Mercedes-Benz SUVs launched: GLC, GLE and GLE Coupe

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia started today with a bang, launching several SUV models at one go.

The Mercedes line-up now expands to include the GLC, GLE, GLE Coupe and an AMG version of the GLE Coupe. Prices are as followed:

GLC 250 - RM328,888
GLE 250 d - RM486,888
GLE 400 - RM568,888
GLE 400 Coupe - RM630,888
GLE 450 AMG Coupe - RM699,888. All OTR without ins.

“The premium SUV line-up redefines the standard of the luxury SUV segment,” says Mark Raine, vice president, sales and marketing - passenger cars, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.

All the SUVs have a nine-speed 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission, except for the standard GLE 400 4MATIC which has a seven-speed 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission.

GLC 250 4MATIC

The mid-sized GLC 250 4MATIC is priced at RM328,888 and is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol turbo engine, which delivers 211hp at 5,500rpm and 350Nm of torque at 1,200 to 4,000rpm.

The GLC 250 4MATIC has AMG bodystyling and 20-inch AMG alloy wheels, the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive, as well as safety and assistance systems such as LED intelligent light, Pre-Safe and Collision Prevention Assist Plus.

The GLC also has a Keyless-Go convenience package, and Hands Free Access which enables the tailgate to be opened automatically by performing a swiping movement with the foot under the bumper.

Besides a panoramic sliding sunroof, the GLC also features a high-end Burmester surround sound system with 13 speakers.

Its rear bench features a 40/20/40 split and the load capacity behind the rear bench increases by 80 to 110 litres, for a total of up to 580 litres.

In all, the GLC is able to transport up to 1,600 litres.

GLE 250 d 4MATIC and GLE 400 4MATIC

Meanwhile, the full-sized GLE is offered in two variants, namely the 2.2-litre diesel-powered GLE 250 d 4MATIC at RM486,888 and 3.0-litre petrol-powered GLE 400 4MATIC at RM568,888.

The 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine delivers 204hp at 3,800rpm and 500Nm of torque at 1,600rpm to 1,800rpm.

The 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine delivers 333hp at 5,250rpm to 6,000rpm and 480Nm of torque at 1,600rpm to 4,000rpm.

The GLE has a AMG Line exterior, with 21-inch AMG alloy wheels on the GLE 400 4MATIC and 20-inch alloy wheels on the GLE 250 d 4MATIC.

It is billed as having the largest load compartment in the segment, and three golf bags can be easily fitted in the rear.

The GLE also has Dynamic Select control system, and Airmatic air suspension with ADS variable damping for stable driving.

Besides a raft of safety and driving assistance technologis, the GLE has a Parking package with a 360-degree camera and Active Parking Assist.

Rear passengers in the GLE get an entertainment system with DVD player, as well as two 20.3cm displays and Kleer wireless headphones.

Two GLE coupesMeanwhile, the GLE coupe is offered in 400 4MATIC (priced at RM630,888) and 450 AMG 4MATIC (priced from RM699,888) variants.

Both GLE coupe variants share the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine seen in the standard GLE 400 4MATIC.

However, in the 450 AMG 4MATIC coupe, this engine is tuned to be more powerful; delivering 367hp at 5,500rpm to 6,000rpm and 520Nm of torque at 1,800rpm to 4,000rpm.

The GLE coupe offers a sporty AMG exterior design including exhaust system with AMG tailpipe trim elements and 22-inch AMG alloy wheels.

The Dynamic Select transmission mode Sport+ is available in the top-of-the-range GLE coupe.

READ ALSO:
5 things CarSifu likes about the Mercedes-Benz GLE
First drive of the Mercedes-Benz GLE
Are you 'Hungry for Adventure'?

Mercedes-Benz GLE 400 4MATIC

Mercedes-Benz GLC 250 4MATIC

Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 AMG Coupe


Here are 15 movies featuring Audi vehicles to watch during the MCO period

                KUALA LUMPUR: With the movement control order (MCO) lasting until April 14, it gets boring pretty fast staying home for days on end. But it's a necessary restriction on mobility as everyone needs to play their part to stamp out Covid-19, a contagious disease that has spread rapidly around the world.

Playing a role to fill in the hours is Audi, which has compiled a list of movies that features its vehicles.

The first time an Audi actually appeared on the big screen was in the 1982 movie "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" and since then, nearly every vehicle with bearing the four circles have been featured from romantic-comedies to action and thriller films to epic chase scenes.

So without further ado, here are the 15 movies to help keep you and your loved ones occupied and entertained:
1982, Audi 5000 in, "E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial"1998, S8 appears in one of the greatest chase scenes ever filmed, "Ronin"1999, A4 sedan appears in the drama film, "The Insider"2003, TTRoadster in "Legally Blonde 2: Red White & Blonde". Fun fact: Audi developed the Candy Blue exterior paint colour exclusively for the movie that was then available for customers to order in the US.2006, Lois Lane drives an A3Sportback in "Superman Returns"2007, Jason Bourne drives an A5 in "The Bourne Ultimatum"2008, R8, S5 and Q7 all make an appearance in the first "Iron Man" film, launching many epic adventures with the Marvel franchise.2008, A3Sportback and the S8 star in "Taken"2010, A5Sportback in "The American"2013, R8Spyder and the A8 appear in the superhero film, "The Wolverine"2014, A5Cabriolet and S6 in "Transformers: Age of Extinction"2015, R8 Spyder, A3 Sedan, S8, S7 and the Audi Q7 star in "Fifty Shades of Gray". Fun fact: the author had already written all of these Audi models into the book series, which then translated directly to the silver screen.2017, A8 was seen for the first time on-screen with the debut of "Spider-Man: Homecoming"2019, Audi e-tronSportbackconcept and Audi e-tron GT concept appear in "Avengers: Endgame"2019, Audi e-tron SUV appears in addition to the A7 and the AudiQ8 in "Spider-Man: Far From Home"
Enjoy and stay safe, but more importantly stay indoors everyone!

 SPIDER-MAN™: HOMECOMING


Volvo XC40 Recharge T5: Change up

                The XC40 Recharge T5 has important symbolism for Volvo. It marks the company's transition to an all-electric future it has embraced.

Volvo uses the Recharge moniker to refer to both plug-ins (PHEVs) and the full blown electric vehicles.

The all-electric XC40 is sold in Europe and select markets, this being Volvo's first fully-electric SUV with a 400km range.

Just last week, it declared its entire car line-up would be fully electric by 2030. It expects half of its global sales to be fully-electric cars by 2025 and the other half hybrid models.

“I am totally convinced there will no customers who really want to stay with a petrol engine,” Volvo chief executive Håkan Samuelsson had said. “We are convinced that an electric car is more attractive for customers.”

It's not just the Swedish car maker going all in on zero-emission models; others are doing the same as they face stricter CO2 emissions targets in Europe and China, as well as looming bans in some countries on fossil fuel vehicles.

On the local front, Volvo Car Malaysia is playing its part in executing the grand vision from Gothenburg.

The XC40 is one of Volvo's top selling models in the world. In fact, Volvo's bestsellers last month were all SUVs led by the XC40 followed by the XC60 and XC90.

So what are we to make of the XC40 Recharge T5 PHEV that rolled out of Volvo's Shah Alam plant? Yes, it's locally assembled, rounding off a local line-up with a CKD PHEV in each of the five models on sale here.

The design has become all too familiar from the 2018 days when we first drove the regular XC40 T5 in sporty R Design trim. The tall blocky stance of the SUV make it still look fashionable and attractive, exuding a tangible presence despite a compact footprint.

While the 5-seater PHEV is largely the same as the petrol variant, it features important differences. Like having a Li-ion battery in the floor, an electric motor, a smaller 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder engine, a charging flap in front, a Pure electric drive mode and a digital meter cluster that now shows battery charge and the dynamic interplay between engine and battery in Hybrid drive.

To highlight that this is a PHEV, the dual exhaust pipes are hidden away and the Recharge labels are inscribed in the C-pillar and tailgate.

Our opinion of the previous car carries over to the new one to a large extent.

The Recharge T5's packaging is smart and attractive. The cabin is roomy and seats in leather/nubuck textile combo are comfortable. We like the dash for its clean and functional look anchored by the 9-inch centre infotainment touchscreen. Everything is within easy reach.

The SUV is also notable for having in-cabin nooks and crannies. Front door pockets are large enought to slip a laptop in though we don't know of anyone who does that.

There are also plastic hooks - some call them "tapau" hooks - to hang small stuff in second row. The glove box even has a hook that you can rotate out for the same purpose.

Overall, a premium space to be in. And very safe as well with a long list of advanced safety features that would make your head spin.

Part of the lithium-ion battery pack runs inside the centre tunnel so boot space is not reduced. The T5 and T5 Recharge have the same generous boot volume of 460l that can be enlarged with rear seats down.

Hybrid is the default drive mode but there's also Pure, Off-road, Power and Individual for a varied driving experience.

In Pure mode, the fully charged 10.7kWh battery is good for 35km of brisk electric driving as opposed to the claimed 44km range. It's ideal for city driving or when stuck in traffic.

You can choose to hold the charge for later use while running on engine power.

It takes under six hours to fully charge up the battery at home via the supplied Type 2 cable with a 3-pin plug; using a fast charger will half the time. One niggle is that the SUV does't lock the charging flap or warn you if you have left it open.

We made it a point to charge the battery fully every day although the engine can also charge it on the move at the expense of higher fuel consumption. On returning the car after 5 days of use and 450km later, the fuel tank still had about 40% of petrol left. Fuel consumption came to 5 l/100km, which is great for a PHEV with plenty of punchy performance.

The Recharge T5 powertrain has a combined output of 262hp and 425Nm of torque, with 82hp and 160Nm of torque derived from the electric motor to give an instant boost.

Both work seamlessly and a soft whine from the motor is audible when it's in action. The petrol engine and the electric motor, mounted on the 7-speed dual clutch gearbox, drive the front wheels.

Together, they enable the Recharge T5 to hit 100kph in 7.3 seconds and go on to a top speed capped at 180kph in a Volvo move towards zero serious injuries and fatalities on the road.

At 1,875kg, the PHEV is 171kg heavier, and is 0.9s slower than the T5 as a result of the weighty battery. Suspension is much firmer to compensate for the weight and your butt will feel it in the way the SUV rides.

