Audi to build four-door electric sports car in 2020

The e-tron GT prototype.
INGOLSTADT: Audi has just confirmed it will be launching a fully-electric four-door GT model in 2020 to rival the Tesla Model S, which will be a gran turismo sibling of the e-tron SUV that arrives later this year.

And these will be just two of the 20 electrified models the German luxury brand is going to be bringing us by the year 2025.

At its recent annual press conference, the manufacturer announced it will launch no fewer than five of those models by as soon as 2021, so we will soon have a Q3-sized EV crossover, the e-tron, e-tron Sportback and the e-tron GT.

Perhaps what's most interesting about Audi's conversion to the electric cause is a focus on what will be special "Audi Sport" performance models.

 The e-tron Sportback concept.

Audi's chairman Rupert Stadler stressed the importance of performance models to the brand, even in its electric portfolio. Stadler said at the press conference: "We interpret sportiness very progressively with our fully electric E-Tron GT, and this is how we will take our high-performance brand Audi Sport into the future."

The big shift towards electrified vehicles also explains why Audi has admitted the current R8 will be the last, and like the Beetle, there will not be a new-generation in the foreseeable future.

When challenged at the conference about which Audi model would be the first to use the Volkswagen Group's pure-electric MEB platform that's set to underpin VW's I.D. line-up, Stadler stated: "It'll be a neat, chic vehicle, with SUV character."

Horst Glaser, the executive vice-president for technical development at Audi, told Auto Express the car would be "around about" the size of the current Q3. He then went on to add: "You can imagine the positioning of that car when you look at the competitors. Who is coming with out with electric cars in the SUV segment in 2020?"

The new e-tron crossover is therefore likely to be in direct competition with the upcoming all-electric version of the new Volvo XC40, and the slightly bigger BMW iX3 may also be in the Audi's sights.

What's not clear at the moment is how Audi intends to differentiate its EVs, plug-in hybrids and mild-hybrid models in terms of nomenclature. A model such as the diesel-electric plug-in Q7 e-tron might have to drop its existing badging in favor of some sort of new model code, but although Glaser admits something has to be done, he didn't make any suggestion as to what that will be.


MINI refreshes 2018 hatch and convertible, 7-speed auto box debuts

                MUNICH: The team at MINI has just released details of the refreshed MINI Hatch and Convertible for 2018. Although the 2018 models are instantly recognisable as MINIs, they now boast new technology, new connectivity and other new features to keep things fresh.

The exterior character of the new MINI range has been refreshed by introducing a new front and rear LED light design, new optional adaptive headlights with Matrix high beam, and unique individualisation of details like interior passenger side trim and LED door sills and projectors through the MINI Yours Customised 3D printed parts system.

As for the technology upgrades, they include a 6.5-inch colour infotainment screen, USB and Bluetooth connectivity and multi-function steering wheel that are now standard, a new touchscreen Navigation with Apple CarPlay and wireless smartphone charging, and the new MINI Connected Services with Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI), Online Search, Natural Language Understanding and Concierge Service.

Aesthetic enhancements include the likes of a new MINI logo, Union flag tail-lights, body finishes, Piano Black exterior, alloy wheel designs, an extended range of leather trim, new interior backlit surfaces and colour lines.

But one of the biggest upgrades to the MINI for 2018 is the introduction of a new seven-speed Steptronic transmission with double clutch and electronic shift selector (outgoing models use standard 6-speed automatic or available 6-speed sports automatic for the Cooper S version). The new double clutch transmission provides fast gear changes, a high degree of shift comfort and optimised efficiency.

All new MINI models still come standard with a precise six-speed manual gearbox, but now the 3-Door Hatch, 5-Door Hatch and Convertible models will all be available with the new transmission.

Production of the new models gets under way in March, with customers set to start taking delivery shortly afterwards.


Tesla says investigating incident of parked car exploding in Shanghai

                SHANGHAI: Tesla Inc on Monday said it had sent a team to investigate a video on Chinese social media which showed a parked Tesla Model S car exploding.

The video was widely shared on China’s Twitter-like Weibo, with the hashtag “Tesla self-ignites” becoming one of the most-read topics on the platform, being viewed over five million times.

It showed a parked Tesla S starting to emit smoke from its bonnet before exploding and bursting into flames, damaging surrounding cars. A time stamp on the video showed that it occurred on Sunday evening.

Reuters was not immediately able to verify the origins of the video, which Weibo users said was taken here.

“After finding out about this incident in Shanghai, we immediately sent a team to the scene. We are currently contacting relevant departments to understand the situation. Based on current information, no one was hurt,” Tesla said on its official Weibo account.

The incident comes as Tesla has been trying to revive its sales in China which have been hit hard by Sino-US trade tensions.

The company currently imports all the cars it sells in China, but it is in the process of building a factory here that will manufacture Model 3 cars in the initial phase and help it minimise the impact of the trade war and tariffs.

In March, Tesla also encountered a hiccup when Shanghai customs temporarily suspended clearance for a batch of Tesla’s Model 3 cars citing a labelling issue.


Hyundai introduces facelifted Elantra at RM110K

                KUALA LUMPUR: Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has launched the facelifted version of the sixth-generation Elantra, which boasts a new exterior design and interior refinements.

It comes in a single Executive variant.

The facelifted C-segment sedan is priced at RM109,888 (on-the-road without insurance) and is backed by a five-year or 300,000km (whichever comes first) warranty and a 24-hour road assist service for both new and existing owners.

Five colour options are available:  Phantom Black, Fiery Red, Teal Blue, Fluid Metal and Polar White.

However, for a limited time (in conjunction with the launch), two limited edition colours of Stargazing Blue and Sparkling metal have been made available.

In terms of size, the newly-launched Elantra still maintains its measurements for its wheelbase and dimensions, except its overall length has been increased by 70mm to make it 4,620mm-long.

Also retained is the Nu 2.0-litre (1,999cc) multi-point injection engine producing the same power output of 152PS at 6,200rpm and 192Nm of torque at 4,000rpm.

With a familiar six-speed automatic transmission, owners get four driving modes of Eco, Normal, Sport and Smart to cater to how they want engine power to be sent to the front wheels.

For comfort and handling, the Elantra uses independent front MacPherson struts and rear torsion beam.

The company says that 53% of the new Elantra uses high-tensile steel and 40-times more applied structural adhesives at higher stress points on the chassis to reinforce welding areas.

This translates to a 25.3% improvement in torsional rigidity, which benefits ride and handling as well as improvement to noise, vibration and harshness levels.

Stopping power comes from the front ventilated discs and rear solid discs that are partially obscured by the 17-inch wheels fitted with 225/45 series tyres - which happens to be the same size and fitment for the spare as well.

The Elantra has been fitted with halogen bulbs for its automatic front projector headlamps, fog lights and rear light clusters while daytime running lights use LEDs.

The external powered side view mirrors with integrated turn-signal have automatic fold and unfold function and the chromed door handles have a welcome light function as well as a keyless entry button only for the driver's door.

The cabin gets manual adjustable seats. The leather-wrapped powered steering wheel comes with audio controls.

Facing the driver is a Supervision instrument cluster with a 3.5-inch TFT mono LCD.

A larger 7.0-inch touchscreen LCD entertainment unit comes with a reverse camera, voice recognition, AUX jack, two USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, Android Auto and Apple Car Play.

Included in the list of fixtures, fittings and conveniences are the push-start button, manual climate controls, rear air vents, tyre pressure monitoring system and the unique Smart Trunk function.

The Smart Trunk function is a hands-free boot operation system that allows its owner (with key fob) to stand near the boot for about three seconds before it pops open.

In terms of safety, the Elantra is equipped with six airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, downhill brake control, brake assist and vehicle stability management.

"The Elantra has always been a strong contender in the C-segment due to its competitive advantage. We believe this modern, sporty and elegant design will appeal to a broader market," said HSDM managing director Low Yuan Lung.


CES 2016: GM says will not use 'over-the-air' upgrades on safety systems

                LAS VEGAS: General Motors Co will not use "over-the-air" upgrades, a way of remotely updating software on its vehicles, for safety-critical vehicle systems such as brakes, the automaker's product development chief said on Wednesday, signalling a different approach from electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc.

Mark Reuss, head of GM's global product development, said the US No. 1 automaker plans to expand the use of over-the-air upgrades as it adopts a new electrical architecture for its vehicles over the next several years. GM makes some over-the-air updates to vehicles now through its OnStar telematics system, Reuss said.

"We don't do as much PR around it," said Reuss, speaking at the Consumer Electronics Show here,  adding that GM's new electrical architecture will be "ever more safe" from a data security standpoint and allow for additional upgrades.

However, asked if GM would use over-the-air upgrades for vehicle systems such as braking or steering, Reuss said: "We would never do that."

Tesla has used over-the-air upgrades to push significant new features to its vehicles, including the software to enable an autopilot system that allows Tesla Model S sedans to steer themselves on the highway.

Tesla said it develops vehicles "with the highest standards of safety in every respect," in a statement on Wednesday. It added that its over-the-air software updates not only add new features but also can quickly correct problems when necessary.


UMW Toyota Motor off to great start in 2023

                SHAH ALAM: UMW Toyota Motor launched the 2023 calendar for the Toyota Tour, the nation’s first premier professional golf tournament, which is a result of a historic naming rights partnership with the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tournament.

This year’s much-awaited season will tee off at Saujana Golf & Country Club on March 8-11, offering RM230,000 in total prize money.

This is followed by eight more closed tournaments in premium courses around the nation, each offering total prize money of RM210,000.

The 2023 Toyota Tour will culminate with the Toyota Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club on November 14-17, which will be a co-sanctioned event with the Asian
Development Tour (ADT), boasting a RM350,000 prize pot.

 Ravindran (second from left) with UMW Toyota Motor chairman Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah (centre) and company chairman Takashi Obata (second from right) at the launch event.

UMW Toyota Motor president Datuk Ravindran K. said the company saw a lot of synergy between Toyota and the world of professional golf, as both shared the same drive for perfection.

