing costs and excess manufacturing capacity while upscaling its brands.

Net losses in 2013 came in at 2.32 billion euros (US$2.73 billion), down from 5.01 billion euros the previous year. Full-year figures for 2014 have yet to be released.


Proton re-enters the South African market

                SUBANG JAYA: Proton is back in the South African car market after exiting it 10 years ago.

Proton official distributor Combined Motor Holdings (CMH) relaunched the brand last week along with the introduction of the X50 and X70 sports utility vehicle (SUV) models.

CMH chief executive officer Jebb McIntosh said the company seized the opportunity to represent Proton when the brand became available.

“We saw a gap in the market for a quality SUV within an affordable price bracket. There are many luxury brands selling SUVs in South Africa, but most are simply unaffordable to the average car buyer here.

 The X70.

“Our plan is to have 25 dealers within six months, the first 17 of which have already undergone sales and technical training. A full range of replacement parts are also already in stock in our distribution centre so our customers can buy the vehicles with confidence,” he added.

Proton said while it continues to reclaim the local car market share, it would need to exploit the latent potential in international markets to make its push towards becoming a leading automotive brand in the region.

 X50.

For the first eight months of the year, export volume rose to 4,040 units, representing an increase of 33.9% over the same period last year.

With the addition of South Africa to the list of export markets the company is hopeful of ending the year with an even bigger percentage in growth.

Proton deputy chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said the car maker was aggressively pursuing export sales as one of the pillars to growing its overall volumes.

 Proton International Sales director Steven Xu speaking to the South African media and guests during the launch ceremony.

“There is a lot of potential for growth in our international markets, not just for the Proton brand but for the local automotive industry too so we want to establish a firm foothold while these markets are still accessible.

“Our aim is to achieve 6,000 export sales this year and while we remain confident of achieving our goal, there is a lot of work ahead of us to identify suitable partners to gain entry to more countries to achieve bigger goals in the future,” he said.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia launches three SUVs: GLE, GLE 53 and GLS

                PETALING JAYA: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has just introduced three new premium SUVs  consisting of the  GLE 450 4MATIC Coupé, Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupé and the  GLS 450 4MATIC.

Prices are RM661,009.42, RM787,357.88 and from RM899,888 respectively. All prices are on-the-road without insurance.

“The new GLE Coupé seamlessly blends the unrivalled power of an SUV with the agility and elegance of a coupé. Every function and every detail aims to offer an incredibly enchanting experience in its segment. The GLS is the ‘S-class among our SUVs’ that embodies effortless superiority and spaciousness," said Michael Jopp, Vice President, Sales and Marketing Passenger Cars, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.

"It offers a level of luxury, advanced technology, and spaciousness, unseen in the SUV segment, making it an iconic trendsetter and a top-class SUV.”

Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé

The GLE 450 Coupé is powered by the 3.0-litre 6-cylinder in-line turbo engine that produces 367hp and a maximum torque of 500Nm which enables acceleration from 0-100kph in just 5.7 seconds.

 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4MATIC Coupé.

While the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupé, the 6-cylinder in-line turbo engine generates 435hp and delivers a maximum torque of 520Nm, allowing it to reach 0-100kph in 5.3 seconds.

Both models feature the Airmatic air suspension system, an adaptive adjustable damping feature which provides maximum ride comfort.

 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupé.

The interior of the new GLE Coupés have two 12.3inch screens and the latest generation of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system.

Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4MATIC AMG Line

The seven-seat luxury SUV, the GLS 450 is equipped with the 3.0-litre 6-cylinder in-line engine electrified with a 48-volt technology to have an output of 367hp and a maximum torque of 500Nm.

It features the 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission for faster and smoother gearshifts.

The exterior design consist of the upright radiator grille, chrome-plated underguard in the front apron with the bone-shaped air inlet grille and two powerdomes on the bonnet.

 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4MATIC.

It also has a powerful shoulder muscle extending from the rear doors to the tail lights which are based on LED technology and has a three-dimensional look. It also has a slender, continuous chrome trim strip of a reflector and a chrome-plated underguard.

The new GLS comes with electrically adjustable seats with the Easy-Entry system on the third row which  enables the seats in the second row to move and fold forward, giving a larger legroom to those sitting in the third row.

To further enhance the luxurious experience, the MBUX Rear Seat Entertainment System is available for rear passengers.