Body lean into corners is well managed.

The combined powertrain feels powerful and the gearbox is smooth and shifts quickly, affording a reasonable dose of fun on the road with some measure of steering feel.

Unlike the T5, the PHEV has no paddle shifters but manual shifting is still possible when gearshifter is in B mode. It's a little strange rowing the gears sideways but you get used to it. In B mode, the SUV brakes using the electric motor when the go pedal is released while also charging the hybrid battery.

All said and done, the T5 Recharge is a highly desirable SUV that comes with a high level of standard equipment. It takes over as the head of the class in the XC40 lineup. At RM242,000 for now, it's priced to draw attention, assuming the price point occupied by the T5, while making the older XC40 RM10,000 cheaper.

SPECIFICATIONSVolvo XC40 Recharge T5 R-Design Engine: 1,477c, turbocharged, direct injection, Drive-E 3-cylinder petrol
Maximum power: 180hp at 5,800 rpm
Maximum torque: 265Nm from 1,500-3,000rpm
Electric motor: 10.7 kWh
Combined power: 262hp at 5,800 rpm
Combined torque: 425Nm from 1,500-3,000rpm
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Transmission: 7-speed dual clutch (wet)
Features: 7 airbags, R-Design trim, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, sport pedals, Pilot Assist, Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Electronic Stability Control, Voice Control, adaptive cruise control, navigation, keyless entry & drive, Clean Zone system, rain sensor with tunnel detection, front and rear Park Assist, LED headlights with active high beam & cornering lights, front LED fog lights with cornering function, powered tailgate with hands-free function, Apple Carplay & Android Auto, wireless phone charging, 19-inch alloy wheels on Pirelli P Zero tyres, City Safety, Emergency Brake Assist, Front & Rear Collision Warning & Mitigation Support, Cross Traffic Alert with Autobrake, Lane Keeping Aid, Blind Spot Information System with Steer Assist, Run-Off Road Protection, Power Child Safety Lock, ISOFIX Attachment Point, and other Intellisafe safety features
Acceleration (0-100kph): 7.3s
Top speed: 180kph
Fuel consumption (combined): 5l/100km (official 2.2)
Kerb weight: 1,875kg
Boot capacity: 460l
Price: (OTR with SST exemption): RM241,997


Small turning circle: How big a role does it really play?

                BERLIN: Just how agile a car is can be determined by looking at its turning circle — the smallest circular turn the vehicle can make.

The less space a car needs for a U-turn, the more straightforward the car's handling will be. This makes things easier when parking in difficult conditions, manoeuvring in a garage or slipping through narrow exits.

As such, the advantages of a small turning circle are especially obvious in city traffic, says a major German safety inspection agency.

A small turning circle implies a large steering range made possible by the axles and wheels.

For technical reasons, larger vehicles with a longer wheelbase, such as a mid-size saloon, tend to have a larger turning circle than small cars.

The construction of the drive unit also plays an important role. A large five-cylinder transverse engine will give the front wheels and the steering much less turning room than a four-cylinder engine.

Front-wheel-drive vehicles usually have a slightly larger turning circle than rear-wheel drive cars, since the latter usually have more space for the front wheels to turn freely.


German road traffic agency says 59,000 Tesla vehicles have software glitch

                FRANKFURT: Germany's road traffic agency said it was recalling Tesla models Y and 3 because of a fault in the automatic emergency call system that affects 59,000 vehicles globally.

The KBA watchdog said on its website dated June 29 that a software flaw was causing a breakdown of the eCall, which is designed to automatically contact emergency responders in the event of a serious accident.

German regional broadcaster Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, which serves the region that is home to Tesla's German model Y and battery production site near Berlin, first reported the recall on Saturday.

KBA said 59,129 vehicles were affected globally but did not specify how many of those were registered in Germany.

The software glitch is an added headache for chief executive officer Elon Musk after Tesla on Saturday said it delivered 17.9% fewer electric vehicles in the second quarter from the previous quarter, as China's Covid 19-related shutdown disrupted its production and supply chain.

Musk said last month that Tesla's new factories in Texas and Berlin are "losing billions of dollars" as they struggle to increase production because of a shortage of batteries and Chinese port issues.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration early in June upgraded its probe into 830,000 Tesla vehicles with the advanced driver assistance system Autopilot, a required step before it could seek a recall. read more

Tesla was not immediately available to comment.


GM International design teams support concepts in Detroit

                BANGKOK, THAILAND: Design teams in General Motors International (GMI) contributed to two important GM concept vehicles at the 2015 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, USA.

The Chevrolet Bolt EV is an affordable long-range all-electric vehicle while the Buick Avenir represents a vision for a modern flagship sedan.

The Chevrolet Bolt EV represents a true collaboration between GM’s global design studios in Korea and Australia.

The vision originated in GM Korea’s advanced studio before GM Australia Design developed the concept and was responsible for the construction of the functional show car.

Meanwhile, the Avenir was named Best Designed Concept Vehicle of NAIAS by the EyesOn Design Awards committee.

Judges said Avenir was “something special that you could tell designers really liked doing…it represents presence, elegance, sportiness all rolled into one.”

 The Buick Avenir.

Designed in collaboration with GM North America and built at GM Australia’s advanced design studio, Avenir – French for “future” – leverages Buick’s unique styling legacy to explore a vision for a modern flagship sedan.

Both concepts were designed and constructed at advanced design studios located in GMI, which includes nearly 100 markets in Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

“These concepts represent a fantastic collaboration among GM’s global designers and fabricators, who worked between studios in South Korea, Australia and the United States to develop the striking design statements,” said GMI Vice President of Design Michael Simcoe.

General Motors Design is the first and largest automotive OEM design organization, with a network of 10 design centers in seven countries worldwide.

More than 2,500 men and women are responsible for the design development of GM concept and production vehicles globally. GM design centers are located in the United States, Germany, Brazil, China, Australia, South Korea and India.

In Thailand, Chevrolet builds and sells several models including Captiva, Trailblazer, Colorado, Cruze and Sonic.


Rolls-Royce introduces its first electric car — the Spectre Coupe

                LONDON: Rolls-Royce has completed the first step towards fulfilling its promise to sell only electric vehicles by 2030. It unveiled today the all-electric Spectre at company headquarters in Goodwood, England.

“This is not a kind of one-hit wonder and then we go back to the 12-cylinder, that’s not the idea,” says Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd.

“The idea is we go electric by the end of 2030, step by step by step by step. For this reason, (Spectre) is very expensive to develop. It’s a big investment.”

Müller-Ötvös declined to specify how much money the company has poured into the all-new production iteration of the EV it began testing as far back as 2011, though he says the Spectre would provide as healthy a profit margin as those amply generated by Rolls-Royce’s Phantom and Ghost sedans.

“It would not be acceptable to have different contribution margins due to the fact that we go electric,” he says. “We want to stay in that league of profitability we are in, and we are nicely profitable. That’s the way forward.”

The announcement gives Rolls-Royce a strong first statement among the ultra-luxury set. In January, Bentley announced it would spend US$3.4 billion to produce five all-electric vehicles beginning in 2025 and switch to an entirely electric portfolio by 2030.

With the Spectre, Rolls-Royce beats its archrival in bringing the first all-electric ultra-luxury model to market.

Magic carpet ride, electrified

Similar in look and size to the two-door Rolls-Royce Wraith but larger, and built on the same all-aluminum architecture that underpins the flagship Phantom sedan and midsize Ghost sedan, the 4-seat Spectre produces 577hp and 900Nm of torque.

It has a zero-to-100kph sprint time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 250kph, roughly equal to that of the Ghost but far slower than the roughly three seconds claimed by the faster — and far less luxurious — variants of the Porsche Taycan or Tesla Model S.

Total driving range under electric power is 520km (WLTP cycle); Spectre will be ale to charge from 10-80% full in 34 minutes. Müller-Ötvös noted that the vast majority of Rolls-Royce owners will never use a public charging station.

“Most of our clients have an electric car in the garage,” he says. “On average, they have seven cars, and many have charging at home. They have charging in their offices.”

The two-door coupe uses a highly sensitive “planar” suspension system that can decouple the car’s anti-roll bars to allow each wheel to act independently, preventing the rocking motion that occurs when one side of a vehicle hits an undulation in the road.

This also reduces high-frequency sounds caused by poor road-surface quality and helps preserve the marque’s reputation for producing the quietest, smoothest vehicles on the market.

All told, more than 700kg worth of sound-deadening equipment helps push the car’s total weight to 2,975kg.

Set on 23-inch wheels and with a fastback body style, the Spectre is longer and heavier than the Wraith and harkens back to the Phantom coupe that Rolls-Royce produced from 2008 to 2016. (It doesn’t have a trunk in the front, as do many lesser EVs such as those from Lucid and Tesla. The space under the hood is occupied by battery-electric systems and fluid containers for the windshield wipers.)

It has the widest grille ever bestowed on a Rolls-Royce, illuminated with 22 LEDs lighting up the sandblasted rear side of each of its vanes.

A redesigned Spirit of Ecstasy figurehead on the hood comes crouched, yoga-like, lower than its predecessor, with her head tilted higher and wings flattened into a more active pose.

The cabin comes with doors newly illuminated by 5,876 tiny light points made to resemble the starry sky—a continuation of the signature effect Rolls-Royce has long produced on its vehicles’ ceilings.

All-new front seats are inspired by British tailoring; they offer lapel sections that can be rendered in contrasting or matching colors to the main base.

In the debut model, a chartreuse-and-black two-tone paint job follows the top hood of the car over the roofline to the rear trunk, completing the new coupe’s bolder look.

The dual-colour effect is optional among more than 44,000 available colour combinations—but recommended by Rolls-Royce brass, since it accentuates the seamless curves that run the length of the vehicle.

“In my view, every Rolls-Royce should be two-tone,” says design director Anders Warming, noting that Rolls-Royce chose to premiere its first EV in a coupe body style—as opposed to a sedan or SUV—as an emotion-based pick “just to charge us up.”

Long awaited

The Spectre takes its name from the deep recesses of Rolls-Royce history.

In 1910 the brand built a demonstration car called the Silver Spectre. By 1936 it had made nine experimental cars code-named Spectre before the model entered production under the official name of Phantom III.

This is the first time the moniker has been given to a series production Rolls-Royce.