“As a mobility company we support initiatives that encourage us to push our limits,” he said, adding that the Toyota Tour intends to elevate professional golf in the country by making it more lucrative and with more premium venues.

This launch is reinforced by a strong start to 2023 with the Toyota brand registering 6,771 sales units in January, while Lexus posted total sales of 15 units for a total sales performance of 6,786 units (Toyota + Lexus).

In celebration of the Lunar New Year, UMWT is handing out great deals to customers looking for 'abundant prosperity.'

Fans of the Vios and Yaris can look forward to exciting deals with monthly instalments from as low as RM598 and RM558 respectively, on top of promotions worth up to a whopping RM5,490.

In addition, UMWT is also offering the Toyota Service Savers from RM22 a month to ensure peak performance throughout the car ownership journey.

Ravindran also said the company was honoured to be able to kick off 2023 with a bang by being awarded the Platinum Award by Putra Brand Awards for the fourth time running.

“Coupled with the title of No.1 Non-National Automotive Brand, recording over 100,000 vehicle sales last year, we are extremely grateful to our customers for their continued support and we are more committed than ever to going the ‘Extra Mile’ to ‘Move Your World’ and bring about an exceptional ownership experience," said Ravindran.

For more information, visit toyota.com.my or call the Toyota freephone line at 1- 800-8-TOYOTA (869682).


Oh no! Another Grab driver attacked by passenger

                KUCHING: In another case that is bound to make all Grab drivers jittery, a Grab driver sustained head injuries after being assaulted and shot at with an airgun by a passenger in Jalan FAC Matang here last night.

Sarawak CID chief SAC Denis Leong Soon Kuai said the man, who was in his 40s, had picked up a foreigner at Kuching Sentral to be sent to the Jantayu Strawberry Farm.

"During the journey, the suspect ordered the driver to stop the car. He then struck the driver with a hammer and shot him with a home-made airgun.

READ MORE: Grab says committed to driver-passenger safety

‘’The injured victim ran into a nearby jungle to save himself. The victim had been taken to the Sarawak General Hospital for treatment,’’ he said in a statement here today.

The attack came after another Grab driver was robbed and killed by passengers in Kota Kinabalu on Monday. Police have arrested two men – a local and a foreigner – who have confessed to the robbery-cum-murder of  Mohd Hanafiee Jaafar.


Hyundai IONIQ 5 introduces ultra-fast charging and vehicle-to-load power capability in US debut

                LOS ANGELES: Hyundai Motor North America has introduced the all-new IONIQ 5, an electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV) with a targeted driving range of 300 miles, design inspired by Hyundai’s ‘45’ EV concept, relevant technology and best-in-class ultra-fast charging from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes.

IONIQ 5 rides on Hyundai’s exclusive Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) that allows for more interior space and optimized performance.

IONIQ 5 is part of Hyundai Motor Group’s plan to introduce 23 BEV models and sell 1 million BEV units worldwide by 2025. IONIQ 5 goes on sale this fall with a pre-reservation program for early purchasers that offers special benefits.

“IONIQ 5 introduces the Hyundai brand to a whole new set of buyers,” said José Muñoz, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “Once behind the steering wheel, they are going to be shocked by the range, power, comfort, interior space and advanced technology. Owning one is going to be a new experience and lifestyle that only the IONIQ brand can provide.”

Key features are:

> Supports both 400-V and 800-V charging (the multi-charging system is a world’s first patented technology)
>  Universal Island moveable centre console
>  First Hyundai vehicle to offer over-the-air wireless updates for maps and multimedia software
> Standard 770 litres of cargo space, with up to 1,679 litres  when second-row seats are folded
> Extended 118.1-inch wheelbase - IONIQ 5 has the longest wheelbase in Hyundai’s U.S. product lineup
> Cutting-edge Parametic Pixel LED lighting elements
> Eye-catching V-shaped front bumper incorporates distinctive daytime running lamps (DRLs)
> Flush door handles provide clean surface styling and enhanced aerodynamics
> Front and rear forms merge together at the doors, another example of Hyundai’s ‘Parametric Dynamics’ design
> Strong C-pillar shape, inspired by the ‘45’ EV concept, gives IONIQ 5 a commanding presence
> Large 20-inch areo-optimised wheels echo the Parametric Pixel design theme and rounds off IONIQ 5’s proportions.

Customers can choose from six exterior colors, including five nature-inspired hues exclusive to IONIQ 5. The colour choices are Phantom Black (Pearl), Cyber Gray (Metallic), Atlas White (Solid), Digital Teal (Green Pearl), Lucid Blue (Pearl), Shooting Star (Gray Matte). The interior has three color options Obsidian Black Monotone, Dark Pebble Gray/Dove Gray, Dark Teal/Dove Gray.

IONIQ 5 is available with a range of drive motors to fit the needs of every customer. Customers can mate the 77.4 kWh battery pack to two electric motor layouts, either with a rear motor only or with both front and rear motors.

The top-of-the-line dual motor setup is an all-wheel drive (AWD) option producing a combined power output of 320 horsepower (74 kW front + 165 kW rear) and 446 ft.-lbs. of torque. An IONIQ 5 with this configuration can go from 0 to 60 MPH in less than 5 seconds. The single-motor layout with a rear motor offers 225 horsepower (168 kW) and 258 ft.-lbs. of torque and two-wheel drive (2WD).

When equipped with a single motor (2WD), IONIQ 5’s targeted maximum driving range on a single charge is 300 miles. The targeted range of the dual motor all-wheel drive SE & SEL models is 269. The top-of-the-line Limited AWD model has a targeted range of 244 miles. All configurations have a top speed of 115 MPH and can tow a trailer with a capacity of up to 1,500 pounds.

IONIQ 5’s E-GMP can support both 400-V and 800-V charging infrastructures. The platform offers 800-V charging capability as standard, and can accommodate 400-V charging without the need for additional components or adapters. The multi-charging system is a world’s first patented technology that operates the motor and inverter to boost 400 V to 800 V for stable charging compatibility.

With a 350-kW charger, IONIQ 5 can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes. If the owner only has five minutes to spare, the IONIQ 5 can recoup about 68 miles of range using a 350-kW fast charger. The standard 10.9 kW on-board charger completes a full charge in 6 hours and 43 minutes using Level 2 charging.

Recently, Hyundai Motor America (HMA) collaborated with Electrify America to support owners of the 2021 Kona Electric and IONIQ plug-in sedans with 250 kWh of included DC Fast charging in the all- new Electrify America app.

Electrify America’s network of over 600 stations offers owners the access they need to fully enjoy their EV by providing convenient, ultra-fast charging stations across the country. In order to support our IONIQ 5 customers, HMA will continue to partner with Electrify America by offering unlimited 30-minute charging sessions for two years from the date of purchase on their rapidly growing network of ultra-fast chargers.

Electrify America plans to have about 800 charging stations with more than 3,500 ultra-fast chargers either open or in development by the end of 2021. HMA will provide more details about the charging plan when the IONIQ 5 goes on sale in the fall.

IONIQ 5 also provides an innovative Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function, which allows customers to freely use or charge any electric devices, such as electric bicycles, scooters or camping equipment. It serves as a charger on wheels. This function can even be used to charge a stranded EV.

It is ideal for powering necessities during a power outage, tailgate parties, camping or outdoor projects (1.9 kW peak power using a standard 120-volt outlet). The V2L function is enabled using an available accessory adaptor and goes into the outside charging port. In addition to outside power outlet, there is a second outlet underneath the back row seat for charging laptops, phones and other devices on the Limited trim. This second outlet is similar to what you would find on a commercial airliner.


China's Geely turns to Volvo trucks in latest Swedish venture

                STOCKHOLM: China’s Geely Holding, owner of the Volvo car brand, is buying an 8.2 percent stake in Swedish truckmaker AB Volvo from activist investor Cevian Capital, worth around US$3.3 billion at current market prices.

Geely’s expertise in the Chinese market and skills in developing electric and autonomous vehicles should help the truckmaker to expand, although there were no plans to reunite with Volvo Cars, which was split from AB Volvo in 1999.

AB Volvo owns 45 percent of Dongfeng Commercial Vehicles, one of China’s largest truckmakers, and also has a significant construction equipment business in China.

“Given our experience with Volvo Car Group, we recognise and value the proud Scandinavian history and culture, leading market positions, breakthrough technologies and environmental capabilities of AB Volvo,” Geely Holding chairman Li Shufu said in a statement on Wednesday.

There are “no plans to merge” the two Volvos, a Geely spokesman confirmed when contacted. Both companies are based in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city.

The value of the investment amounted to around 27.2 billion Swedish crowns (US$3.26 billion), a Reuters calculation showed.

Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter said Geely paid 3.25 billion euro for the stake, citing a source with knowledge of the deal. Geely and Cevian declined to disclose the exact value of the transaction.

The deal makes Geely the biggest individual shareholder in AB Volvo and second ranked in terms of voting rights behind Swedish investment firm Industrivarde.

“We will treat the new owners in the same way that we treat our other shareholders,” a spokesman for AB Volvo said.

The transaction was initiated at Geely’s request, said Cevian co-founder Christer Gardell. “This has been a very profitable investment for us, we have made almost 20 billion Swedish crowns on this one,” Gardell added, referring to an involvement that began in 2006.

Cevian will use the proceeds for new investments, and it is currently buying into another company, Gardell added.

Volvo has also begun to reap the benefits from years of restructuring measures, including major cost-cutting programs, selling off non-core businesses, and management changes.

Cevian had called for a break-up of the company, suggesting the smaller Volvo Construction Equipment and engine and technology firm Volvo Penta should be separated from the main truck making business.

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, as the company is formally known, is the parent company of Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. It also owns the company that makes London’s black cabs and has invested in sports carmaker Lotus.

Sales and profitability at Volvo Cars has jumped under Geely. The car business made an operating profit of 10.4 billion Swedish crowns in the first nine months this year, up from 1.6 billion for the whole of 2011, the year after Geely bought Volvo from Ford.

In a sign of its ambitions, the Chinese company last month offered to take a stake of up to 5 percent in Daimler via a discounted share placement but was rebuffed, according to sources with knowledge of the talks.