MCO extended until April 28

                PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced that the movement control order (MCO) will be extended for another two weeks, from April 15 to April 28 to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The first phase of the MCO, which was introduced to break the chain of Covid-19 infection, was from March 18 to 31, followed by the second phase from April 1 to 14.

Muhyiddin said the extension of the MCO is to give room for healthcare workers to combat Covid-19 and prevent a re-emergence.

He also said that several economic sectors will be opened in stages and the government will make an announcement in the near future.


PIAM says insurers to continue essential services

                PETALING JAYA: Members of the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) will provide essential services to their customers, including extra insurance coverage for Covid-19.

In a statement today, PIAM said although some insurance companies had temporarily closed operations of their branch offices or shortened the operating hours during the movement control order (MCO), PIAM member companies remain committed to providing services for their customers in a safe manner.

It said insurers continued to issue guarantee letters, process claims and renew policies during the MCO period.

Apart from that, in support of the Health Ministry's efforts, PIAM member companies have pledged RM2mil as contribution to the insurance industry’s RM8mil Covid-19 Test Fund (CTF).

"This is part of the industry’s effort to help affected rakyat cope with the immediate health effects of the virus and the subsequent economic consequences, as well as to enable more Malaysians to undergo tests to help contain the virus outbreak.

"In addition, some of our member companies are offering extra coverage for Covid-19 for their customers at no additional costs, while some waived certain medical policies exclusion where Covid-19 is concerned," said PIAM.

It added that there were also insurers who were allowing the cancellation of travel insurance with full refund of premiums.

It encouraged policyholders to contact their respective insurers for details on the support measures.

"During this difficult and challenging period, PIAM member companies will work with affected consumers to review the financial impact faced by them and make the necessary adjustments in each case and explore all options to ensure insurance protection is available when and where needed.

"Motorists requiring immediate roadside assistance, whether resulting from a road accident or a breakdown, can contact the Accident Assist Call Centre (AACC) by dialling 15-500.

"AACC is a 24/7 helpline provided by the Malaysian insurance industry to the motoring public for any roadside emergencies," said PIAM.

It added that AACC would also respond to basic and general enquiries relating to insurance claim coverage and procedures.

PIAM also reminded consumers that their motor insurance should be kept valid during the MCO period.

Those who need to renew their motor insurance should use online platforms to do so, and motorists should contact their respective insurers who can help them on their renewal.

Consumers can also visit www.PIAM.org.my or email their queries to pic@PIAM.org.my.


Zenvo TSR-S hypercar revealed

                COPENHAGEN: Zenvo has revealed its latest commission TSR-S alongside further developments from the Danish hypercar manufacturer.

The TSR-S is priced at €1.45m and Zenvo production is limited to five cars per year, offering unparalleled exclusivity in a hypercar sector.

The TSR-S is Zenvo’s flagship model, combining the road-going capability of the TS1 GT with the track-derived performance of the TSR and is powered by a 1177bhp twin-supercharged flat-plane V8.

0-62 mph is achieved in 2.8 seconds and 0-124 mph in just 6.8 seconds, aided by a super lightweight carbon fibre construction and exceptional aerodynamics including Zenvo’s patented Centripedal rear wing which reacts to steering inputs to create high levels of downforce while cornering.

The street legal variant of the TSR track car, has received numerous bespoke touches and is the first car to receive full fragmented carbon fibre wheels designed, developed and built in-house by Zenvo as well as individual weave designs within the exposed carbon fibre body sections.

Following Danish design ideals of innovation and creativity, the geometric pattern carbon fibre visible within the blue tinted central stripe is a further evolution of Zenvo’s class leading carbon fibre technology and personalisation options, such as the bespoke ‘watermark’ carbon fibre graphics featured on previous TSR-S models.

Also unveiled was the latest drivetrain development from Zenvo, a hybrid variant of the 7-speed sequential gearbox with helical-cut dog gears that has become a trademark of the brand.

This gearbox offers the driver two changeable modes, Road and Race, controlled by tactile aluminium switchgear on the steering wheel.

In its Road setting, the changes are electronically assisted to remove the usual harshness of a traditional ‘dog-box’ while Race mode allows for exceptionally fast and direct mechanical changes usually only offered in fully fledged race cars.

The latest development of this innovative gearbox is the addition of a hybrid module which yields a power boost, further traction control and even the addition of an eighth forward gear with the electric motor providing reverse drive.


Nissan Grand Livina delivers

Nissan's Grand Livina features prominently amongst the sub-RM100,000 multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) on the Malaysian market, but with an engine and seating capacity that delivers.