It’s been a long time coming.

Rolls-Royce had for years approached the electric-vehicle proposition with some trepidation, even though co-founder Charles Rolls predicted in 1900 that the new motorised carriages of the day would eventually run under electric power, according to company records.

Despite some early testing of electric prototypes in 2011 and 2016, Müller-Ötvös said as recently as 2019 that he wanted to keep the powerful V-12 combustion engine responsible for Rolls-Royce’s world-famous quiet, smooth coaches for “as long as possible.”

But parent group BMW AG has left no doubt where all of its brands must go. Last year the company introduced its first-ever all-electric iX SUV and all-electric i4 sedan.

The manufacturer has reported that its battery cell orders have exceeded US$24 billion to keep pace with surging demand for electric cars.

During the first half of 2021, EVs contributed 11% of deliveries across BMW Group.

In a roundtable discussion on Oct. 17, BMW AG chairman Oliver Zipse said he anticipated that by 2030, 50% of all vehicles sold across the group would be electric.

Pricing for the Spectre will range between the US$350,000 of the Cullinan SUV and US$460,000 of the Phantom sedan, according to a spokesman.

Müller-Ötvös says production volumes will fall behind those of the Cullinan and Ghost but exceed the Phantom’s.

More than 300 clients have already been specially invited to see the car, with overwhelmingly positive results, he says.

“The order intake so far is very, very delightful — and very encouraging,” Müller-Ötvös says.

Deliveries begin in the fourth quarter of 2023.


California approves largest ever utility programme to expand EV charging

A charging station for electric vehicles is pictured in Pasadena, California. — Reuters
SAN FRANCISCO: California has approved a US$437 million effort to build thousands of electric vehicle chargers, its utility regulator said, calling it the nation’s largest ever utility programme to expand charging infrastructure.

The money will go to utility Southern California Edison to fund the installation of nearly 40,000 chargers, the California Public Utilities Commission said in a statement.

The programme will help the state achieve its goal of putting 5 million zero-emissions vehicles on the road by 2030, the commission said.

Half of the investment must take place in low-income communities, and 30% will be dedicated to multi-family residences, where it is more difficult to charge an EV.

Southern California Edison is a unit of Edison International.


Investors go back to basics with simpler self-driving vehicles

An autonomous ‘Auto-Pod’ vehicle is seen inside the Aurrigo factory in Coventry, Britain. — Reuters

COVENTRY (Britain): Developing fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) that can go everywhere has proven harder and more expensive than expected, but investors are continuing to fund startups that target simpler self-driving vehicle solutions far removed from pedestrians and other vehicles operated by unpredictable humans.

British AV software company Oxbotica, Sweden's Einride, America's Outrider and British supplier Aurrigo International Plc are among number of companies drawing investor interest with more focused approaches, aimed at smaller, simpler customer segments - from mining vehicles to tractors or forklifts.

After watching robotaxi firms spend billions on technology that could still be many years away, investors are looking for startups that burn less cash and are preferably already generating revenue, said Kasper Sage, managing partner at BMW's venture capital fund BMW iVentures, which led autonomous forklift company Fox Robotics' US$20 million funding round in October.

"Full autonomy in every kind of environment is still years, if not decades out," Sage said. "You need to have a business case that works and you need to make the problem smaller."

Earlier promises made by robotaxi companies of operating fleets of vehicles by the early 2020s have fallen well short.

When Ford Motor Co and Volkswagen AG pulled the plug on self-driving unit Argo AI in November, Ford CEO Jim Farley said a profitable robotaxi business was still many years away.

Ford rival General Motors Co burned through nearly US$2 billion last year at its robotaxi unit Cruise and said it anticipates spending even more in 2023.

The problem is that making robot cars that can drive more safely than people is immensely tough. This is because AV systems still lack humans' ability to predict and assess risk quickly, especially when encountering unexpected incidents.

When it became clear that the era of robotaxis was still distant, investors in 2021 shifted instead to self-driving truck companies that promised a faster route to market by hauling freight autonomously - arguing it would be easier to develop AVs to operate on highways at high speed without pedestrians.

But those startups have also struggled to deliver because a robot driving fast still cannot match the human brain.

AV truck technology firm Aurora, for instance, has a market value of US$2 billion, a fraction of the US$12.5 billion when it went public in 2021 via a special-purpose acquisition company.

Keeping it simple

Faced with the long-term conundrum that people and robots do not mix well, investors have gone back to basics, targeting less-complex, less cash-intensive forms of autonomy with a clearer path to payback, operating at lower speeds with little to no traffic.

BMW iVentures has also invested in AV truck technology firm Kodiak Robotics, which managing partner Sage said has adopted a simpler approach to areas like mapping.

In October, Kodiak won a US$50 million contract to develop AVs for the US Army.

"It helps that we're not spending a ton of money, like some folks have," said Kodiak CEO Don Burnette.

Overall venture investment in AV companies in the fourth quarter plunged 47% to $1.4 billion from a year earlier, according to PitchBook senior analyst Jonathan Geurkink.

But US$500 million of that went to AV electric truck firm Einride, which is working towards running self-driving trucks on public roads but has focused first on less-crowded private roads at logistics and manufacturing hubs of customers like GE Appliances, a unit of Chinese home appliance maker Haier.

"The shift in investment ... toward off-road/more structured environments is a very real one given the lack of progress in passenger AVs (and) the high capital requirements involved," said Asad Hussain, research partner at private equity firm Mobility Impact Partners.

'Somewhere, not everywhere'

Last month, British AV software startup Oxbotica announced US$140 million in funding to roll out more products, starting with AVs operating in mines and remote areas.

"We're really focused on 'somewhere' autonomy rather than 'everywhere' autonomy because that's where the value is today," Oxbotica CEO Gavin Jackson said.

Jamie Vollbracht, founding partner of Kiko Ventures, IP Group Plc's US$450 million clean-tech investment platform, said mining companies can lose millions of dollars per hour in remote areas if they cannot get a human driver into a truck, placing them among a growing number of viable markets for AVs. Kiko was Oxbotica's first institutional investor.

"There has been a major underestimation of the scale of those early (AV) applications," Vollbracht said.

US startup Outrider in January announced US$73 million in funding to scale up its self-driving trucks that currently operate at low speeds in customers' distribution yards.

Construction and agricultural equipment - used off-road in low-traffic environments - has been another growth area for AV startups. They are operating alongside traditional heavy equipment makers like Caterpillar Inc, Deere & Co and CNH Industrial NV, which have also invested in AV technology.

Like Oxbotica, Apex.AI designs AV software for use in a variety of vehicles for "a number of non-automotive and trucking customers (with) a wide range of applications," said CEO Jan Becker.

US agricultural equipment maker AGCO Corp, for instance, is using the Palo Alto, California-based startup's software for an experimental automated electric planter.

Deere has already acquired a number of AV-related businesses as it moves towards autonomy, including self-driving tractor firm Bear Flag Robotics for US$250 million in 2021.

San Francisco-based Trucks Venture Capital had invested in Bear Flag before its sale and managing partner Reilly Brennan said the firm is "actively looking for another autonomous ag (startup)."

Trucks Venture Capital has also invested in Teleo, a maker of semi-autonomous retrofits for heavy construction and mining equipment that announced US$12 million in funding last June.

Teleo's system allows a human operator to control multiple slow-moving AVs remotely and to take over only in situations that the software cannot handle.

CEO Vinay Shet said combining the best of AV software and the human brain allowed Teleo to "build a real product that we can take to market today and not wait for another decade or two."


Mercedes-Benz premiers new GLE 350 de 4MATIC and GLC 300 e 4MATIC plug-in hybrids

                FRANKFURT: The world premiere of the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 de 4MATIC impressed with an all-electric range of up to 106km thanks to its 31.2kWh lithium-ion battery and 100kW/400Nm electric motor which debuted alongside the smaller GLC 300 e 4MATIC.

Under battery power, the new GLE is able to travel up to 160kph while its 1,950cc four-cylinder turbo-diesel remain dormant - ready to assist with its 194hp at 3,800rpm and 400Nm of torque from 1,600 to 2,800rpm.

With both electric motor and combustion engine combined, its system output resides at 320hp and 700Nm to allow for a 0 to 100 kph sprint time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 210kph and an unrestricted towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes.

Trailer Manoeuvring Assist has been incorporated into the equipment list as standard to allow for ease of control for inexperienced drivers.

With a rather impressive drag coefficient of just 0.29 (the lower the better), the new GLE features a special rear-end design with a modified rear axle to 'create' some space for the large battery.

This, in turn, has allowed for the usual 'step' found in luggage compartments of plugin hybrids to now be omitted - yet allow for a boot capacity that can be expanded to 1,915 litres.

To charge this sport utility vehicle (SUV), a combined charging socket for alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) charging has been installed on the left side of the vehicle to mirror the right side with the fuel flap.

At corresponding DC charging stations, the battery can be charged in approximately 20 minutes (10-80% State of Charge) or in approximately 30 minutes (10-100 State of Charge).

Power can be recouped at all four wheels with a maximum recuperation torque of 1,800Nm and in this mode, most driving situations can be controlled merely by accelerator action.

Touted to be supremely quiet and smooth-running, the GLE has a 2,995mm wheelbase that benefits rear-seated passengers with a generous amount of legroom, especially with the optional adjustable second-row seat.

As a hybrid, the GLE features a fully-variable all-wheel drive (torque on demand) system to give it agility before bolstering its safety levels with the inclusion of Active Stop-and-Go Assist.

The GLC 300 e 4MATIC, on the other hand, touts functionality and agility that wrapped up in a modern design that is also spacious to make it a very versatile mid-sized premium SUV.

For external differentiation from its predecessor, it now features more muscular surface contours while a chrome trim extends continuously from the front to the rear while a more pronounced front grille now resides.

As standard, the GLC now sports a redesigned rear LED light cluster as well as front LED headlights which are now smaller and flatter than before to further pronounce the torch-like outline of the daytime running lights.

As an optional extra, the headlights can be upgraded to include the German luxury carmaker's MULTIBEAM LED headlamps.

Much like the larger GLE, the GLC also features a flat luggage compartment that can be expanded from 395 to 1,445 litres.

Changes within the GLC include the intuitive MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system and state-of-the-art driving assistance systems and can tow up to 2,000kg (braked).