Kia Stinger on display at Pavilion till July 22

                KUALA LUMPUR: From now until this Sunday (July 22), the Kia Stinger is being displayed at the Revolution by Time Kulture exhibition held at Centre Court, Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur.

Naza Kia Malaysia is the Official Auto Partner of the fifth edition signature Revolution by Time Kulture event.

Organised by Valiram Group's Swiss Watch Gallery, the premium watch showcase themed “Temple of Speed” has visual references to the world of motorsports which inspires many luxurious watchmakers in their pursuit of high precision and accuracy.

With its sleek fastback silhouette and rear-wheel-drive proportions, the newly introduced Kia Stinger is offered here in two rear-wheel driven variants - starting with the entry-level GT-Line that's priced on-the-road without insurance at RM239,888 and is followed by the range-topping V6 GT variant that's similarly riced at RM309,888.

“With its apt tagline ‘The Power to Surprise’, the Kia Stinger ushers in a new era of innovation for the Kia brand while preserving its DNA, and is nothing short of a revolutionary benchmark for the future of Kia vehicles. The Kia Stinger is the brand’s fastest car yet and is a true gran turismo. With its blend of high performance and supreme comfort, it perfectly complements the lifestyle of those who appreciate world-class luxurious watch brands and other finer things in life,” said Datuk Samson Anand George, Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corp Holdings Sdn Bhd.
READ MORE:Kia Stinger ready to rumble from RM240KKia Stinger GT previewed in Malaysia


50 years of Chevrolet Camaro, and special edition is coming

                DETROIT: Chevrolet is building a special 50th Anniversary Edition of its Camaro muscle car and it's going on sale this summer.

Taking either the existing LT or SS model as a starting point, the special edition can also be specified as a coupe or as a convertible; but all versions will benefit from the same range of unique interior and exterior features.

These include a "Nightfall Grey" metallic paint finish plus a special stripe and badging package and of course custom 20-inch wheels.

The interior will get a contrasting leather and suede trim complete with orange accent stitching. The instrument panel is also expected to get some serious attention but Chevrolet won't be revealing all until this summer when the car is officially unveiled.


Works Minister: PLUS to add more RFID lanes at toll plazas following public complaints

                PETALING JAYA: Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said PLUS Expressway Bhd has agreed to add more RFID lanes for the comfort and safety of road users after issues with the system were highlighted on social media.

“We've come to an agreement and PLUS Expressway Berhad has agreed to add RFID lanes for the convenience of users. For a start, 12 lanes will be added by mid-April,” Nanta said in a post on Twitter today (Jan 13).

Details about the additional RFID lanes location and others will be revealed later, he added.

The minister said he called representatives from Touch ‘n Go, Malaysian Highway Authority and PLUS to get detailed information about traffic congestion issues at toll plazas with RFID technology following complaints by users. The discussion was held this morning.

“Based on the many complaints received, most users complained about the lack of RFID lanes at toll plazas which led to severe traffic congestion,” he said.

He added that road users were also concerned about safety as they questioned the positioning of RFID lanes at different toll plazas. According to the minister, this issue has led to accidents.

“In this meeting, I have instructed for action addressing the issues to be implemented as soon as possible while ensuring the safety of all parties,” he said.

On Jan 12, it was reported that Transport Minister Anthony Loke said he will hold a discussion with Nanta about RFID issues despite the matter not being under his jurisdiction. The Works Minister responded to the tweet saying all parties involved will be called for a discussion soon.

Loke was originally tagged in a complaint by former MP Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan who described the RFID system as “frustrating”. His tweet posted on Jan 11 has received more than 860,000 views.

Other users on Twitter chimed in to share their own experiences with RFID where they have also described the system as “confusing” and even suggested that more RFID lanes needed to be introduced.


Ferrari announces June 24 launch of 'revolutionary' car. All bets on a V6 plug-in hybrid

                MARANELLO: Ferrari has released a short video teasing the June 24 launch of what it calls a "revolutionary Prancing Horse".

The wordings suggest the new Ferrari model to be a plug-in hybrid. And possibly with a V6 powerplant.

Spyshots of the McLaren Artura challenger are already out, showing the camouflaged car to have a sleek design similar to the SF90 Stradale. It features narrow headlights and quad taillights with exhaust pipes believed to be centrally located in the rear.

Ferrari has done hybrid cars before with its first being the LaFerrari in 2013. Plug-in hybrids are the current trend with the SF90 Stradale/Spider (already available in Malaysia) producing almost 1,000hp from a turbo V8 mated to three electric motors.

It is only natural to move downline and offer a Baby Ferrari V6 that is relatively cheaper to attract new customers — like women and young people — that Ferrari wants to woo next to diversify its customer base.

The V6 engine was originally announced in September 2018 during the company's Capital Markets Day. FerrariChat forum members seemed to agree the new engine could be a V6. Some observers, however, think the new Ferrari would be based on the 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 Nettuno mill of the Maserati MC20, which makes 621hp. But it isn't confirmed until the real McCoy shows up on June 24.

If indeed the Baby Ferrari is using the MC20 engine — modified to work in a plug-in hybrid format with one electric motor — then we could be looking at output that is in excess of 700hp to 750hp.

The car might even sport an eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission relaying power to the back wheels.

Just last month, Ferrari rolled out the V12-powered 812 Competizione and its drop-top sibling to the world.


Nissan PlayStation GT Academy is back for eighth year

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan PlayStation GT Academy launched on Monday the latest iteration of its virtual to real race competition. This year, six territories are hosting the global initiative, which has seen six million entrants since it first launched in 2008.

Hopeful racers residing in the following countries will be able to enter the competition: Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, North Africa (Algeria, Egypt and Morocco), Philippines and Thailand.

Further regions are set to launch their own GT Academy competitions at a later date in conjunction with Gran Turismo Sport, releasing on the PlayStation 4 from Nov 15.

As part of the longstanding partnership with Nissan, Polyphony Digital are supporting this competition with a unique, early version of Gran Turismo Sport featuring Nissan only cars for the live recruitment phase of GT Academy 2016, meaning that those participating in GT Academy 2016 will be amongst the first to experience this early version of Gran Turismo Sport before its release date.

An amazing prize is once again on offer to the overall winner of the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy 2016. He or she will receive an intensive driver development program that will see them qualify for an International Race License so that they can go on to race in a prestigious 24H International Endurance Race for Nissan (or equivalent prize).

Hopefuls from around the world will be looking to follow in the footsteps of current NISMO Athletes and former GT Academy winners including Jann Marenborough, Lucas Ordóñez, Ricardo Sanchez, Romain Sarazin and Matt Simmons.

"I entered the GT Academy competition to achieve my dream of becoming a professional racing driver," said Simmons, winner of the 2015 International GT Academy. "GT Academy is an opportunity to make your racing dream come true. To make the most of it, you have to believe in yourself and your abilities but most of all, enjoy the experience."


Here's why car companies are telling you to buy before April 1

                PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has urged potential car buyers to do so before April 1 as most car companies planned to reduce their inventories with attractive offers.

Its president, Datuk Aishah Ahmad, said the companies wanted to start selling the cars with Goods and Services Tax (GST) on April 1 and were reducing their stocks in which the Sales and Services Tax (SST) had been paid.

"Even though some car companies would reduce the price come April 1, the current offer is better. After April 1, they would only be able to claim back only 20 per cent of SST paid," Aishah told reporters after the 16th MAA's annual general meeting here.

Aishah said the 20 per cent applied to all parties involved in the supply chain, which meant that if there were unsold stocks after April 1, they would either pass on the 80 per cent of the remaining SST to customers or absorb it.

She said apart from GST, the more pressing issue now was the exchange rate, as most companies were paying the completely-knocked down and completely built-up (CBU) vehicle taxes and other multi-sourcing parts in US dollar, which was appreciating against the ringgit.

"We must bear in mind that car prices go up every year. So not every company will have saving from GST, from the 10 per cent SST to six per cent GST, as the exchange rate is now playing the biggest factor in determining car prices.

"Therefore when they do their computation, they will need to decide whether there is a possibility to reduce, maintain or increase the price," Aishah said.

She said car companies would also be expected to announce their lists of vehicle prices in the first week of April following the GST implementation.

Moving forward, she said, with the implementation of GST, the sales of vehicle were expected to improve, following a slower demand seen for the first three months of this year compared with last year. - Bernama


Scania Malaysia seals first Scania Ecolution truck signing in Asia

                KUALA LUMPUR, 20 June 2019 – Scania Malaysia and Aone Logistics Sdn Bhd signed the first Scania Ecolution truck agreement in Asia during the launch at the Malaysian Commercial Vehicle Expo 2019 (MCVE).

Scania Ecolution is a tailor-made partnership between Scania and customers that helps to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

This is achieved through vehicle optimisation and agreed fuel and CO2 emissions reduction targets. The progress to reach the targets will be regularly monitored, evaluated and discussed with the Scania Ecolution Manager to ensure the desired result.

Scania Ecolution focuses on reducing operating cost translated to improved profitability while fulfilling the growing demand for green initiatives.

The signing ceremony saw Scania Southeast Asia Managing Director, Marie Sjödin Enström sealing the partnership with Aone Logistics Sdn Bhd Managing Director, S. Palani and witnessed by Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Transport and Dag Juhlin-Dannfelt, the Swedish Ambassador to Malaysia.

“At Scania, we believe that sustainability and profitability can go hand-in-hand and Scania Ecolution will facilitate the shift towards a sustainable transport system. This is a holistic approach towards a more responsible and sustainable transportation of people and goods,” said Enström.

Aone Logistics Sdn Bhd acquired 15 Scania G-Series trucks earlier this year to facilitate the expansion of its trucking and haulage requirements. The acquisition was made on hire purchase terms and included a Repair and Maintenance contract as well as Scania Fleet Care. Aone Logistics Sdn Bhd will be able to further optimise their operation with the Scania Ecolution agreement.

