Two more films for Fast and Furious

                PETALING JAYA: Entertainment news outlet Deadline has announced that Fast and Furious director, Justin Lin, will direct two more films of the franchise, which makes it 11 films in total.

The latest Fast and Furious 9 or F9 which was due to be released this year has been pushed for cinema release in 2021.

What the final two films are about is currently unknown but we can assume it will bring the Fast and Furious series to a close with the original cast consisting of Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Sung Kang.

Newcomers to the series Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham have gone on their own spin-off film, Hobbes and Shaw.

Chris Morgan, the series’ screenwriter, will likely come back for the two final films, and be produced by Universal Pictures and Diesel’s One Race Films.


Porsche works with Mobileye to integrate driver aids into its cars

                STUTTGART: Porsche and technology company Mobileye are working on series production of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) solutions.

In future models, Porsche plans to offer automated assistance and navigate-on-pilot functions based on the Mobileye SuperVision technology platform.

Porsche will take a leading role in the full integration of Mobileye SuperVision into its future models.

The system that monitors the driver’s attention will also be customised by the company’s in-house specialists. The same applies to its integration in the intuitive user interface of the Porsche Communication Management system.

Mobileye SuperVision is one of the most advanced driver assistance systems in the world.

The system enables drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel on various road types while visually monitoring their surroundings, depending on local laws and traffic situations.

With Mobileye SuperVision, cars can follow the navigation routes chosen by the driver, autonomously change lanes and automatically overtake slower vehicles on multi-lane roads.

The system monitors the environment with 11 cameras and supporting radar fusion perception.

Other components include high-resolution maps (‘Road Experience Management’) and the Mobileye EyeQ6 High Systems-on-a-Chip (SoC).

This combination of software and hardware uses artificial intelligence to perform the driver assistance functions.

“In most situations, drivers will continue to want to drive a Porsche themselves in the future – and will be able to do so at any time," said Michael Steiner, Board Member for Research and Development at Porsche and Head of Development at the Volkswagen Group.

"This said, there are certain aspects of partially automated driving that we are interested in. Intelligent systems like Mobileye SuperVision technology can aid the driver in everyday situations, for example by not having to keep their hands on the wheel the entire time in traffic jams.”

In the field of automated driving functions, the Volkswagen Group is already collaborating with Bosch and Qualcomm and in China with Horizon Robotics.


F1: It's sweet victory as Honda hails new beginning after first win since 2006

Verstappen rejoicing after winning the race on the podium. — All pix by Reuters
SPIELBERG (Austria): Honda hailed a fresh start in Austria on Sunday after celebrating the Japanese engine maker’s first Formula One race victory since 2006.

After three difficult and painful years with McLaren, and a season with Toro Rosso in 2018, the Red Bull partnership bore fruit with Max Verstappen beating Mercedes and Ferrari.

“We finally made it,” said Honda F1 technical director Toyoharu Tanabe.

“This win is also a way of saying thank you to all our fans, all over the world, for their continued support. We have been back in this sport since 2015, but today feels like a new beginning.”

The Japanese company’s last win was at Hungary 2006 with now-retired Briton Jenson Button.

In three increasingly fraught years with McLaren, marked by a lack of performance compared to the top teams and a lack of reliability, Honda had never come close to the podium with fifth being the team’s best result.

They sold their own team at the end of 2008, with the outfit renamed Brawn GP and winning both titles in 2009 with Mercedes engines.

The German carmaker bought Brawn in 2010 and has won the last five drivers’ and constructors’ crowns in the V6 turbo-hybrid era that started in 2014.

“It’s not been easy for them (Honda) in the past but today it’s been incredible, so I’m very happy for them,” Verstappen told reporters.

“I think this is very important for us and also for the future, for Honda as well.

“I’m just very happy that it happened today and it just gives a lot of confidence as well to the boys and maybe a few doubts are going away because of it. So yes, at the moment it’s an amazing feeling.”

Tanabe said Sunday was just the first step: “We keep pushing very hard towards the end of the season and next year as well.”


UMW Toyota Motor ready to help customers affected by floods

                SHAH ALAM: Toyota distributor UMW Toyota Motor is the next automaker to respond to the flood situation, saying it is offering a special Toyota Flood Assist Program to its customers affected by floods in various parts of the country.

Its offer of help came following Perodua's for its customers last night.

The Toyota Flood Assist Program is providing a 25 percent discount on total bill inclusive of parts and labour charges, free towing service, evaluation and quotation on expected repair cost which includes parts removal.

“While nothing can fully compensate the loss and distress suffered by those affected by the flood, we hope that our Toyota Flood Assist Program will provide some sort of relief to our fellow Malaysians," said UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K.

UMW Toyota Motor is also offering a 0% interest payment plan for customers who qualify.

All Toyota service centres and body & paint shops will remain open to cater for an expected surge in demand.

In addition, Toyota owners can contact Toyota’s 24SEVEN Road Assist for further assistance if needed. The service is open to all Toyota owners and runs 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

For assistance, flood-affected Toyota owners can call the Toyota toll free line: 1-800-8-869682.