Audi A3 sedan and Q2 SUV get Audi Assurance Package

                KUALA LUMPUR: PHS Automotive Malaysia (PHSAM) has announced the addition of Audi Assurance Package (AAP) as standard for the all-new A3 sedan and Q2 models, bought from authorised Audi dealers nationwide.

Effective April 1, 2023, the recommended retail price for the A3 Sedan is adjusted to RM325,990 and RM275,990 for the Q2 S Line, respectively.

AAP offers buyers the option of three years maintenance, which include services carried out during service intervals according to manufacturer guidelines.

Manufacturer warranty, meanwhile, is extended from two years, to five years.

In a statement, PHSAM said regular maintenance, inspection by trained technicians and repairs with genuine parts can help to keep the vehicle running smoothly while also offering convenience for owners.

The new Audi A3 sedan is powered by a 2.0-litre TFSI engine that produces 190PS with 320Nm of torque.

With a more muscular and sculpted design, the A3 sedan's front is dominated by a large Singleframe with honeycomb grille that is flanked by striking headlights.

Inside, its spacious cabin features the Audi virtual cockpit, 10.1-inch MMI navigation plus touch display and Audi connect plus services as standard.

Meanwhile, the Q2 1.4-litre TFSI is a subcompact luxury SUV that Audi says offers impressive driving dynamics, thanks to its variable steering ratio and speed-dependent steering assistance that complements the 150PS and 250Nm of torque produced.


Hyundai and Xevo putting wallets in the dashboard

                SEOUL: Hyundai is partnering with a company called Xevo, and together they're working on a system to allow customers to find and pay for coffee, fuel and parking using their car's infotainment screen.

Although for many Xevo may not be a familiar name, the company is actually the global leader as far as data-driven user experiences for the automotive industry are concerned. Its groundbreaking product is Xevo Market, which is a merchant-to-driver commerce platform that uses the infotainment screen in a vehicle dashboard.

Xevo Market was launched at the end of last year and is already available in millions of vehicles. To begin with, Market will pretty much be restricted to helping Hyundai owners find and pay for coffee, fuel and parking. Eventually though, these services could expand to include the likes of restaurant reservations, ordering takeout food ahead of arriving, roadside pick-up and EV charging, all from the convenience of sitting in a Hyundai.

Manish Mehrotra, the director of digital business planning and connected operations at Hyundai Motor America explains: "These new services work with the Hyundai Blue Link connected-car system to enhance the driving experience. This is why we have selected scenarios that are part of daily drives and longer trips. Offering this level of convenience is part of our ongoing effort to create best-in-class ownership experiences.

"Once our owners experience placing a to-go order using their vehicle's touchscreen and seamlessly routing to the location, we know they're going to love it. Offering easy-to-use payment options as part of navigation will simplify the driving experience and maximize time spent with eyes on the road."

Xevo is also working to help create the Hyundai Wallet payment platform, which is a system that will securely store the customer's credit and debit card or PayPal account information. In the US where the systems will arrive first, these experiences and features will have to comply with the industry's accepted distracted driving guidelines. That means some features may not be available when the car is being driven, and what's on offer could differ considerably when they appear in Europe and elsewhere.

READ MORE:
How convenient! Jaguar and Shell launch world’s first in-car payment system
Turn your car key into a credit card


PCCS to start hire purchase business this month

                KUALA LUMPUR: PCCS Group Bhd, which is starting its hire purchase business this month with a RM5mil loan book, expects the division to start contributing in the current financial year ending March 31, 2022.

Group managing director David Chan Wee Kiang is confident that Southern Auto Capital Sdn Bhd, the group’s hire purchase business would start contributing revenue to the group, now that Melaka has entered phase two of the National Recovery Plan. Once Johor enters phase two, this pace of growth will be quickened. PCCS’ hire purchase business is based in Melaka and Johor.
 Chan.

“There is in fact a pent-up demand in the used car market. We are hoping to give out loans of RM1mil every month starting this month,” Chan said in a statement.

Across Malaysia, there is now a greater inventory of used vehicles online.

Dealers are accelerating digital efforts as they can see that the demand is there.

“Barring any further lockdowns and assuming the economy returns to normal, we are aiming to more than double the hire purchase loan book size in the next financial year,” Chan said.


Stellantis and Foxconn to announce strategic partnership on Tuesday

                MILAN: Automaker Stellantis and iPhone assembler Foxconn said today they would announce a strategic partnership on Tuesday.

Last year, then Fiat Chrysler, now part of Stellantis, said it planned to set up a joint venture with Hon Hai Precision Industry, Foxconn's parent company, to build electric cars and develop Internet-connected vehicles in China.

Fiat Chrysler merged with France's Peugeot maker PSA at the beginning of the year to create Stellantis, the world's fourth-largest carmaker, to relaunch in China as one of its main goals.

The two companies will hold a conference call on Tuesday to present the partnership, with Stellantis Chief Executive Carlos Tavares and Foxconn Chairman Young Liu among others, the groups said in a joint statement.

In January Taiwan's Foxconn and China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group said they were joining hands to provide contract manufacturing for automakers.

They have said they were in talks to provide contract manufacturing services to electric vehicle maker Faraday Future, while Foxconn will also help building electric sport-utility vehicles in 2022 for Chinese startup Byton.


Geely to play dominant role, Proton to handle distribution

The Geely logo displayed at an auto show. — Reuters
PUTRAJAYA: The entry of a major Chinese carmaker into Proton Holdings Bhd will not only ease its financial woes, but also bring fresh capacity to the group’s underused factories.

Zhejiang Geely Automotive Co Ltd plans to turn Malaysia into its global hub to manufacture all of its right-hand drive cars, including its premium Volvo brand.

Geely will take a leadership role in production, sales and marketing. Proton will be responsible for distribution of the brand in Malaysia.

These were among the highlights mentioned at the signing ceremony in Putrajaya between DRB-Hicom, the parent company of Proton, and Geely.

Proton and Geely yesterday signed an agreement that would see Geely take a 49.9% stake in Proton. Both parties have not finalised the price Geely would pay for the stake.

Through the partnership, Geely executive vice-president and chief financial officer Daniel Li said Geely would focus on assisting Proton to sell 500,000 cars in Malaysia and around the region by 2020.

He said Geely would be contributing technology, talent and money to Proton. These include platform-sharing that would see the development of Proton’s first-ever SUV model from Geely’s best selling model – the Boyue.

DRB-Hicom group managing director Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar said in the competitive automotive industry, partnership among carmakers globally was common.

A partnership would also further expand Proton’s reach to other markets and give it better economies of scale.

“This partnership with Geely will create more jobs in Proton,” he told reporters yesterday.

Proton has a workforce of about 10,000 which produces about 100,000 cars a year. In 2016, sales of Proton cars dropped 30% to 72,290 units from 102,174 previously. The company reported a loss of almost RM1bil last year.

Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant, which is designed to produce a million cars every year, will be made a new manufacturing hub for Geely.

Syed Faisal said Proton would relocate its entire production from Shah Alam to Tanjung Malim within five years.

Despite the entry of a new foreign partner, Proton will maintain its national car status. This means its industrial linkages, including vendors and dealers, will not be affected by the change in shareholding.

Under the heads of agreement signed between DRB-Hicom and Geely, the Chinese carmaker will take a 49.9% equity interest in Proton and also a controlling stake in Lotus, the British sportscar maker, from Proton.

No financial details were disclosed in the sale of a stake in Proton, while for Lotus, Geely would be paying £51mil (RM284mil) for a 51% stake in Lotus.

Syed Faisal said DRB-Hicom planned to sign a definitive agreement with Geely in July.

Also present at the signing ceremony was Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who clarified that with the partnership with Geely in place, Proton would need to repay its RM1.25bil soft loan from the Government.

As part of the conditions for the soft loan, Proton was required to collaborate with a well-known strategic partner.

The requirement to collaborate with a well-known strategic partner was imposed on Proton as part of the conditions issued by the Government for its approval of the RM1.25bil soft loan to Proton, in which a bulk of the money was used to pay its vendors.

Separately, Johari said Proton was entitled to a RM1.1bil reimbursement from the Government for its RM3.5bil spent on research and development in the past.

Johari also said there would be no more “subsidy” for Proton from now on, and that the Government would no longer have a golden share in Proton with Geely entering into a partnership with the national carmaker.


Goodbye car, hello mobile living space

                STUTTGART: You can already use Amazon's Alexa home assistant to ask questions about your BMW or Google's smart speaker to check in verbally on your Mercedes' well-being. But, according to Bosch - the world's biggest automotive supplier - that's just the start.

Bosch has taken the wraps off a new connected concept show car that demonstrates how quickly technological innovations are already shaping the future of the automobile and redefining its relationship with owners.

Rather than simply being a smart device connected to the internet of things, the car is poised to become a smart, voice-activated personal assistant in its own right. Thanks to cabin cameras, sensors and a cloud connection, Bosch's car recognises each individual driver as he or she gets into the car, adjusts the seats and settings appropriately and starts offering up help and information tailored to that user's tastes and needs.

"The connectivity of cars with their surroundings and with the internet is a key challenge for future mobility," said Dr Dirk Hoheisel, member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH.

However, as this show car is intended to demonstrate, if the challenges can be overcome, the result will be a moving living space that offers personalization well beyond knowing which songs to cue up or which sports results to display.

For instance, as well as car components, Bosch makes everything from kitchen appliances to industrial tools and this show car connects all of those devices, literally.

Once the car is in full autonomous mode it will let the driver turned passenger remotely operate home appliances -- for example, look inside the connected fridge to see what to add to the grocery list, or remotely turn on the smart oven and then dictate a text message telling the rest of the family what's for dinner and when it will be ready.

"We are making connectivity a personal experience and giving people more time for actual living, even while driving their car," said Hoheisel.


Hubject aims to win payments race for Europe's electric car charge points

                BERLIN: Germany's Hubject plans to roll out its payment and information service for electric vehicle charging stations across most of Europe over the next two years, betting on a pick up in the popularity of battery-powered cars.

Uptake of electric vehicles in Germany and elsewhere in Europe has been slow due to their limited range, the small number of fast charging stations and different payment methods.

At the end of June, there were fewer than 63,000 electric vehicles in Germany out of around 45 million cars on its roads, according to industry association VDA.