This year’s MCVE also saw the signing of South region in particular Johor’s first Scania Ecolution truck agreement with Naidu Trans Logistics Sdn Bhd marking another milestone for Scania Ecolution.


Norway's quest for 'black gold' from used car batteries

                PARIS: Wearing a white lab coat and with a gas mask within reach, Ole Jorgen Gronvold measures the humidity of an intriguing dark powder touted as the planet's next "black gold".

But this "black gold" — a term that usually refers to oil — is actually good for the Earth.

In southeastern Norway lies Europe's biggest plant for recycling used or defective electric car batteries, turning them into a powder, or "black mass", made up of nickel, manganese, cobalt, lithium and graphite.

These so-called critical minerals — essential components in many clean energy technologies — will be reused to make new batteries, key cogs in the transition to a decarbonised economy.

"The higher the quality of the components, the easier it is to use them for recycling," said Gronvold, a laboratory technician at Hydrovolt, a joint venture between Norwegian aluminium giant Norsk Hydro and Swedish electric battery maker Northvolt.

The Hydrovolt plant opened last year in the port city of Fredrikstad.

Within the next few months, the site is expected to be able to process 12,000 tonnes of lithium-ion battery packs per year, the equivalent of 25,000 electric car batteries.

Industry leader Norway, where electricity is almost exclusively generated by renewable energies, is the uncontested world champion of zero-emission electric cars, with the latter accounting for more than 80 percent of new car registrations.

'Mine above ground'

Emptied of electricity, the imposing battery packs — they weigh half a tonne each — are methodically taken apart to recover up to 95 percent of the materials.

The aluminium is recycled by Norsk Hydro, while the "black mass" powder is sold to battery makers.

"This is the black gold that gives us life", said Glenn Ostbye, the acting head of Hydrovolt, leading a tour of the plant clad in a safety helmet and goggles.

The "black gold" is touted as eco-friendly as it comes from the recycling process rather than being mined in faraway countries.

"Battery recycling is, in many ways, an alternative to mines. We have sort of built a mine above ground", Hydrovolt's director of operations Andreas Frydensvang said.

"A battery can be transformed into a new battery to infinity", he said.

The recycling also helps boost Europe's independence when it comes to critical minerals, with the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine highlighting the continent's problematic dependence on imported raw materials.

In Europe, "we have big markets for products but we don't actually have so much of our own resources", Julia Poliscanova, head of electric mobility at the non-governmental organisation Transport & Environment.

"Globally speaking, we're not a mining superpower for copper, cobalt or nickel", she said, adding that recycling waste was an obvious option.

"And you can recycle a lot quicker than you can start up a new mine".

European independence

According to Transport & Environment, a European clean transport campaign group, recycling old batteries could cover between at least eight and 12 percent of Europe's critical mineral needs in 2030, and between 12 and 14 percent in 2035.

The European parliament recently adopted regulations aimed at making batteries more sustainable and more easily recyclable.

But, insisted Poliscanova, Europe also needs to stop exporting its precious "black mass" to third countries, primarily China and South Korea, and develop its own hydrometallurgic processing plants.

This other crucial link in the recycling chain, which makes it possible to extract the metals contained in the powder, is still low-scale in Europe, handled only by a few companies such as Revolt in Sweden and Eramet in France.

Government subsidies are also needed so that the many planned battery plants can see the light of day, creating an ecosystem favourable to recyclers, Poliscanova said.

The Fredrikstad plant is a pilot project and the blueprint is expected to be exported, with Hydrovolt planning a second site "in a year or two".

"The most important thing for us is the degree of adoption of electric cars, so that there is a reservoir of end-of-life batteries," said Frydensvang.

"We're therefore looking at countries like Germany, France and a little in the United States."

READ MORE:  A second life for EV batteries? Depends how long the first is


RM3 cashback for Petron and Watsons customers via Boost

KUALA LUMPUR: Petron and Watsons customers using Boost e-wallet app will be able to receive RM3 cashback.From now to Dec 31, a total of 80,000 cashbacks amounting to RM240,000 via the Boost app is currently available. All cashback awards must be used before Jan 14, 2021.Customers refuelling at Petron and shopping at Watsons are allowed a maximum of up to four cashbacks via the app.
A minimum spend of RM30 on a single receipt at participating Watsons stores is required when using the Boost app to earn a RM3 cashback for fuel products from Petron

Likewise, Petron customers will also receive a RM3 cashback per spend of RM30 on a single receipt with the Boost app.

The cashbacks will go into the respective partner wallet within the customers’ Boost app and can be utilised with a minimum spend of RM30 on the next purchase.
Petron accepts e-wallet payments via all leading domestic Malaysian e-wallets including Boost which can be used to purchase fuel or other everyday items at the mart.“This collaboration with Boost and Watsons is meant to further reward our customers with more exciting offers when they fuel up with Petron. In addition to these, they continue to be awarded two PMiles points for every litre of fuel they purchase through our loyalty program. We invite everyone to enjoy this ‘fuel happy’ experience with Petron,” said Petron Malaysia retail and commercial business head Choong Kum Choy.


2020 Mazda CX-9: RM319K (2WD) and RM336K (AWD)

                SHAH ALAM: Bermaz Motor is taking orders for the 2020 Mazda CX-9 seven-seater SUV, priced at RM319,610.40 (two-wheel drive) and RM336,610.40 (all-wheel drive) on-the-road without insurance.

The 2020 Mazda CX-9 is imported (CBU) from Japan, and receives a few updates that focuses on elevating the premium Mazda ownership experience.

For the exterior, the CX-9 receives updated Mazda badging and fonts design as well as a new gray metallic finish to its 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels.

For the interior, there are black leather seats with a new silver stitching finish.

Standard features include an updated 9-inch Mazda Connect infotainment screen, Autohold function as well as i-Stop function, seatbelt reminders for 2nd and 3rd row passengers and additional two USB charging ports at the third-row.

The powertrain is the turbocharged Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine that produces 228hp at 5,000 rpm and 420Nm of torque at 2,000rpm and is paired with a quick- shifting, six-speed Skyactiv-Drive automatic transmission and available in both 2-wheel drive and all-wheel drive format.

When paired with i-Activ all-wheel drive, the 2020 CX-9 is the first Mazda vehicle offered with the all-new Off-road Traction Assist feature.

Replacing the traction control button, this feature can potentially help the driver on uneven terrain.

When the diagonal wheels lose traction, off-road traction assist will stop reducing the engine torque and increases the brake force on the wheels without traction.

This transfers power to the wheels still on the ground to help allow the vehicle to regain traction.

The CX-9 has G-Vectoring Control Plus as standard which improves steering response to enable the driver and all of its occupants to have a smooth and premium driving experience.

It has Mazda’s flagship i-ACTIVSENSE advanced safety technologies features which includes Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), and Smart City Brake Support, Lane Departure Warning with Lane-Keep Assist.

In addition, Smart City Brake Support is now updated with pedestrian detection support.

Standard features are:

- SKYACTIV-G 2.5-litre Turbo In-Line 4 Cylinder 16 Valve DOHC engine
- all-round disc brakes
- MacPherson Struts front, and Multi-Link rear suspension
- Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS)
- 255/50/R20 tyres
- LED headlights with auto levelling and auto On/Off Function
- LED tail lights
- Rain sensing wipers
- Mazda Advance Keyless Entry
- Power Sunroof with Sliding & Tilt Glass
- Power Tailgate
- Parking Sensors (front and rear)
- Engine Start / Stop Button
- Electronic Parking Brake
- Active Driving Display (Head-Up Display)
- Tilt and Telescopic steering
- Air-Conditioning (Three Zone Climate Control w/ Independent Rear Control)
- Rear Air Conditioning Vents
- Ventilated front powered seats
- MZD Connect Infotainment System With Voice Command
- Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Function
- 9-inch Colour Touch Screen Display
- Bluetooth Hands-Free
- 12 Bose audio speakers
- GPS Navigation System
- 6 USB ports
- 360-degree View Monitor
- Mazda i-Stop Idling Technology
- Mazda G-Vectoring Control Technology Plus (GVC Plus)
- 6 Airbags
- Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
- Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
- Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD)
- Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
- Traction Control System (TCS)
- Emergency Stop Signal (ESS)
- Hill Launch Assist (HLA)
- Auto Hold Function
- Speed Sensing Auto Lock
- Walk Away Lock
- ISOFIX Child Restraint Anchor Points and Top Tethers
- Engine-Immobilizer Anti-Theft System
- Seat Belts With Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
- Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH)
- Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
- Lane Keep Assist System (LAS)
- Driver Attention Alert (DAA)
- Smart City Brake Support (SCBS)


Don't fall for driving licence scam, JPJ warns public

                KUALA LUMPUR: The public should be mindful of an adver-tisement on social media that offers driving licences without having to attend classes or tests, said Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim.

He said the advertisement featured the image of a woman as its profile picture on social media.

“This syndicate makes a profit by deceiving victims and then disappearing after they receive the money.

“The advertisement leads people to believe that they can get a licence without attending driving school. There is nothing of this sort,” he said after a New Year’s Eve integrated operation at the Gombak toll plaza yesterday.

Zailani said JPJ would work with the Communications and Digital Ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to track down the syndicate.

“The syndicate knows that the authorities are monitoring them, so they often change their links every four to six months,” he told Bernama.

Meanwhile, Zailani said 3,481 summonses were issued for various traffic offences during the integrated operation, which was held simultaneously throughout the country from 9pm to midnight yesterday.

A total of 12,234 vehicles were inspected in the operation, which focused on driving licences, road taxes, insurance, and cloned vehicles, he said.

“We also confiscated 69 vehicles, consisting of 56 motorcycles, 12 cars and one other vehicle,” he said, adding that over 200 enforcement officers were involved in the operation, including the police, Immigration Depart-ment, National Anti-Drugs Agency and Department of Environment.


Thailand in talks with CATL, others on potential battery plants, says govt official

                BANGKOK: Thailand is in talks with China's CATL and other battery makers to build production facilities in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy that has ambitions to become a regional EV production hub, a government official said.