Lexus lands in India with emphasis on hybrids

                NEW DELHI: Toyota Motor Corp. is bringing its premium Lexus brand to India more than two decades after introducing the marque in China, an acknowledgment of the second-most populous country’s growing potential as a source of luxury demand.

Lexus will offer two SUVs and a sedan as the first models to be sold at showrooms in New Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai and Bengaluru, according to a company statement. The models are the ES 300h, RX 450h And LX 450d. Prices start from 55 lakh (RM372,000). Lexus is also expected to bring in the LS 500h hybrid.

“We see opportunities mapped to the remarkable growth the country is experiencing,” Akitoshi Takemura, Lexus India senior vice president, said in the statement. “This is just beginning. We look forward to bringing more exciting products to India in the future.”

Rising income levels have helped double passenger-vehicle sales in India over the last 10 years, according to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers data. Consumer spending is set to triple to US$4 trillion by 2025 with rising affluence, Boston Consulting Group said in a March 21 report. The wealthy will represent the largest consumer segment for the first time by 2025, accounting for 40 percent of all spending, according to the study.

Even so, automobile deliveries are about a 10th of neighbouring China, a country with a comparable population of more than a billion people.

As a newcomer, Lexus will have to compete with the German trio of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz for luxury buyers. Toyota is bringing its upscale brand to India at a time when carmakers are warning of slowing demand in major auto markets including the US, Europe and Japan.

Toyota also is discussing with Suzuki Motor Corp. about promoting manufacturing in India with the potential to export Indian-made new-technology vehicles, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office said this month.

India is encouraging investments under a “Make in India” program, which seeks to ease business dealings and boost local manufacturing by overseas companies. Volkswagen AG plans to team up with Tata Motors Ltd. on joint projects in India, renewing the German automaker’s push to boost its presence in emerging markets after previous efforts failed to gain traction.

France’s PSA Group also plans to start producing and selling vehicles in Asia’s third-biggest auto market.


How come electric cars can accelerate so fast?

                BERLIN: If you're sitting at a red traffic light that then turns green, you might not necessarily expect to be overtaken by an electric car.

That can happen though - as an electric motor's maximum available torque is almost completely available when it's accelerating from a standstill, according to Andreas Richter, an expert at the Electromobility Competence Centre at Dekra, a European vehicle inspection company.

Compared to conventional engines, electrics may have moments of inertia, but they don't have turbo lag or need time for the clutch or shifting gears.

However, many electric vehicles are limited to a certain speed to ensure they can achieve the furthest possible range.

All that means even if the engine is not particularly powerful, you can nip through city traffic pretty fast in an electric.

But if you're wanting to make frequent drives at higher speeds through country roads or on highways, you'd be well advised to take a careful look at the performance data when choosing the car, to make sure you'll still be able to accelerate quickly when you're further out and about, Richter says.


CarSifu Auto Show 2022 JB: New car on their minds as owners look to replace older vehicles

Syafiq gets behind the wheel of the City as a Honda salesperson explains a feature to him.

JOHOR BARU: The first day of the CarSifu Auto Show 2022 at The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey here has attracted crowds and curious visitors.

Wing Leong, who visited the Toyota booth with his wife Shye Lim, were looking for a new car to replace their five-year-old vehicle.

The couple, on their annual leave, said holding the event at a shopping mall is good as they can go shopping and visit participating booths.

“We want to upgrade to the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid,’’ said Leong.

The 35-year-old salesman from Taman Sri Tebrau said he and his wife would probably return for a visit before the event ends this Sunday.

Leong said his 35-year-old wife, who works as a graphic designer, also has a liking for the Corolla Cross.

 Leong and wife Shye Lim checking out the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid.

“The sports utility vehicle (SUV) is suitable for a small family like us, especially for a long drive,’’ he added.

Apart from comfort, they are also looking for safety, fuel efficiency and eco-friendly factors when buying a new car.

“We also hope to get our new SUV in time for us to go back to our hometown in Melaka to celebrate Chinese New Year in January next year,’’ Leong said.

Syafiq Aiman also took the opportunity on his day off to visit the auto show.

The customer service officer, who has been driving an older model of the Honda City for six years, is planning to change to a new Honda City 1.5 V-Sensing variant.

“So far, my current car has not given me any problems but it is high time for me to change to a better model,’’ added Syafiq.

Initially, he was interested in the Honda HR-V, but decided to go for the City model as he has budgeted below RM100,000 for a new car.

Syafiq, who came with his friends to the event, said they also give their thumbs up to his choice of car.

The 26-year-old from Gelang Patah, who works in Singapore, said he will only use the new car on his days off.

Syafiq did not foresee any problems securing a loan for his new car as he plans to sell his current one. Earning a salary in Singapore currency is also an advantage.

“I’m riding a motorcycle to work in Singapore daily,’’ said Syafiq.

He hopes to book the car soon and drive it by the end of the year.

The five-day event is organised by Star Media Group and runs until Sunday.