But the government aims to raise the number to 1 million by 2020, and earlier this year announced a 1 billion euro (US$1.1 billion) support scheme to boost demand, including 300 million euros for charging stations.

Like rivals such as France's Gireve and e-clearing.net, Hubject is trying to establish its service as the standard payment system for charging stations. The companies also map the stations and supply drivers with information about locations and availability, provided they have a working internet connection.

"We are trying to unravel the chaos of the differing infrastructures," Thomas Daiber, Hubject's co-chief executive, said in an interview, adding about 25,000 charging points in Europe were already included in its database. This is about a third of Europe's total, according to rough estimates from industry experts.

The companies have powerful backers, reflecting the cross-industry effort needed to create infrastructure for electric vehicles. Hubject's include carmakers BMW and Daimler , autos supplier Bosch, engineer Siemens and energy firms Innogy and EnBW.

Gireve, meanwhile, counts automaker Renault, Compagnie Nationale du Rhone, Caisse de Depots, utility EDF and grid operator Enedis among its shareholders.

Founded in 2012, Hubject is currently loss-making and has annual sales of less than 10 million euros. But it has big ambitions, aiming to achieve a market share of at least 90 percent by the end of 2018, Daiber said.

"We're already in a good position in many markets," he added, pointing to Germany and Austria. Hubject also has a market share of more than 90 percent in Japan, bringing the total number of charging stations in its database to 40,000 currently.

E-clearing.net says more than 9,500 points are connected to its platform, while Gireve aims to add 1,600 points in France by the end of the year.

Daiber did not rule out cooperation with competitors if it helped to build up a functioning network across the continent.


US police busts catalytic converter theft ring that extracted metals

A Los Angeles deputy sheriff gets under a vehicle to engrave the catalytic converter with a traceable number. — AFP

LOS ANGELES: US authorities said they arrested 21 individuals in five states for allegedly participating in a national network that stole thousands of catalytic converters from cars and then sold them to processors to extract precious metals from the devices valued at tens of millions of dollars.

Law enforcement officials also executed 32 search warrants and seized millions of dollars in assets including homes, bank accounts, cash and luxury vehicles, the Department of Justice said Wednesday in a news release. The government is seeking forfeiture of more than US$545 million in connection with the case.

"This national network of criminals hurt victims across the country,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in the statement. "They made hundreds of millions of dollars in the process — on the backs of thousands of innocent car owners.”

Metal thieves in search of platinum, rhodium and palladium have been stealing catalytic converters in ever-greater numbers, sending auto-insurance claims soaring across the country, State Farm said earlier this year.

The insurer said it paid US$62.6 million for 32,265 catalytic converter theft claims nationally — a 1,173% increase from 2019.

A catalytic converter is an emissions-control device that’s in the exhaust system under many gas-powered vehicles.

The defendants in the theft ring were charged in two separate indictments in California and Oklahoma federal courts.

California has higher emissions standards than the rest of US, so catalytic converters on vehicles registered in the state contain higher concentrations of precious metals, the US said in a court filing in Sacramento federal court.

"Last year approximately 1,600 catalytic converters were reportedly stolen in California each month, and California accounts for 37% of all catalytic converter theft claims nationwide,” said US Attorney Phillip Talbert for the Eastern District of California.

The thieves know which vehicle makes and models contain the most precious metals in the catalytic converters, the government said in the court filing.

"The design of the Toyota Prius and other hybrid vehicles employ a very high concentration of palladium,” the US said.

"Therefore, they are targeted by thieves for their high value, specifically the 2004-2009 model years.”

The nine people charged in Sacramento were involved in a conspiracy to ship the stolen catalytic converters from California to DG auto facilities in New Jersey, where the precious metal powders were extracted and sold for profit, the US said.

DG auto employees created a pricing application for both Apple and Android platforms that provided real-time pricing information for catalytic converter thieves and their customers, according to the indictment.

A call to DG auto was forwarded to an answering machine, which said the mailbox was full and couldn’t accept any more messages.


Amsterdam to ban polluting cars from 2030

Amsterdam.— Reuters
AMSTERDAM: Gasoline and diesel fuelled cars and motorcycles will be banned from Amsterdam from 2030 in an effort to clean up the city’s air, the Dutch capital’s council said on Thursday.

“Pollution often is a silent killer and is one of the greatest health hazards in Amsterdam,” said the city’s traffic councillor, Sharon Dijksma.

Despite the widespread use of bicycles by many Dutch, air pollution in the Netherlands is worse than European rules permit, mainly due to heavy traffic in the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The health ministry has warned that current levels of nitrogen dioxide and particle matter emissions can lead to respiratory illnesses, with chronic exposure shortening life expectancy by more than a year.

Amsterdam said it aims to replace all gasoline and diesel engines by emission-free alternatives, such as electric and hydrogen cars, by the end of the next decade.

It will start next year by banning diesel cars built before 2005 from the city, and will gradually expand the range of vehicles that are barred.

The city said it will use subsidies and parking permits to stimulate people to switch to cleaner cars.


BHPetrol contest winners get prizes

                PETALING JAYA: Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd (BHPetrol) presented prizes to winners of its Beli & Menang 2 promotion at BHPetrol Kg Sungai Ara service station recently.

The promotion which ran from April 15 to May 31 at participating BHPetrol service stations, saw a total of 46 winners.

Prizes include two units of Fujifilm X-A10 cameras, four units of JBL Pulse 2 speakers, eight units of drones and 32 units of camera recorders.

During the promotion period, customers who purchased any two of the participating brands at BHPetromart were entitled for car stickers and get to enter a contest.

The lucky first prize winners are Nor Faizah Nor Ahmad, from Taman Ibukota, Kuala Lumpur and P. Kasturi from Yong Peng, Johor.

The runner ups got JBL speakers, third prize winners won the drones and 32 consolation prize winners received a camera recorder each.

Among brands which participated in this promotion are Wonda Coffee, Calpis, Tropicana Twister, KitKat Drumstick and La Cremeria ice cream.

BHPetrol retail marketing manager Baba Tan along with representatives from the participating brand partners gave away the prizes.


JPJ refutes rumours on road tax increase

                PETALING JAYA: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has denied rumours of an increase in road tax for motor vehicles of 880cc and above starting January next year.

“The information is fake, and has been spread through social media and WhatsApp applications lately.

“The department views this matter seriously as it can cause misunderstanding among the public,” JPJ said in a statement Monday.

The rumours started earlier in the day and began circulating on social media that road tax would go up by 25%.

JPJ advised the public not to believe information from social media, and to get in touch with the authorities directly instead of spreading unverified information.


Proton Exora crams 55 inside

From left: Malaysia Book of Records business development director Gillian Ooi, Malaysia Book of Records chief operating officer Christopher Wong, Proton corporate office head Muzam Shah Kamal, Deo, and Malaysia Book of Records chief executive officer Datuk Micheal Tio.
SUBANG JAYA: The Malaysia Book of Records has awarded Proton with the ‘Most People In An MPV’ record.

The latest record breaking feat was with a seven-seater Proton Exora multi-purpose vehicle during the 'Ace The Space Challenge', where 55 members of team Girls Power from Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP) managed to squeeze themselves into the MPV.

The record was officially presented to the local carmaker during a ceremony at Sunway Velocity Mall on Sept 28, by the Minister of Communications and Multimedia YB Gobind Singh Deo.

This has reset the bar from the the previous record of 41 people in a Proton vehicle that was set during the preliminary rounds of the competition.

Members of the public were invited to experience the challenge by getting as many people as possible inside the same vehicle.

“With 55 people in the MPV, this shows the quality and strength of the Exora that rises to every occasion,” said Proton Edar chief executive officer Abdul Rashid Musa.

PROTON, as part of the MBR Live! roadshow, gave Malaysians a chance to enter the record books during the event, which was held at Sunway Velocity Mall in Cheras from Sept 28 to 30.

'MBR Live!' was the first roadshow organised by the Malaysia Book of Records, in conjunction with the Merdeka and Malaysia day month and was was launched by YB Gobind Singh Deo.

The newest entry will spur the company towards adding yet more records to its name including an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records.


Tree-mendous: New motor oil made from Christmas trees and chewing gum

                LONDON: While the electric motor seems to be driving the eco-friendly future of the car industry, one company is looking through our bins for a similarly sustainable alternative.

Nexcel - an innovation subsidiary from Castrol - has developed an engine oil made entirely from waste products, including chewing gum and Christmas trees.

“The project showcases the sustainability potential of waste,” says John Ward-Zinski, Nexcel’s sustainability director.

“Few people would think that discarded Christmas trees and old chewing gum could have a commercial or environmental value, but our engine oil shows this is anything but the case.”

READ MORE: Nexcel plug & play oil system targets 10 million vehicles annually by 2030

The recycled items yield properties required for chemical additives that are crucial when creating a re-refined engine oil.

The complete recipe consists of 180 chewing gum pieces, 500ml of used fryer oil, 1g of RTV silicone sealant (for bathrooms), 14 household batteries, 1 litre of used engine oil and one old Christmas tree.

This somewhat extensive list of ingredients may have only produced 1 litre of automotive quality engine oil, but Ward-Zinski is confident this can be just the start of things to come.

“With creative utilisation of modern technology there is huge potential in recycling," says Nexcel's sustainability director, who also believes there are some other, unintentional benefits from the research.

"It could even help prevent the traditional Christmas tree tip-run needle-drop, from which no car interior has ever recovered.”


Honda Malaysia ropes in Petronas stations to help in airbag recalls

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has added selected Petronas stations as locations where customers affected by Takata airbag recalls can have them replaced.

Other venues where this can be done are at mobile hubs in shopping centres and at all 84 Honda authorised service centres.

Honda said customers should make an appointment if they go to Honda service centres or the Petronas stations. Appointments are not necessary at mobile hubs or at the Honda Family Road Trip, an outdoor nationwide event.

Honda customers can check their vehicles recall status through www.honda.com.my or www.productrecall.honda.com.my or by calling the Honda Toll Free number 1-800-88-2020.

MORE: Honda Malaysia Mall Hubs and Petronas Location and Operating Hours (pdf file)


PLUS expects 15% rise in daily traffic from Wednesday

The forecast figure was based on the steady increase in daily traffic volume from May 4 when the government announced the Conditional MCO. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Highway concessionaire PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) expects daily traffic volume to increase up to 15 per cent from tomorrow onwards following the government’s announcement of the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) with the relaxation of interstate travel for work and the opening of selected economic sectors.