These discussions come as Thailand, a regional autos hub, pushes to become a key player in the global electric vehicle (EV) supply chain outside of China by offering tax cuts and subsidies to drive EV adoption and production.

"We are talking to many companies, not only CATL but many companies in the battery industry," said Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of Thailand Board of Investment (BOI).

"This is one of our goals. That we would like to attract battery cell producers to set up their factory in Thailand."

Narit did not give details and it was not clear how advanced the discussions were.

CATL, or Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CATL, the world's dominant battery supplier with a 37% market share, currently has no production facilities in Southeast Asia, its website shows.

The Ningde, Fujian-based company last year announced a strategic collaboration with a subsidiary of Thai energy major PTT Pcl to "explore potential cooperation and development opportunities in battery-related business" in the region.

ARUN PLUS, the PTT subsidiary, is part of a joint venture with Taiwan's Foxconn that is building a facility with a goal of manufacturing EVs in Thailand as early as 2024.

Thailand's EV ambitions

Thailand is the 10th-largest auto manufacturing economy with production dominated by Japanese automakers including Toyota and Isuzu.

By 2030, Thailand aims to convert around 30% of its annual production of 2.5 million vehicles into EVs, according to a government plan.

In the past few years, Thailand has drawn investments from EV companies, mainly Chinese, including Great Wall Motors and BYD Co.

But Thailand wants to attract EV suppliers as well as assembly plants, including local production of batteries and other key components, like chargers, Narit said.

Narit said the government's goal was to direct support and subsidies to land larger battery production facilities.

Thailand is prioritising support for investments that will fund plants with a capacity of more than 8 gigawatt hours (GWh), he added.

A plant of that size would produce enough cells to power more than 106,000 EVs with a 75 kilowatt-hour battery.

CATL currently has 13 battery production hubs, 11 in China, one in Hungary and one in Germany. Its 14-GWh plant near Erfurt, Germany began ramping up production this year.

CATL, which has been expanding rapidly outside China, has contracts with Ford Motor, Honda Motor Co and BMW, among others. Its batteries also power Volkswagen's I.D. series and Tesla cars built in China.


Malaysian auto sector remains buoyant

                KUALA LUMPUR: Underlying demand for the automotive sector continues to remain sound as seen from recent industry statistics.

According to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), April’s total industry volume (TIV) was at 46,583 units, which was down 41% month-on-month and lower by 19% year-on-year.

The industry had anticipated the softer April figures on the lack of sales and service tax (SST) exempt deliveries and the shorter working month.

Despite the soft April industry figures, RHB Research remains positive on the sector.

“We think that the recently launched models should continue to drive customer orders and thus, corporate earnings.

“We think the healthy wait times for the major marques provide earnings visibility, especially for UMW Holdings Bhd and MBM Resources Bhd,” it said.

RHB Research added: “From our recent ground checks at the Malaysia Auto Show 2023 – where we spoke to car dealers from various brands – we learned that despite the lack of SST-exemption, car dealerships have still been receiving a healthy amount of orders, especially for newly launched models.”

It said the waiting periods for the key brands were about two to six months for Perodua, three to six months for Toyota and one to six months for Honda.

“While there is generally no waiting period for most Proton models, the X90’s recent launch could help boost Proton’s numbers as some dealers had started taking the X90 orders even before its launch,” RHB Research said, maintaining its 2023 TIV forecast of 680,000 units.

Meanwhile, Kenanga Research expects for the TIV in the month of May to pick up strongly as production normalises from the Hari Raya holidays break in April.

“The industry’s total booking backlogs have held up at a fairly strong level of 275,000 units compared to bookings of 300,000 units three months ago despite heavy deliveries.

“This indicates sustained strong buying interest, lured by attractive new model launches by players. We foresee a similar pattern throughout the rest of the year,” Kenanga Research said.

The research house has maintained its 2023 TIV projection of 720,000 units that will match the record level achieved in the previous year.

“Our optimism is underpinned by the strong consumer confidence supported by a stable economy and a healthy job market, stable new car prices thanks to the deferment of new excise duty regulations, which could have resulted in prices of locally assembled vehicles increasing by 8% to 20%,” Kenanga Research said.

It also noted potentially cheaper hire-purchase costs that would support the industry with the introduction of reducing balance method in the calculation of interest charges of automotive loans.

Kenanga Research said its industry projection is about 11% higher than the 650,000 units that is forecast by the MAA.


Mazda6 and MX-5 RF updated for 2021

                KUALA LUMPUR: Bermaz has refreshed the Mazda6 sedan and the MX-5 roadster for 2021.

For a start, all variants of the Mazda6 will get Wireless Apple CarPlay.

The entry 2.0L SkyActiv-G Mazda6 will also be equipped with Advanced Keyless Entry, Walkaway door lock feature and and paddle shifters.

The 2.5L SkyActiv-G variant now features 19-inch Black Metallic alloy wheels and Gloss Black outer door mirrors for a sportier and more distinctive look.

The interior now has Burgundy Red leather seats.

In addition, the dashbaord and door trims have Burgundy Red stitching to help bring the colour scheme.

The front-wheel drive Mazda6 is fully imported from Japan and comes with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode and G-Vectoring Control Plus.

The colour line-up are Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray, Snowflake White Pearl, Sonic Silver, Deep Crystal Blue, Jet Black and the newly introduced Polymetal Gray.

Price for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia, inclusive of the 50% sales tax reduction valid until June 30, is RM170,917 for the 2.0L and RM207,642 for the 2.5L.

The model also comes with a 5-Year Manufacturer Warranty + 5-Year Free Maintenance according to manufacturer’s standards inclusive of labour, parts and lubricants.

Both Manufacturer Warranty and Free Maintenance have a coverage period of five years and a mileage limit of 100,000km, whichever comes first.

Meanwhile, the MX-5 RF now gets Wireless Apple CarPlay for both 2.0L automatic and 2.0L manual variants.

All specifications remain unchanged.

Six available colours are Soul Red Crystal, Snowflake White Pearl, Machine Gray, Polymetal Gray, Jet Black and the newly added Deep Crystal Blue.

The MX-5 RF 2.0L manual is priced at RM258,591 and the automatic costs RM260,527.


As Covid-19 hits electric vehicles, some thrive, others die

                NEW YORK: Electric vehicles generally don’t coast; they are designed either to accelerate or brake at any given time. The electric vehicle market is much the same.

The pandemic-ravaged economy is expected to give electric vehicles a boost in China, Europe and countries committed to sparking battery power via financial stimulus and infrastructure spending, according to a forecast released today by BloombergNEF, Bloomberg LP’s primary research service on energy transition.

In the US, however, electric vehicle sales will slow drastically in the coming months as policy support weakens and cash-strapped automakers refocus on their most profitable products, namely gas-burning trucks and SUVs.

"EV adoption is probably going to keep rising and not even dip, which is quite remarkable,” said BNEF head of advanced transport Colin McKerracher, the lead author on the long-term forecast, which assesses the market from now to 2040. "But that adoption rate is about to get very different between different countries.”

In the US, electric vehicles sales will shrink to just 1.7% of the personal auto market in 2021. At the same time, the sector will swell to 8.1% of all sales in China, which accounts for the largest share of global EV sales, and 5% of those in Europe, the BNEF report says.

Petrol-powered vehicles will still comprise more than half of global auto sales for years to come, but the market has already peaked, according to BNEF. Worldwide, we will never buy as many traditional cars and trucks as we did in 2017.

Volvo hopes to get half of its sales from electric vehicles within five years. If anything, the pandemic has turbocharged those aspirations, according to CEO Hakan Samuelsson.

"I think it would be naive to believe after some months, everything will return to normal and our customers will come back into a showroom asking for diesel cars,” Samuelsson said at a digital conference on May 14. "They will ask even more for electric cars, and that is speeding up.”

General Motors, meanwhile, is still figuring out when to unveil two new electric models, the GMC Hummer and Cadillac Lyriq. Its engineers are largely home-bound.

Still, the company’s timeline on battery-powered products is unchanged, according to Ken Morris, GM’s vice president for electric and autonomous vehicles. "We haven’t lost a beat,” Morris said on a conference call May 12.

Although the pandemic hasn’t totalled a number of the most anticipated electric vehicles heading to market, it no doubt has affected decisions as to how many of those machines will be made and where they will be sold.

BNEF’s forecast, as with most outlooks of late, is far from sanguine. It assumes a second wave of Covid-19 casualties and does not expect global auto sales to recover for five years, forecasting a dip in total miles driven to last until 2023. Yet, BNEF expects electric vehicles to weather the downturn better than petrol-powered cars and trucks.

Globally, the forecast calls for 1 in 10 autos sold to be battery-powered by 2025, some 8.5 million machines.

Only 13% of those vehicles, however, will be in the US, the world’s second-largest car market. Federal tax credits of up to US$7,500 on battery-powered units are quickly expiring as individual auto brands top sales thresholds.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is pushing to dial back emissions mandates and is challenging states that are trying to enforce their own such mandates.

Europe and China may further juice electric vehicle sales as they spend to stimulate their coronavirus-crushed economies. Public charging stations, in particular, could get a boost, according to BNEF, particularly as evidence grows that coronavirus casualty rates are closely linked to air quality.

"The places that lean more towards this stuff anyway are going to put in place stimulus that supports it,” McKerracher said. "You can definitely see a scenario where Europe says: ‘This is the chance to really go for it.’”


Only JPJ authorised to sell special number plates, NGOs dropped

                PUTRAJAYA: People who want to buy special number plates will have to get it directly from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) from now on instead of through appointed non-government organisations (NGOs).

The move was aimed at maximising all sources of legitimate government revenue for the new administration.

NGOs will no longer be allowed to sell special number plates with immediate effect, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

“It is true that the minister has powers to allow this, but the practice ends now. From now on, any buying of number plates must go through JPJ, without exceptions. This is Government revenue and we intend to collect all of it,” he told a press conference after chairing a meeting with JPJ here today.

Loke said he had instructed JPJ to work on a system for e-bidding to replace the current manual system.

“At the moment, you need to physically show up to bid for certain numbers at JPJ offices in certain states. We hope to roll out the online system by January 2019, which will allow more vehicle owners to bid for special number plates,” he said.