Given its seven-seater capacity, the Grand Livina seems set as an affordable family MPV, with additional aesthetics such as a lower-placed body which gives off the air of a sedan from the outside.

Those who prefer a traditional MPV’s higher seating vantage for gauging traffic might not enjoy the lowered body, but it comes with its own advantages, which are mentioned later.

Despite the family bent, the car’s facade features a more aggressive look, with a chrome engine grille, swooping headlights and thick bottom front bumper for the fog lamps, while Nissan’s i-Key (Intelligent Key) allows for keyless entry and push start, giving a better feeling of security for drivers.

The Grand Livina comes with either a 1.6-litre engine (with manual or automatic transmission) or, for this review, a 1.8-litre engine and four-speed automatic gearshift.

The four-cylinder engine which churns out 126PS at 5,200rpm, and 174Nm of torque at 4,800rpm might seem underpowered to the gearheads, but it is definitely more than sufficient for city driving and picking up the kids from school.

Even so, the four-speed engine, combined with the car’s lower centre of gravity, made driving on the highway an enjoyable experience, more so on an empty load; and one has to be careful not to breach speed limits.

Other driving features include the drive-by-wire system and the electronic brake-force distribution system (EBD). Nissan states that the EBD system senses the MPV’s load condition and optimises the real brake force to control both front and rear brake distribution. Braking is also made more comfortable by the front-disc/rear-drum combo.

In the interior, the Livina’s dashboard is set with wood-effect inserts around the central console, on the front armrests as well as the gearshift stick.

The upholstery is set in a light, cream two-tone which complements the wood-effect inserts.

With no weekend trips outstation to test the seats’ comfort on extended drives, they were comfortable enough commuting between Petaling Jaya and Rawang during rush-hour and the air-conditioners’ strength was sufficient that even passengers at the back on sunny days weren’t complaining.

To adjust the second- and third-row seats to fold and accommodate large pieces of baggage and other bulky items, one uses a system of tug strips and bands to fold them and the second-row can be split adjusted.

One only wishes that Nissan had also considered the same for the third-row seats, which would have introduced more flexibility.

Infotainment systems are much improved compared to the previous Livina model, with the steering wheel now incorporating both Audio and Multi-Information Display controls, red-illuminated at night for ease of viewing.

The centre infotainment console is both one-click button and touchscreen, with the option of playing CD/DVD, MicroSD cards, USB or iPod.

Back passengers can view a movie through a 9-inch TFT (thin-film transistor) screen that unfolds from a ceiling console about 60cm aft of the rearview mirror.

While there are some aspects which could be improved, such as the rear seats’ folding arrangement or dearth of cup holders, the feeling is that for the engine capacity and seating potential the Grand Livina offers, the on-the-road price tag of RM99,880 is more than justified.

Potential owners also get a choice of five colours to choose from: Graphite Blue (the colour for this test model), Diamond Black, Bronze Gold, Brilliant White and Tungsten Silver.


AES fines to be set at RM150

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet has fixed fines under the Automated Enforcement System (AES) at RM150, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He dismissed rumours that the Government was going to clear some 1.6 million summonses which were issued to speeding vehicles under the AES when it was first introduced in 2012.

"We are not going to quash the summonses. They have to pay. But it's RM150 now, from now onwards it will all be RM150," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

The AES has been integrated into the new Automated Awareness Safety System (Awas), which combines the cameras with the Kejara Demerit Point System.

Those who fail to pay up their summonses will be blacklisted and will not be allowed to renew their driving licences.

Liow said there will no longer be a fixed number of cameras under Awas.

"We will implement it in a staggered basis over a few years at the request of certain local governments, certain communities. Like my area, if there is speeding, they can request to put a camera there," said Liow.

The Government had rolled out 40 AES cameras when it was first implemented in 2012 with a total target of 90 cameras.

The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) reported that red-light running (RLR) violations decreased by 1.23% a year and 2.2% within six months since the AES cameras were installed at traffic lights.

AES cameras are currently placed in the Klang Valley and Perak.

The system drew controversy in 2012 when the contract was awarded to two companies that were alleged to have taken a profitable cut from every summon issued.

Allegations were also raised that the companies did not win the contracts through an open tender.

Liow said this will not happen with new operator Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT), which he said will only be paid on a service of contract basis.

"If they put up the camera and they maintain it, that will be the cost they charge," he said.