PLUS managing director Datuk Azman Ismail said the forecast was based on the steady increase in daily traffic volume from May 4 when the government announced the Conditional MCO (CMCO).

"Notably the RMCO lifting of interstate travel will mean more vehicles plying our highways and we are prepared for the increase, which is expected to be between 10 to 15 per cent vehicles per day, from the first weekend of the RMCO on June 12,13, and 14, ” he said in a statement here today.

Meanwhile, he added, under RMCO, most food stalls (including dining areas) in the rest and service areas (R&R) area will reopen from June 15 and customers could enjoy dining while adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOP).

"All food truck services will resume operations at respective R&Rs and lay-bys from June 15. However, all surau facilities are still closed to the public until further notice, ” he explained.

He said that since the beginning of the MCO, PLUS has been regularly cleaned and sanitised its R&Rs, lay-bys and toll plazas as a regular SOP to eliminate the risk of the COVID-19 virus transmission.

The public washrooms are made available with visible social distancing markers towards the toilet to remind highway customers to be safe and not gather en masse at the R&Rs.


Maintain clear vision with Bosch AeroTwin wipers

                KUALA LUMPUR: Windscreen wipers should be replaced immediately if they exhibit the following conditions:

- Streaking or smearing – wiper blade rubber torn through wear and tear, causing incomplete wiping of water

- Incomplete wiping sections – tension between wiper and windscreen is lost or is not optimal due to long resting periods in high temperatures

- Squeaking or rattling noises – sounds are caused by old or aging rubber (most harden after 1 year)

The Bosch AeroTwin is a high performance windscreen wiper that is particularly suited to withstand Malaysia’s tropical environment.

Its blades are coated with a proprietary Power Protection Plus polymer that makes the blades robust and resistant to temperature fluctuations, thereby increasing its service life.

The coating also reduces friction between the blade and the windscreen for a smooth and quiet wiping performance.

The AeroTwin is also equipped with two Evodium springs that spans the entire length of the wiper blade, creating a uniform pressure throughout the wiper blade against the windscreen.

Furthermore, its aerodynamic spoiler prevents the wiper from lifting off at higher speeds by generating a downforce.

These factors ensure a consistent and reliable wiping performance under any condition.

"With Bosch Aerotwin Retrofit and Plus flat wiper blades, we cover 99 per cent of cars on the road," said Kwang Yong Wei, assistant manager (channel marketing) of Bosch Automotive Aftermarket in Malaysia.

"Aerotwin Retrofit is designed with a u-hook and made in China, for Asian car marques while Plus is for continental cars, and made in Serbia. They are made from synthetic rubber, and can last one to two years."

In 1999, Bosch developed the world’s first ‘flat blade’ or frameless windscreen wiper blade, and the AeroTwin wiper is part of this portfolio.

Unlike other supposed flat blades that may contain multiple joints, a Bosch flat blade is a single segment that has no clamps or joints that avoid having water trapped to cause backsplash.

Installed as original equipment on many leading premium European vehicles, Bosch flat blades are also available as replacements for a wide range of vehicles sold in Asia.

The Bosch AeroTwin wipers only take a few simple steps to install, with detailed instructions on the package as well as online.

The wipers are available in a wide range of sizes, and come with various adaptors to fit over 95 percent of vehicles sold in Asia, be it passenger cars or pickups.

Bosch wipers are available on Lazada and leading car accessories shops.


Johor police tells parang-wielding road bully to surrender

UPDATE:  The police said they have arrested on June 4 the suspect who was caught on video threatening the driver of a car with a parang in a road rage incident here. The 31-year-old man is also a suspect in several robbery cases reported around the Johor Baru South district.

JOHOR BARU: Johor police have called on the suspect involved in a road rage incident in Johor Baru on Monday involving a parang and a blue car to turn himself in.

Johor police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd said the police were still looking for the suspect whose aggressive behaviour was recorded on dashcam and shared online.

In the video, the man is seen coming out of his blue Honda Civic with a parang and using it to hack at the windscreen of another car.

It is learnt that the incident took place near Pasir Gudang at about 5.53pm on Monday.

“I also urge those who witnessed the incident to come forward and assist in investigations on the matter,” he said when met at a market in Larkin Sentral here today.

He added that the police had received a report lodged by the victim of the road rage incident here.


Hyundai Ioniq 5 is World Car of the Year, wins two other titles

                NEW YORK/SEOUL: The highly acclaimed Hyundai Ioniq 5 won big at the prestigious 2022 World Car Awards on Wednesday, with the all-electric crossover named overall World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle of the Year and World Car Design of the Year.

World Car Awards revealed the results at a ceremony held at the New York International Auto Show.

Ioniq 5 was recognised by a jury of 102 automotive journalists from 33 countries around the world.

The innovative battery electric vehicle (BEV), which has already won numerous international accolades, was considered alongside 27 competitor models launched in 2021, ultimately claiming victory over other finalists in all three categories in which it was nominated.

Ioniq 5 is the first model in Hyundai’s dedicated BEV lineup brand: Ioniq. It takes full advantage of a bespoke Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) architecture to offer 800-V, ultra-fast charging capabilities for a 10 to 80 percent charge in just 18 minutes and a highly spacious interior.

The unique packaging needs of an EV mean the axles can be pushed right to the front and back of the car, providing much more space than a traditional vehicle.

When equipped with two-wheel drive (2WD) and up to 77.4-kWh battery, its maximum driving range on a single charge will be around 470~480 km, according to the WLTP standard.

Its features include Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, advanced connectivity and driver assistance systems that offer the ultimate in-car experience.

“We are truly honoured to receive these prestigious awards, which recognise the talent and hard work of all our people and business partners at Hyundai Motor Company. Our vision is to enable Progress for Humanity, and this endorsement of our approach will serve to embolden our commitment to make this vision a reality,” said Hyundai Motor president/CEO Jaehoon Chang.


Mazda first OEM to join the eFuel Alliance

                COLOGNE: Mazda has become the first automotive manufacturer to join the eFuel Alliance.

The alliance brings together organisations and interested parties that support the goal of establishing and promoting CO2-neutral e-fuels and hydrogen as a credible contributor to reducing emissions in the transport sector.

Mazda has always been a strong advocate of a multi-solution approach, that combines different technologies, as the best way forward to reduce emissions.

Electrification is a key pillar within Mazda’s multi-solution strategy and by 2030 all Mazda vehicles will be electrified. However, many vehicles will continue to have an internal combustion engine.

Together with the eFuel Alliance and its members, Mazda supports the establishment of a mechanism that takes into account the contribution of renewable and low-carbon fuels for emissions reduction of passenger cars and will contribute to the decision-making process now that the EU is reviewing its climate legislation.

“As an industry we must reduce emissions as much as possible. And to do this we must not ignore any of the available routes at our disposal," said Wojciech Halarewicz, Vice President Communications & Public Affairs at Mazda Motor Europe GmbH.

"Greenhouse gas emissions and climate change are, by nature, a global and complex issue requiring an integrated approach. All sectors and industries must play their part and, above all, they must have the opportunity to share any positive options to achieving the climate goals.”


CTOS Digital launches CTOS Car Insurance

CTOS Digital group CEO Hamburger.
KUALA LUMPUR: CTOS Digital Bhd through its subsidiary, CTOS IDS Sdn Bhd has launched CTOS Car Insurance, an online platform for car insurance and road tax renewal, in collaboration with PolicyStreet.com.

In a statement, the company said CTOS Car Insurance provides a fast, hassle-free opportunity to make price comparisons of policies from more than 10 insurance providers within minutes, allowing consumers to find the best deals in the market.

By comparing quotes from a large range of insurers, consumers are able to find savings of up to RM1,000 from their current deals.

CTOS said consumers who successfully renew or purchase their insurance via the new platform will be able to get a free MyCTOS Score Report.

“CTOS Car Insurance reflects how we are focusing our partnership efforts to offer consumers end-end digital solutions in increasingly varied industries," said CTOS Digital group CEO Eric Hamburger.

"Also, in time, we hope to be able to offer even more value by taking into account credit scores to present consumers better prices, in line with the motor insurance de-tariffication process started by Bank Negara in 2016.”


Cycle & Carriage Bintang gets new CEO

                KUALA LUMPUR: Cycle & Carriage Bintang Bhd (C&C) has appointed Thomas Tok Chek Kuan as the company’s new chief executive officer (CEO).

Tok succeeds Wilfrid Foo Tsu-Jin who takes on the role as chairman of C&C and managing director of Cycle & Carriage Singapore.

Tok has previously held the role of C&C general manager and head of sales since Jan 1, 2017.

Before joining C&C, he also held various positions across different functions in Cycle & Carriage Singapore for more than 10 years, and spent another four years in China managing dealership operations.

Tok has over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry and held portfolios in sales, auto finance & insurance, vehicle logistics and leasing businesses.

A graduate of University of London, Tok's tenure in Zung Fu (China), a major dealer group for Mercedes-Benz in China, included a stint in managing dealerships in Guangdong, China.

Foo said Tok has raised the level of professionalism in the sales management operation system across the company's network and grew its downstream business strongly by leading new business concepts.

“His familiarity with the company and experiences in the industry is well suited to ensure the stability and continuation of the company’s strategies under his leadership. I am excited to pass the baton over to him and I believe that he will bring Cycle & Carriage to greater heights in years to come,” said Foo.


MMA urges Health Ministry to probe RM20 medical exam for e-hailing drivers

                PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the Health Ministry to investigate the type of medical examinations being offered to e-hailing drivers for only RM20.

MMA president Dr N. Ganabaskaran said it was impossible for general practitioners (GPs) to conduct a proper medical examination for commercial vehicle drivers at RM20.

"We are curious to know what kind of medical examination is being offered at such a low price. Such price-cutting under the guise of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is shameful, an utter disgrace to the medical fraternity and may compromise duty and quality of care.

"We wish to remind all concerned that the medical examinations are mandatory for the safety of the driver, their passengers and all road users," he said in a statement Sunday (Sept 29).

On Aug 20, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) issued a circular to the Health Ministry and MMA to fix a standard rate of RM80 for e-hailing drivers to do their medical examination. The check-up is needed for the application and renewal of the PSV licence.