Loke also issued a series of plans for driving institutes, where he announced that there will be no more “pakej sampai lulus” or “guaranteed to pass” licence packages.

He said institutes can offer additional services – for example, transport to and from the institute – but these must be optional and clearly stated in an itemised bill to licence applicants.

“As for driving tests, we want to stop the practice of ‘kopi o’ licences. We are working towards full automation of the test process.

“Circuit tests will hopefully be fully automated by the end of the year. For on-the-road tests, we want driving institutes to install dashboard cameras in all test cars.

“By doing so, should an applicant feel he was failed because he did not pay the ‘duit kopi’, he can appeal with evidence from the dashboard cameras,” he said.

Loke said the mechanisms for all these ideas would be fine-tuned later through discussions with driving institutes.

On another matter, Loke said JPJ will take in the estimated 800 employees of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

He assured SPAD staff that they will not be dismissed from service following the Prime Minister’s announcement that the commission will be shut down.

“We have 1,000 vacant positions in JPJ which were frozen for new intakes, and we have decided to take in all the SPAD staff to fill these spots. “Any overlapping will be reviewed and decided on later,” he added.


SE Asia needs to do more to open markets, says GM study

                BEIJING: Despite numerous pledges and years of effort to transform Southeast Asia into a single market, the 10-nation region remains resistant to free-flowing trade and fortified against imports, to the cost of some global companies, according to a study for one of the region's biggest investors.

The study, commissioned and paid for by US automaker General Motors, highlights a lack of progress by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to harmonise trade and investment rules, leaving the autos industry with little to show for a decade of trade liberalisation.

In the study, consultancy Oxford Economics found that tariffs in Asean on imported goods such as cars generally have fallen "dramatically", but this is undermined by industrial policies that promote some products, through tax and other incentives, but require them to have high levels of locally made components that put imported goods at a competitive disadvantage.

Policies like Indonesia's "low-cost green cars" (LCGC) and one in Thailand dubbed Eco2 neutralise the positive impact of lower tariffs, says GM.

"South Korea is GM's major manufacturing hub. There is a free trade agreement between Korea and Asean and we would like this to operate as a free trade agreement and as effectively as possible," said Matt Hobbs, vice president in charge of government relations and public policy for GM International.

Under current conditions, GM cannot deploy vehicles made in Korea to be sold competitively in Asean countries, he said.

Single market

Asean formally established an Asean Economic Community (AEC) at its annual summit last month, aiming to create a single market with few barriers to the flow of trade, capital and professional labour in an area of 625 million people.

"In practice, we have virtually eliminated tariff barriers between us," said Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, the summit host. "Now we have to assure freer movements and removal of barriers that hinder growth and investment."

Twelve years in the making, Najib said it will take another 10 years to put into effect all the measures of the AEC, which comes into being on Dec 31. Politically sensitive sectors such as agriculture, auto production and steel will remain protected during that period.

An integrated Asean economy is meant to compete with China, India and Japan - Asean's combined GDP of $2.6 trillion would make it the world's seventh largest economy - but endemic corruption, poor governance and a lack of transparency in some members pose formidable obstacles to full integration.

Drag on growth

For GM, being able to use existing capacity in South Korea, a major export hub for the company, is critical to its bottom line, especially as it restructures its business in southeast Asia. As part of that process, GM has stopped producing GM-branded cars in Indonesia and is scaling down its Thai plant.

Without significant export markets, like southeast Asia, GM Korea will find it tougher to be profitable and may need to make permanent capacity cuts, analysts say. Not so long ago, Korea was producing close to a fifth of GM's global output, but labour costs have risen by nearly half in five years, pushing it into a high-cost bracket along with Japan.

According to the GM-commissioned study, non-tariff measures have gained momentum in Asean since the global financial crisis.

The study counted 190 additional non-tariff measures implemented in 2009-13, with 75 such measures in Indonesia, 39 in Vietnam, 27 in Thailand, and 16 in Malaysia.

These are a drag on the region's economic growth, and cost jobs, the study said, adding that if all these measures were removed, GDP in the bloc's five biggest economies would grow by an extra 0.5 percentage point in 2025, resulting in more than half a million new jobs.

For GM, policies such as LCGC and Eco2 make a car like the Chevrolet Spark less competitive. The specifications for the Korean-built subcompact model are similar to those required to qualify for the Indonesian and Thai programs.

But in Thailand, the Spark carries an 80 percent duty as there is no coverage under the 2007 Asean-South Korea free trade agreement. Also, the Spark would not qualify for the lower tax and other Eco2 benefits because it doesn't meet local content requirements. The cost of manufacturing an imported Spark would be "thousands of dollars" more than an average Eco2-qualified car made in Thailand, a GM spokesman said.

GM's Hobbs reckons Asean could be the world's sixth-largest car market by volume by 2018 - if it operates as a true single market.

"If you add all the (Asean) countries together and they could function as a single, unified region, then that would make (Asean) even more competitive as a production base for the rest of the world," he added.


Ford scion leaving job at automaker as he prepares to join board

Members of the Ford family. They are (from left) Edsel Ford II, Ford English and Ford III.
DETROIT: Henry Ford III, great-great grandson of Ford Motor Co's founder, is leaving his position at the automaker to devote more time to his new role on the company's board of directors.

Ford, 41, told colleagues Tuesday he is stepping down July 1 as a director of investor relations, ending 15 years of employment at the carmaker.

Ford and his cousin Alexandra Ford English, 33, were elected to the board last month, marking the elevation of a fifth generation in the industrial dynasty to the company's highest-ranking decision-making body.

"I want to help Ford to the best of my ability and believe it will be advantageous for me to carve out time to further broaden my perspective outside of the company,"Ford said in a memo to his co-workers.

"New external viewpoints will help me guide and support our great company with improved objectivity and an increased ability to constructively critique our strengths and weaknesses."

The young scion's move is similar to one taken by his uncle, executive chairman Bill Ford, 64, who stepped down as vice president of the company's commercial truck operations in 1995 to become chairman of the board's powerful finance committee.

That move away from an executive position set up Bill Ford to become chairman of the board in 1999.

Also in the running to eventually lead the company is Ford English, daughter of Bill Ford, who remains a director of corporate strategy at the automaker, as well as a director of electric truck maker Rivian automotive Inc., in which Ford has a minority stake.

First board meeting

Ford III and Ford English will attend their first Ford board meeting next month. Their committee assignments have not yet been revealed.

Automotive News reported Ford III's departure earlier.

For all but 20 years of its 118-year history, Ford has been led by a member of the founding family, which remains firmly in control through a special class of stock that gives them 40% voting control.

Some investors have long complained that super-voting stock weighs down the value of publicly traded companies and gives founding families sometimes unwarranted control.

But Ford is on a roll lately, with shares up almost 70% this year and plenty of buzz generated by the debut of its electric F-150 Lightning pickup and the revival of its Bronco sport utility vehicle.

Ford III, also known as Sonny, is the son of Edsel Ford II, 73, who just retired from the board after 33 years.

Ford III joined the company in 2006 to work in labour relations and helped negotiate a contract with the United auto Workers, as Bill Ford did early in his career.

He also worked in purchasing, corporate strategy and marketing in the company's racing operations.

He did not say what outside activities he plans to become involved in, but he joined the board of trustees of the Ford Foundation in 2019, ending a four-decade rift the family had with the philanthropic organisation founded in 1936 by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford.

"Ford is in a position of great strength," Ford III wrote. "I am eager to contribute and provide support from the board."


Volta Trucks starts real-world trials of Volta Zero prototype

                LONDON: Volta Trucks has started real-world testing of the first Volta Zero prototype using production specification components.

The electric vehicle was developed in industry-leading time of eight months from first designs to running vehicle. It will start series production in December 2022.

The start of trials at automotive testing centre Horiba Mira in Nuneaton, UK, follows soon after the reveal of the first prototype chassis of the Volta Zero – the world’s first purpose-built full-electric 16-tonne commercial vehicle designed specifically for inner city logistics.

Affectionately named "Volta Minus One" by development engineers, as the forerunner to the production-specification Volta Zero, the prototype vehicle uses the proposed production specification chassis frame and drivetrain of the finished vehicle and will test all the electro-mechanical and thermal properties of the truck.

This includes the high-voltage battery supplied by Proterra, and the compact rear axle, electric motor and transmission eAxle unit from Meritor.

The unconventional bodywork of the prototype is designed to protect the development driver from the elements when the vehicle is moving at speed. The production vehicle will feature a cargo box design, but the prototype uses a flatbed to allow engineers to add different levels and locations of loads to test its weightcarrying capacity.

The prototype Volta Zero will continue testing at Horiba Mira over the coming months. The forthcoming test and development programme with this and later-specification prototypes also includes periods of cold weather testing north of the Arctic Circle, and hot weather testing in southern Europe.

The programme will ensure that the production-specification Volta Zero vehicles deliver the durability and reliability expected by fleet operators and vehicle owners.

These learnings will be taken into the production of Pilot Fleet vehicles that will be tested and evaluated by key customers who have signed up for both testing and the option to purchase series production trucks. This is designed to develop their understanding of how the Volta Zero will integrate into their operations.


Want to armour your car?

                PETALING JAYA: “Uneasy” would be an understatement to describe the times we live in today.

The recent spate of gun crimes has added one more dimension to shake public confidence along with various ills doing the rounds in Malaysia.

A real estate agent who was owed RM13mil was shot dead in her MPV in early July. And the death of a moneylender in a very public execution-style murder on Wednesday has concerned citizens wondering: “What is this country coming to?”

For those who have reasons to fear being attacked or shot at while driving or being driven on the road, armouring their vehicle is an option to consider.

In Malaysia, armouring passenger vehicles is a low-volume business and only a handful of players are doing this. One of them is IMS Magna Armoring of Kuala Lumpur, whom we reported about in April 2014. At the time, it showed off its handiwork through an armoured BMW X6.

CarSifu is republishing the information on IMS Magna Armoring along with new details today as it ties in with a topical issue that is of public interest. Other companies offering car armouring services in Malaysia include SecuGlass Sdn Bhd and STEC Laminates.

IMS Magna Armoring’s packages are suitable for vehicles with engine capacities of 3.0-litre and above. The vehicle has to have a bigger engine to ensure enough power to haul the standard vehicle plus the additional weight imposed by the armouring.

It costs between RM145,000 and RM200,000 to armour a vehicle. While many would balk at the cost, it has to be weighed against the value of the life or lives being protected, which to the person paying would always mean “priceless”.

IMS Magna Armoring’s armoured vehicle solutions are different from traditional methods which use steel plates. It uses DuPont’s famed Kevlar fibre for the car’s body panels. The bulletproof glass materials are imported from the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Its chief executive officer, Howe Chin, pointed out that traditional solutions can result in significantly higher weight which would require modifications to the car’s suspension and brakes.

He said the local company’s solutions add only 250kg to the vehicle weight. According to him, armouring a vehicle, which typically is an MPV, would take around three weeks.

“No modification to the suspension or electrical system is needed. Also, our bulletproof glass does not cause vision distortion. We offer immaculate finishing while maintaining the vehicle’s original appearance,” he said.

“The solutions can withstand bullets from 9mm handguns and this has been certified by the Weapons Technology Division of the Defence Ministry,” said Chin.

Note: BR1-7  same as B1-7 in Class column.

According to the European standard for armour protection (bullet resistance in windows, doors, shutters and blinds), there are 7 levels of protection with B1 being the lowest and B7 the highest. B2 protection is able to resist penetration from 9mm handguns, the most common calibre used in Malaysia. The United States follows its own security standard.

Chin said IMS Magna Armoring is mulling plans in 2017 to buy vehicles, armour them and put them up for sale rather than depend only on walk-in customers who seek such protection. It is also in talks to secure a contract to armour a fleet of Proton Perdana in the government sector.

For details, call 1300 888 223 or log on to the IMS Magna Armoring site.


Meet the Brabus limo that can lap a Lamborghini

                BOTTROP (Germany): The latest Brabus-refined Mercedes model is the perfect car for people that want to travel extremely quickly, yet in extreme levels of comfort and tranquility.

Taking the new Mercedes-Maybach S 650 as its starting point — a luxury liner of a car that measures nearly 5.5 metres from nose to tail, that tips the scales at 2,360kg, and which is packed with creature comforts including airline-type reclining rear seats and bespoke champagne flutes — Brabus has somehow managed to turn it into a car with a higher top speed than a McLaren 720s, a Ferrari 812 Superfast, or the Ford GT.

This car can go from 0-100kph in 3.7 seconds, tops out at 350kph, generates 900hp and serves up a phenomenal 1,500Nm of torque. These ferocious levels of performance are down to the company essentially rebuilding the car's stock 6-litre twin turbo V12 engine. By adding a billet crankshaft with a longer stroke, ditching the standard pistons for forged pistons designed in-house, and swapping out the standard turbos for two of its own design, Brabus has managed to increase output by nearly 30% over the standard car.

But it's not just the engine; exhausts, manifolds, cooling systems and all other engine peripherals have been equally overhauled to ensure that this car is not a one-hit wonder. It will be able to hit its high notes whenever the driver demands. It even comes backed with a three-year warranty.

But with so much extra grunt under the hood, the car has had to receive several external aerodynamic adjustments to ensure it stays planted to the road rather than taking off like a jet plane — after all, 100% of the car's power goes solely to the rear wheels.

A completely new front bumper design with integrated front spoiler keeps the front axle glued to the ground, while the rear bumper has also been redesigned to incorporate a diffuser and the custom exhaust ports.

What's more, the company can work similar magic in the cabin, converting the car into a mobile office complete with an integrated server and Microsoft Surface Pro tablets, plus extra pull-out tables and storage systems to suit those who want to be productive on the go. Or, the company can alternatively dress the cabin like the interior of a gentleman's club — Brabus likes to boast that it can offer an "endless variety of leathers and Alcantara in any desired color and with practically any desired upholstery layout."

The Mercedes-Maybach S 650 with BRABUS 900 6.3 V12 twin-turbo increased-displacement engine is available as a built-to-order complete car or, as a step-by-step conversion for clients that already have a Mercedes-Maybach S650 in their collection.


Drive the virtual Mercedes-Benz X-Class in Ubisoft's upcoming 'The Crew 2' game

                STUTTGART: French video game publisher Ubisoft has added a Mercedes-Benz X-Class into its upcoming "The Crew 2" game and is currently available in its Beta release for PlayStation 4 (PS4), Xbox One and PC.

The first premium pickup truck is part of the game's virtual Open World adventure, due to be internationally released on June 29 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

The German pickup truck plays the lead in a tailored mission of the "Rally Raid" discipline, which takes place off-road.

Once players have successfully completed this race, they will be rewarded with the exclusive vehicle and is available in "free roaming" mode, which allows the entire map of the racing game to be explored.

The mission is also part of the free Closed Beta Version of the game, which will be available from May 31 to June 4.

During which, a pool of selected players will get their hands the game before its release and Mercedes-Benz Vans is making 5,000 access codes exclusively available for this purpose.

These will be published as of now on social media channels Facebook (@Mercedes-Benz) and Twitter (@Mercedes-Benz) and can be redeemed on a first come, first served basis.

After entering this code at www.thecrewgame.com/beta/mercedes, players can select their desired hardware platform.

A platform-specific code then makes it possible to download the actual Closed Beta Version from PlayStation Network, for Xbox Live or the PC platform Uplay.

To be able to download and play the closed beta version, an Ubisoft account is required.

The game developers have given the virtual off-roader some extreme tuning touches that differ from the equipment options available in the real world.

These include larger tyres, a winch on the front bumper and a loading area cover prepare the pickup for the racing missions in the video game.

Players can also customise their X-Class using the game's configuration options and can, for example, select their desired colour and wheels.

Furthermore numerous other models from Mercedes-Benz can be chosen in the game.

Players are able to select the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé (1955), the C 63 AMG Black Series, the AMG GT or the GLC Coupé.

The first car racing game to be designed as a massively multiplayer online game has so far garnered 14 million players worldwide.


Loyal Caltex customer wins Mercedes-Benz A200 sedan

                KUALA LUMPUR: Loyal Caltex customer Hee Kee Liong won the grand prize of a brand-new Mercedes-Benz A200 sedan in the petroleum retailer's “Tap & Win with Visa Contactless” promotion.

“I was absolutely surprised to hear from Caltex that I had won a new Mercedes-Benz. I have been a Caltex customer for years, and I usually make payments using the Visa contactless feature given the convenience and security it offers," said Hee from Sri Kembangan.

Under the promotion, Caltex customers simply had to make a 10-time minimum spend of RM5 using their Visa contactless card.

The “Tap & Win with Visa Contactless” promotion rewards loyal customers while highlighting the convenient contactless payment feature that is available at all Caltex stations nationwide.

Chevron Malaysia country chairman Jay Gomez said the ‘Tap & Win with Visa Contactless’ campaign highlighted the ease of secured payment using Visa’s contactless system and heightened the overall customer experience at all Caltex stations nationwide.

"At Caltex, we are always on the lookout for new partnerships to deliver even greater conveniences to our customers.

"Just like Hee, other loyal Caltex customers can certainly look towards more amazing prize giveaways moving forward,” said Gomez.

Caltex customers who missed out on the “Tap & Win with Visa Contactless” campaign can continue to look out for more promotions in the pipeline.

Caltex introduced their “Fuel Up to Snack In” promotion where customers can win an RM8 Family Mart voucher by just fuelling up a minimum RM40 with either a JOURNEY Card™ or B Infinite Card at participating Caltex stations.

This offer is currently running from Feb 8 until April 7. In addition to that, Caltex just launched their Shopee RM8 promotion where RM500,000 worth of cashbacks are up for grabs.

All customers have to do is spend a minimum of RM30 on fuel or lubricant products at any Caltex station to redeem the RM8 cashback.

This promotion is currently running from March 1 to April 30 and is limited to two redemptions per customer per month.


BMW plugs in to the trend for greener luxury with hybrid flagship BMW 740e sedan

MUNICH: Keeping its promise to bring hybrid power and greater fuel efficiency to more cars in its range, BMW will be showcasing the 740e iPerformance, a more environmentally responsible take on its high-tech flagship executive sedan, at this year's Geneva Motor Show, taking place March 3-13.

The announcement comes as the company is also preparing to reveal a fire-breathing, supercar-baiting version of the 7-Series - the M760Li xDrive V12 - at the same event.

And while the 6.6-liter, 592bhp executive sedan can go from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds and on to an electronically limited 250kph top speed, it emits 294 g/km in CO2 and returns 12.6 l/100 km  in terms of fuel efficiency in the process.

In stark contrast, the 740e iPerformance is a plug-in hybrid with just 322bhp on tap. It can accelerate from 0-100kph in 5.6 seconds. But it has a similar top speed to its V12 brethren and thanks to a hybrid system that enables the car to cover up to40km just on electric power as well as stepping in to give the four-cylinder 2-litre gas engine a helping hand, the 740e boasts a fuel economy of 2.1l/100km.

And it gets better. The 740e is available with the same X-Drive four wheel drive system for even greater grip, control and fun in the bends. Tick the options box and the system shaves 0.1 seconds off that 0-100km/h time. For those that prefer comfort, there's also a long wheelbase version. However, both these variants will impact very slightly on fuel economy and the standard car's CO2 emissions of 53g/km.

Regardless of variant, the battery pack powering the electric motor can be recharged from a domestic power socket in four hours.

BMW is doing everything in its power to ensure the 740e isn't short of driving fun as well as environmental responsibility. As well as full electric and comfort modes, the car has a proper ‘Sport' setting and the fact that the company is going to start calling its hybrid models ‘iPerformance' is meant to make potential clients think of the capabilities of the i8 (BMW's hybrid super sports car) rather than of making a performance sacrifice for the good of the planet.