However, Malaysia E-Hailing Drivers Association (Mehda) claimed that JPJ's decision to set the mandatory medical examination fee for e-hailing drivers at RM80 was not warranted as many clinics charge only RM20.

Mehda claimed that 135 panel clinics nationwide had agreed to the RM20 per person for its members taking the medical examination.

Dr Ganabaskaran said charging RM20 was perhaps a form of block discount that may amount to fee splitting, adding that it is unethical as the clinic and practitioner can be charged under Act 586 of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.

He noted that the mandatory medical examinations for the application and renewal of public service vehicle (PSV) licence consists of consultation as well as physical examinations (vision, hearing, obstructive sleep apnea, neurology/musculoskeletal, cardio-vascular system, respiratory system, diabetes).

Come Oct 1, Dr Ganabaskaran said a new format of a more detailed examination proposed by JPJ would require doctors to spend longer time for each driver to be examined.

He said that these medical examinations were important as commercial vehicle drivers spent more time on the road compared to others and certain medical conditions such as diabetes can cause drowsiness and affect concentration.

"GPs shoulder a heavy responsibility in certifying a person medically fit and there are legal implications if there are errors made by a GP in the medical examination process," he said.

Dr Ganabaskaran clarified that the RM80 examination was not "pulled out of thin air", adding that the cost of the medical examination was proposed at RM120 initially but was lowered to take into consideration the financial status of e-hailing drivers.

"The health of all commercial vehicle drivers must be taken seriously with a detailed medical examination carried out to ensure all drivers are medically fit to provide their services as the lives of passengers are put in their hands the minute a passenger steps into their vehicle.

"A proper detailed medical examination must be insisted upon by the authorities with no compromise on the standard and quality of healthcare services provided by GPs who conduct these medical check-ups," he said.


Proton's Rahmah Campaign rolled out at RM150

                PUTRAJAYA: National carmaker Proton echoed the Government’s initiative to help reduce the cost of living for lower income groups with the launch of the 2023 Proton Rahmah Campaign.

Under the campaign that runs until May 31, Proton owners can send their vehicles to authorised service centres for a free 40-point safety check and a service package priced at RM150.

 (From left) Tengku Zafrul, DRB-Hicom group managing director Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar, Proton CEO Dr Li Chunrong and Roslan at the launch of the Proton Rahmah campaign.

Launched by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, the campaign is targeted to owners of the current Persona, Iriz, Exora and Saga line-ups, as well as previous generation models including the Inspira, Waja and Wira.

Tengku Zafrul said the Rahmah campaign would ease the burden of Proton owners and free up funds for the approaching Hari Raya celebration.

“Vehicle ownership is essential to the daily lives of many Malaysians and the expenses related to it, such as
loan repayment, fuel, tolls, and maintenance are major components of a household’s expenses.

“I hope other brands will follow suit to reduce the cost of living for those who need it most,” said Tengku Zafrul.

Following the successful implementation of the menu Rahmah initiative launched in January 2023, the Government is looking to expand it to other sectors that can make a real difference to lowering living costs and Proton is proud to answer that call.

Proton deputy chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said the company's decision to launch a Rahmah Campaign is in line with its efforts to offer customers more value and would be essential to providing affordable products and services to the public.

“An inclusive campaign, costs are shared evenly between Proton Edar and our dealers as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and we hope with it in place, owners are compelled to service their cars at our authorised service centres before starting the journey back during the festive period,” said Roslan.


Sarawak Skills to start training centre on electric, hydrogen vehicles

                KUCHING: Sarawak Skills Group of Learning Institutions (Sarawak Skills) plans to set up a training centre offering Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Electric Vehicle (EV) programmes.

Sarawak Skills executive director Hallman Sabri said this would be made possible following the group’s collaboration with Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technology Centre of Kolej Komuniti Kepala Batas, Penang to conduct a hybrid and electric vehicle training course for Sarawak Skills’ teaching staff and trainers.

"Indeed, as the only centre in the Asia-Pacific Region to offer Level (s) One to Four of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), United Kingdom’s award/certification programmes for electric and hybrid vehicles, we are grateful for the technical expertise and support by Kolej Komuniti Kepala Batas," he said in a statement today.

Hallman, who is also the Federation of Malaysian Skills Development Centres chairman, said 15 Sarawak Skills instructors, lecturers and trainers were participating in the course from May 6 to 9, which offers three internationally recognised certifications from IMI.

The certifications are on electric/hybrid vehicle awareness, hazard management for emergency and recovery personnel, as well as system repair and replacement.

"With this pool of Certified Trainers for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and Electrical Vehicles (EVs), Sarawak Skills will be able to take that all-important first step to establish a Certified Training Centre to offer HEV and EV programmes," he said.

He added that with the support of the Sarawak government, Sarawak Skills would be setting up a dedicated Advanced automotive Training College here, which will offer programmes on maintenance of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.


Porsche to decide soon on Bugatti future, says CEO

                WEISSACH (Germany): Volkswagen will soon decide on the future of its luxury brand Bugatti, Oliver Blume, Volkswagen management board member and CEO of Porsche AG, said today.

Volkswagen in March said it was working on a strategic partnership with Croatian electric hypercar maker Rimac, which will likely result in a joint venture between Porsche and Rimac, with Porsche as a minority partner.

Oliver Blume had said in February that Bugatti and Rimac were a good technological fit.

British automotive magazine Car last year reported that Volkswagen was on the verge of selling Bugatti to Rimac Automobili, citing sources.


Take 5 with Honda HR-V

                When it rains, it pours. Mostly true in Malaysia. Coupled with poor drainage, litterbugs and apathy aplenty, it’s a sure-fire recipe for flash floods in more places than you care to know.

We stumbled upon one such near the former Rothman roundabout in Petaling Jaya recently following a late afternoon thunderstorm. And was delighted – that our transport of the day was able to ford through this stretch without drama. And looks good doing so.

Much has been said and written about the Honda HR-V since our first encounter with the car in Thailand through to its launch and the follow-up Langkawi media drive.

So now on regular local roads, away from the rest of the media horde, we are alone with the car. What are we to make of one of Honda’s bestseller in Malaysia?

The HR-V or Hip and Smart Runaround Vehicle is putting a big smile on Honda officials; it’s popular enough that the waiting period for the Japanese crossover has stretched to five months. Honda is simply tuning in and serving the growing public appetite for such vehicles that have car-like handling and an SUV body, with prices that are markedly lower than those of large SUVs. This trend is not unique to the local scene but is one that is gaining momentum in many markets around the globe.

While the HR-V draws young and old alike from all walks of life, we think the thirty-something family man of four will find it especially appealing.

What does he get for his money? Let us count the ways. Five actually.

Utterly trendy

The driving force in the birth of the HR-V was, in Honda’s own words, to appeal to “active people who enjoy both their work and home life...these people have a high sense of balance between fashion and practicality.”

With a bold face and coupe-ish roofline, the HR-V is undeniably stylish and moulded to be easy on the eye. In a nod to the Italians (think Alfa 156), the rear door handles are hidden to make as if the HR-V is a two-door coupe-like car. “How come Honda didn’t make it four doors?” asked a colleague.

That, perhaps, sums up the designer’s success in making the vehicle look like a jacked-up coupe with two “stealthy” rear doors.

The higher riding height and visibility also make it an attractive proposition.

Halogen lighting is standard except in the top-spec HR-V, which continues with halogen for high beam but LED for low beam.

Variable pricing

The HR-V straddles multiple price points and offers enough choices. Three grades – S, E, V – are available to fit different budgets. Customisation is priced affordably, with four optional packages to make the car stand out, inside and out. Each package varies in price from around RM1,533 for the Urbane Utility Package to RM3,983 for the Sport Aero Package.

Being locally assembled at Honda’s plant in Malacca, the HR-V is all-around cheaper, too. The S, E and V versions are (on-the-road with insurance and GST) RM98,689.79, RM108,026.50 and RM118,228.50 (this test unit).

Cabin of versatility

Inside, there’s much to be happy about. A roomy cabin offers plenty of space for occupants to get comfortable.
The 5-seater is ideal for a family of four to clamber in for a night in town or a weekend escapade outside city limits. In such instances, this would be a good-sized carriage without spending more than is necessary in these days of rising costs and a weakened currency.

Storage-wise, the HR-V is not a one-trick pony. Like the Jazz, the HR-V delivers more value with flexible space that can be set up in four ways.

Boot storage is large, with loading made easier by a low floor boot and wide opening.

Back seats can by default laid down to open up more room. Like the Jazz hatch, the delightful feature is the ability of the rear bench seats to be folded upwards to take in tall items such as potted plants or a musician’s cello. Being durian season every day, we figured the boot could even pack enough of the thorny fruit to feed a neighbourhood – if you don’t mind the lingering in-cabin odour the day after.

While some crossover interior are downright plain, that’s not the case with the HR-V, which boasts a modern, clean look about it as some of the key controls are touch-sensitive panels rather than knobs or switches. Apart from having seven cup holders to house drinks for the thirsty, the interior highlights include a high deck centre console with armrest; a cleverly designed console pocket under the centre console with HDMI/USB/accessory ports; and wide-flow air-conditioning vents that streams cold air straight at the front passenger and towards the rear.

Note that seats are half-leather in the top V-grade test unit while S and E variants get full fabric seats.

Good kit and fuel efficient

Standard across the three variants are the ECON Mode button for frugal driving, tilt & telescopic steering wheel, day/night rear view mirror, vehicle stability control, electric parking brake and child seat Isofix points. Hill Start Assist and Automatic Brake Hold are also standard and are particularly useful for less experienced drivers as they prevent rollback on slopes and reduce the hassle of trudging through stop-go traffic.

Opt for the top-spec V-grade, as the majority of Malaysian HR-V buyers have, and enjoy more niceties such as cruise control, wide-angle rear view camera, six airbags, voice recognition steering switch control, two USB and one HDMI ports, plus a 7-inch infotainment screen.

The HR-V is sold only as a front-wheel drive model as Honda Malaysia doesn’t see it doing much time, if any, off-road.

We agree. Plus not offering a 4X4 version keeps the fuel consumption and prices down.

The HR-V does what it does best, being a people and cargo carrier in a fashionable package. Performance is not what it’s known for, so don’t expect Civic Type R speed and keen driving dynamics.