The finishing touch is the interior. Although BMW is yet to announce prices for the new model, owners won't have to select many extra equipment options as the 740e will come with a host of features from satellite navigation to its ConnectedDrive infotainment platform as standard.


Toyota launches Granace MPV in Japan

                TOYOTA CITY: Toyota has announced the launch of the Granace, which will go on sale at dealerships nationwide on Dec 16, and comes in two grades: Premium grade, a three-row, six-seater and G grade, a four-row, eight-seater.

The new Granace is characterised by quietness, driving stability and classy interior. An exterior style that exudes presence, a gorgeous cockpit, and a comfortable rear seating design further accentuate the car's individuality.

The new Granace is equipped with a 1GD 2.8-litre clean diesel engine and six-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain provides the smoothness, quietness, and low-speed torque demanded of a luxury vehicle, while realizing fuel efficiency of 10 km per liter according to the WLTC test cycle.

Looks-wise, the new Granace's large radiator grille is embellished with metallic accents and flows seamlessly into the headlamps, which project in vertical and horizontal directions to create a powerful and bold frontal appearance.

The 17-inch tyres are paired with aluminum wheels featuring a sculpted texture and metallic accents for enhanced luxury.

Despite its total length of 5,300mm and total width of 1,970mm, when clad with 17-inch tyres the new Granace boasts a minimum turning radius of just 5.6 meters. The new Granace's spacious cabin measures 3,290mm in length and 1,735mm in width.

The width of the slide-door opening is an ample 1,000mm for ease of entry and exit.

The Smart Entry & Push Start System, which features the Welcome Power Slide Door function, is fitted to all grades as standard.

It comes standard with the latest version of Toyota Safety Sense, featuring improved sensing functions that make use of the pre-collision safety system that detects pedestrians during the day and at night, as well as cyclists during the day.

The new Granace comes in a total of four exterior colors, including the arresting and classy White Pearl Crystal Shine option, and a sophisticated and luxurious Black.


Online vehicle ownership transfers from June 1

                BENTONG: The transfer of vehicle ownership need not be done at Road Transport Department (JPJ) branches anymore and can be done online, says Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

"Starting June 1, owners can now renew their Vehicle Ownership Certificate (VOC) online," the Transport Minister told reporters after launching the Jom JPJ Carnival at Bentong on Saturday.

The move, he said, was to reduce the waiting time and long queues at JPJ counters.

New owners can also get their VOC done at car sales galleries.

"The sellers – be they new car sellers or second-hand car sellers – can transfer ownership by just verifying the owner via biometrics," he said.

Liow said that the Transport Ministry would continue its mission of providing the rakyat with the best services, starting by reducing waiting time at its counters.

The JPJ, he said, is also looking at more convenient ways for drivers to renew their driving licenses.


Porsche Panamera facelift coming in autumn

                STUTTGART: Porsche is preparing a facelift for its Panamera. Coming this autumn, the Gran Turismo will have a retouched design, improvements to the steering and chassis, and new engines.

However, if you want to see the visual changes in the standard version, the executive version or the Sport Turismo, you'll have to look closely. That's because apart from the paintwork and wheels, the only change on the outside is the lights and the side skirts. Inside, the only visible testimony to the facelift is a new steering wheel.

The differences will be more noticeable when driving, promises Porsche's Thomas Friemuth, who heads the Panamera line. The balancing act between sportiness and comfort has been further improved, he says, and there are numerous innovations under the hood.

The top engine is the four-litre V8 petrol unit, which now delivers 630hp instead of the previous 550hp, and it's therefore been promoted from Turbo to Turbo S.

At the same time, the Cayenne GTS engine has increased by 20hp to 480hp. Only the base petrol unit remains unchanged at 330hp.

The plug-in hybrids have also been changed. The 4S E-Hybrid with 560hp is closing the gap between the S E-Hybrid and the Turbo S E-Hybrid.

Porsche has optimised the battery performance and installed a larger battery that, the carmaker says, brings about 30% more range.


Bosch introduces highly durable Advance Wiper blades

                PETALING JAYA: Bosch Automotive Aftermarket Malaysia introduced its new Bosch Advantage wiper ahead of the "Balik Kampung" rush this coming Aidilfitri holiday to help drivers maintain good vision during down-pours when on the road.

The company says that the wiper (costing RM35 per pair) has been specially engineered for Asia and features what's called "tropicalized rubber".

The wiper is touted as being resistant to cracking due to over-exposure from the elements, such as ozone and sunlight, and is able to deliver 'like new' wiping endurance even after 200,000 wipe-cycles.

It comes equipped with an all-steel construction as well as a compatible "Fast-fit" adapter to suit more than 95% of vehicles in Asia and is available on Lazada as well as other major car accessories shops.

The wiper was introduced during the company's launch of its #GetItRight Workshop as part of its ‘One Wrong Part Ruins Everything’ campaign, which advocates safe mobility and the use of reliable parts right down to the choice of quality wiper blades.

The workshop also featured a #StartWithBosch DIY vehicle maintenance session where participants were taught how to check the engine oil level, brake fluid level, battery life cycle and condition of the wiper blades.

As part of the campaign, the company also revealed statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) 2015 report, which found Malaysia’s traffic-related death-to-population ratio stands at 24.0 to 100,000 – more than five-times than neighbouring country, Singapore.

“With the introduction of the new Bosch Advantage Wiper, we encourage Malaysians to #GetItRight and #StartWithBosch by checking the condition of their wiper blades and replace them before “Balik Kampung,” said Bosch Automotive Aftermarket Malaysia country manager Pang Yoon Kong.


Gaps galore as Paris Motor Show returns after four-year absence

                PARIS: It is hardly surprising that Renault boss Luca de Mo chose his home turf in France to brave the current energy crisis with characteristic defiance and optimism.

The French are currently up in arms against high fuel prices and the fear of inflation is weighing on the whole economy as a whole.

But Renault is is not willing to let these gathering clouds rain on its parade so the maker used the biennial Paris Motor Show event, which runs until October 23, to revel in its glorious past and present the shape of things to come.

Paris Mondial is the only European car event worth mentioning this year and because it's taking place right on his front doorstop, Renault boss Luca de Meo brought along six new models.

The new metal is spread over several stands - and naturally the models are all electrics. Petrol-powered cars are in the shade these days anyway.

Renault have already announced a revival of the R5 runabout and wheeled out a be-spoilered, muscular homage to the classic R5 Turbo.

The dashboard of this electric drifter contains 10 digital screens that work like widgets. To start the car, you have to jab a "free play" button on the centre console.

A new edition of the cult utilitarian R4 is also on show and it is set to go on sale within two years as an electric compact SUV.

Those impatient to drive off in a new car can enjoy the world premiere of the new Kangoo as an electric car for the whole family. With a modest range of just under 300km, it will touch down early next year.

Renault subsidiary Dacia seeks to redefine its pedestrian design language with a featherweight all-terrain buggy called Manifesto. It also announced the upcoming first hybrid drive in the Jogger.

The concern's sporting offshoot Alpine, paraded an outlandish concept hypercar named Alpenglow. It points the way to the French firm's next generation of cars as it moves away from petrol power.

Renault's mobility arm Mobilize brought two concepts to the Paris Motor Show. The Duo quadricycle seems like a successor to the narrow Renault Twizzy, while the Solo is a single-seat version.

All these innovations helped Renault boss de Meo to secure maximum attention of regular fair visitors, but also attract a special guest.

President Emmanuel Macron grabbed the opportunity to visit three of the four Renault stands and he spent almost half an hour there browsing the new models.

That's easy to understand because to be honest, there is not so much else to see at the Paris Motor Show. Previously spread over half a dozen halls, it now fills only three - and even in those, there is plenty of space between the stands.

This leaves plenty of space for accessories, vintage cars, seating landscapes and expanses of bare concrete floor.

No wonder - the organisers have clearly received more cancellations than acceptances.

The Stellantis Group weighed in with the public premiere of the quirky 408 crossover at Peugeot. The new c-segment family car squares up against Renault's Arkana and its own Citroen C5 X sister as well as the Skoda Octavia and Ford Focus.

DS showed the upgraded seven-series while Jeep has unveiled its Avenger baby EV for Europe that will initially only be available with front-wheel drive.

But Citroën, of all French companies, was missing. And yet the wacky Oli concept car, as an idea for an affordable electric, would have fitted in perfectly with the current mood. Corporate siblings Fiat and Opel were also conspicuous by their absence.

These are not the only truants. There was not one single brand from Germany, although Mercedes-Benz at least took advantage of the car salon's attention and unwrapped the new EQE SUV on the eve of the fair.

With a range of up to 480km and up to 505 kW/687 hp, it is supposed to go on sale next summer at prices of just under 80,000 euros.

Apart from the Germans, many Asian names are also missing. None of the Japanese and Koreans made it to the banks of the Seine.

That allowed others to seize the opportunity and fill the voids in Paris with new humdrum, mass-produced goods from China.

Electric market leader BYD is celebrating its debut in Europe and trained the spotlight on the Atto3, also known as the Yuan Plus, the Tang and the Han, the three cars that are to be launched in the spring. The Chinese fielded the Seal, which aims at would-be Tesla Model 3 buyers.

Subsidiaries of the Great Wall Group (GWM) showed off the Coffee 01, a plug-in hybrid with an electric range of around 150km while Ora pitched the Funky Cat, a neat electric runabout with curved design elements and frameless doors.

Vietnam's Vinfast is presenting a range of electric debutants with which the new brand intends to compete in the compact and mid-size classes in Europe from spring onwards.

Of course, there are a few way-out models to be seen - including two luxury sedans driven by hydrogen: the Namx and Machina from French start-up Hopium. The latter maker is brimming with confidence.

"We aim to topple Tesla from the top," said the manufacturer. The car is clearly a concept with many details still to be worked out. Whether buyers will get high on Hopium remains to be seen.

Admittedly, the few exhibitors are fighting valiantly against the fading importance of the Salon. Now and again there is even a whiff of old fair magic when De Meo leads President Macron through the hall in a flurry of flashbulbs.