All three variants get a 1.8-litre engine derived from the Civic that doles out 140hp at 6,500rpm and 172Nm at 4,300rpm. With a nearly 1.3-tonne body, it takes over 9s to go from standstill to 100kph. Hardly a point to crow about.

Still for the masses, what little performance the HR-V offers is enough, made up for by the level of equipment found in the car.

Driving the HR-V is pleasant and mildly exciting in turns. It makes the most of what available resources it has, ably picking up speed at a dab of the accelerator and easily overtakes slow-moving traffic.

Suspension holds up firmly, resulting in little body roll through corners and a ride that smoothes out the occasional stretches of rough asphalt.

Based on the Jazz platform but significantly bigger, the HR-V goes uphill without feeling like a sluggard but a little more shove would have been welcomed.  Handling is muted yet precise while braking is progressive but firm and decisive. At cruising speeds, the cabin is relatively quiet but the typical drony noise of the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) starts intruding when the car is pushed hard.

Honda engineers have done a good job in reining in the “rubber band effect” of the CVT as a casual drive might give the impression the HR-V comes with a regular slush box that holds the engine speed to make the most of the power and torque range.

As a CVT-based car, official fuel consumption is rated at 6.6l/100km, but realistically you would get 8-9l/100km, which is decent numbers in this class.

Ownership of the HR-V comes with a confidence-boosting five-year warranty with unlimited mileage, up to six free labour services and service interval extended to every 10,000km.

It’s a Honda

Yes, it most certainly is and by virtue of that will continue to retain strong residuals. Needs and priorities change over time. As a family man with a growing brood or expanding needs, if you decide to sell the car four years down the road, hey, it’s a Honda, it will hold its resale value well. And while you are scouring the field, perhaps, a bigger Honda is on your shortlist?

As a side note, it would indeed be interesting to see how the much anticipated Mazda CX-3 compact crossover stacks up against the HR-V once it arrives later in the year. Mazda is a resurging brand to watch. After years of wallowing in the rut locally, the Yokohama-based car maker is coming back with a vengeance and the 2.0-litre CX-3 should give the HR-V a run for the money.

In the end, it’s all the better for consumers who get more quality choices. And that’s the way to play it.


China's Hongqi shows off 1,400hp supercar concept

                FRANKFURT: Chinese manufacturer Hongqi - which is owned by conglomerate FAW - is displaying its two new impressive concepts, including its first supercar at the Sept 12-22 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The manufacturer went whole hog for its second showing at an international show (its debut dates back to Leipzig, in 1960), with its supercar concept going toe-to-toe with the most ambitious cars in its class.

The Hongqi S9, which is the first supercar developed by the manufacturer, is a hybrid uniting a supercharged V8 with an electric engine that runs up to 1,400hp, for a top speed of 400kph that goes from 0 to 100kph in only 1.9 seconds!

Hongqi has also unveiled another concept car in the form of an electric 4-wheel-drive SUV, the E115. The model boasts an impressive range of 600km and is able to automatically adapt its driving mode to its terrain.

Hongqi is not the only Chinese brand to create a buzz at the Frankfurt show, with newcomer Byton exposing its very first series model, an electric SUV called the M-Byte, which stands out due to its integrated tech solution featuring a dashboard in the form of a huge curved 48-inch screen.


BMW M8 Coupe and Gran Coupe introduced from RM1.43mil

                PETALING JAYA: BMW Malaysia introduced the M8 Coupé (F92) and M8 Gran Coupé (F93).

The unveiling was held at The Paddock in Petaling Jaya which played host to The Secret Garage @ M Town with the M850i, M5 and M4 on showcase and is based on the infamous BMW M Secret Garage that's hidden somewhere within the German carmaker's performance M facility in Munich, Germany.

The two models arrive with the newly-introduced M8 Series design language which features the new M-specific front apron, new kidney grille with decorative mesh, double slats and M8 designation.

The M8 Coupe and Gran Coupe are currently available at all authorised dealerships nationwide and have been priced on-the-road without insurance at RM1,452,961 and RM1,455,146 respectively.

The prices are accompanied by a five-year unlimited mileage warranty that includes free scheduled service programme, access to roadside assistance, accident hotline, BMW Service Online, BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App before receiving a BMW Privileges Card.

With the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the M8 Coupé and Gran Coupé can be owned with monthly instalment plans starting from RM16,578 and RM16,598 respectively (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure).

In addition, customers can now also book their new BMW M model at RM5,000 each at www.shop.bmw.com.my/ to stand a chance to own a new i8 Coupé for free.

Both variants come with a seven colour choices of Alpine White, Brands Hatch Grey, Marina Bay Blue, Motegi Red, Black Sapphire, Donington Grey and Barcelona Blue while the interiors can be furnished with Merino Leather in either Black or Silverstone.

For the impatient, an exclusive Individual Frozen Bluestone exterior is now available as an added cost option at an additional RM30,000 and is currently limited to just one unit in Malaysia.

In the list of standard inclusions, both M8 variants have been equipped with Laserlights with high-beam assistant, exterior mirrors with M twin-stalk design, BMW Individual's high-gloss Shadow Line and flared aluminium wings with M8-designated gills from M.

Towards the rear, both models sport automatic tailgate operation for the 420-litre boot (440 litres - Gran Coupe), an M rear spoiler, M-specific M8 rear diffuser and M-specific exhaust system with twin chromed exhaust tips.

Other highlights include a soft-closure system for the doors and a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof to shave off some weight and lower its centre of gravity.

For bling, both models get fitted with 20-inch M lightweight alloys in Double-spoke style 810 M Bicolour design with staggered front 275/35 and rear 285/35 tyres.

Power comes from a 4.4-litre twin-turbo (S63) V8 engine producing 600PS from 5,600 to 6,700rpm and 750Nm of torque from 1,800 to 5,600rpm.

READ MORE: BMW X3 M and X4 M Competition introduced from RM887K

All that is managed by an eight-speed automatic Drivelogic and paddle shifters before sending it to the rear-biased xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

This allows both variants to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 3.3 seconds before getting electronically limited to a top speed of 250kph.

At the driver's behest, three driving modes have been provided starting with the default Efficient mode before increasing the intensity to Sport and finally Sport Plus where the exhaust drone from the sports exhaust system gets louder and the "horses" turn into unicorns.

Drivers can also configure their own dynamic set-up, using the “COMFORT”, “SPORT” and “SPORT+” buttons to influence the engine as well as the M-specific Variable Damper Control and M Servotronic steering.

There is also a dedicated Sound Control button for the exhaust system next to the new gear selector lever.

A "D" button enables the driver to choose between three
different Drivelogic modes which are activated through an integrated rocker switch in the vehicles’ gear selector.

The xDrive’s power distribution can also be altered to the drive's preferences - from the 4WD default setting to 4WD Sport mode and, with the DSC switched off, a rear-wheel-drive-only 2WD mode for track use.

In addition, the Active M differential in both models handles situation-dependent power distribution between the rear wheels to ensure optimal traction and directional stability.

The models are also fitted with the M-specific integrated brake system which combines brake activation, brake booster and braking control functions in one compact module.

The required brake pressure is established by an electric actuator and optimises braking dynamics and pedal-feel as well as the precision and speed of the vehicle's Dynamic Stability Control interventions.

Both models also feature lighter M Compound brakes with blue callipers as standard.

Inside, the Gran Coupé features a sporty, low seating position and controls are grouped into clusters according to their function.

The M Sport seats come with many electric adjustment options including a Memory function.

Seat position, backrest angle, backrest width and thigh support can be individually adjusted.

The M Sport seats with their integrated, illuminated M logo, and the full-leather dashboard and door trim panels create an appearance that is as sporty as it is sophisticated and luxurious.

The models also come with the M8 wordmark on the door entry sills.

The rear seats – upholstered in Merino leather as standard, comes with a moulded shape that provides maximum lateral support even during dynamic driving.

The rear seats are 50:50-split while the Gran Coupé uses a 40:20:40-split backrest.

Other highlights include an M-specific gearshift lever knob, M seat belts and a 464W 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system.

The infotainment system equipped in both models is the BMW Live Cockpit Professional running on the BMW Operating System 7.0 and consists of an all-digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a high-resolution 10.25-inch Control Display and a full-colour Heads-Up Display (HUD) with additional M-specific displays.

Both vehicles can be operated via the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant’s latest voice control system, direct menu control buttons, iDrive Touch Controller with rotary/push-button, touchscreen Control Display or the Gesture Control system.

The new M Mode selector on the centre console can be used to control the driver assistance systems, instrument cluster displays, content and HUD as well as activate Road and Sport settings.

Additionally, the M Mode selector enables drivers to utilise voice control to interact with the vehicle.

Owners of the Coupe and Gran Coupe also have access to advanced assistance systems that include Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function as well as the BMW Personal CoPilot driver assistance systems that include Driving Assistant Professional and Parking Assistant Plus.

These options contain functions such as Lane Keeping Assistant with side collision protection, Lane Change Assistant, Crossing-traffic Warning and Reversing Assistant among others.

There's also familiar BMW ConnectedDrive which provides services under the Connected Package Professional such as Remote Services, Teleservices, Intelligent Emergency Call, Apple CarPlay and Concierge Service.

Other highlights include the Digital Key to unlock, start and lock the car using a compatible Samsung smartphone – available as part of the Comfort Access, BMW Drive Recorder, and Remote Software Upgrade for over-the-air updates of the vehicle software.

As an added extra, owners have access to extensive personalisation options within BMW Individual.

For a limited time, the company is offering special programmes and campaigns for a range of BMW M models from now until Sept 30 with special savings of selected M models that include the M2 Competition (RM25,000), M4 Coupé (RM45,000), M5 Sedan (RM70,000) and M850i xDrive Coupé (RM75,000).

“Today, we are pleased to bring together superior aesthetics and unimaginable power via the First-Ever BMW M8 Coupé and Gran Coupé – right here in the Secret Garage @ M Town. The high-performance sporting segment of the world rests on the benchmark that has been set by BMW M automobiles, and with these two new additions, we witness that benchmark raised higher – as they carry the M legacy to greater heights,” said BMW Group Malaysia managing director Harald Hoelzl.

BMW M8 Coupe (F92)

BMW M8 Gran Coupe (F93)