Five car companies comprising Volvo, Toyota, Subaru, Proton and Honda are displaying their latest models at the venue. — ZAZALI MUSA


Electric cars may take an Opec-sized bite from oil use

                LONDON: A boom in electric vehicles made by the likes of Tesla Motors Inc. could erode as much as 10% of global gasoline demand by 2035, according to the oil industry consultant Wood Mackenzie Ltd.

While battery-powered cars and trucks today represent less than 1% of total vehicle sales, they are expected to take off after 2025 as governments move to tackle pollution and costs fall, the Houston-based analyst said. By 2035 so-called EVs may remove 1 million to 2 million barrels a day of oil demand from the market - in the range of the production cut OPEC and its allies agreed this week in order to end a three-year crude surplus.

“Anything that reduces the demand for transportation has an impact on the oil market,” Alan Gelder, vice president of refining, chemicals and oils markets at Wood Mackenzie, said in an interview in London. “The question is how big is it going to be and what’s the time frame.”

Wood Mackenzie’s view echoes the International Energy Agency, which last month forecast global gasoline demand has all but peaked because of more efficient cars and the spread of EVs.

The agency expects total oil demand to keep growing for decades, driven by shipping, trucking, aviation and petrochemical industries.

That’s more conservative than Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s forecast for EVs to displace about 8 million barrels a day of demand by 2035. That will rise to 13 million barrels a day by 2040, which amounts of about 14%of estimated crude oil demand in 2016, the London-based researcher said. Electric cars are displacing about 50,000 barrels a day of demand now, Wood Mackenzie said.

On Friday Athens, Madrid, Mexico City and Paris pledged to phase out diesel vehicles by 2025 in a battle against pollution, a move that could further stimulate demand for EVs that have zero tailpipe emissions.

Regulation and government subsidies alone won’t be enough to spark a boom in EVs, Gelder said. “If there’s a technology revolution, so battery technology gets cheaper and EVs don’t need a subsidy, then it comes down to consumer preference. If the consumers like something, it’ll switch far faster.”

Tesla alone won’t be able to supply enough EVs if demand really takes off, Gelder said. Major automakers including Volkswagen AG and Ford Motor Co. will need to produce them on a larger scale. “At the moment they can’t, and changing manufacturing lines takes time.”


BMW and MINI expand charging options with new electrification kit

Munich. BMW Charging and MINI Charging are set to introduce their latest fifth-generation electrification kit.

Innovative charging solutions and digital services for easy and convenient home, workplace and public charging will be available to meet every customers' needs.

Home charging options have been expanded with the addition of the new BMW Flexible Fast Charger available for the first time for the iX3.

Thanks to an interchangeable adapter solution, the Flexible Fast Charger works with both domestic and industrial power outlets with a charging capacity of up to 11 kW.

The Flexible Fast Charger adjusts to the charging infrastructure available, at home or on the road.

The high-performance BMW Wallbox with a charging capacity of up to 22kW can be purchased as an additional option.

For customers who invoice their charging costs or want to integrate a wall box into their home energy management, BMW Charging offers the Smart Partner Wallbox with specific partners in each market. Wallbox functionality can be expanded through cloud services.

All charging solutions can be combined with a comprehensive installation package for a set price (as long as structural requirements are met).

A green electricity tariff is also included in the service.

For charging in public areas, the BMW and MINI Charging Card provides their drivers with access to one of the world’s largest charging networks, with around 450,000 charging points.

This includes around 24,000 charging points in Germany alone and 160,000 across Europe.

Charging points are displayed in the navigation system and in the app to make it easier to plan "charging" stops.

With the iX3 and subsequent models, customers receive the BMW Charging Card, including a one-year charging subscription with no basic fee, as well as a standardised charging cable that can be used at public charging posts across the European Union.

This equipment enables customers to use AC, DC and high-power charging posts across Europe at transparent, standardised and affordable prices.

BMW Charging includes high-power charging services offered by their partner, IONITY.

IONITY’s high-power charging stations along motorways and main transport routes enable ultra-fast charging with a capacity of up to 350 kW at distances of approximately 120km apart.

This means a BMW iX3 can be quick-charged to 80% in 34 minutes.

Over 400 charging stations with a total of 2,000 charging points will be available by 2022.


Toyota VC invests in AI startups, firms that refine everyday processes

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp’s first venture capital fund is investing in startups that help the Japanese automaker refine everyday processes by bringing sharper supply-chain management and robotics to the factory floor, a fund executive said.

The Silicon Valley-based Toyota AI Ventures fund, with US$200 million under management, has so far invested in 36 early-stage startups, including self-driving car software firm Nauto, factory video analytics company Drishti and air mobility firm Joby Aviation.

Toyota, the world’s largest automaker by vehicle sales, and many car companies such as Volkswagen AG are funnelling money into startups to help gain an edge in artificial intelligence as investor interest shifts to self-driving cars.

For instance Toyota, which has dozens of factories around the world, wants to be able to quickly share the lessons learned at one plant across other plants so that efficiencies are maximised, Jim Adler, the founding managing director of the fund, told Reuters in an interview.

“If you look at cloud computing, for example, and cloud robotics, and fleet learning, when one robot learns something, the rest of the robots automatically learn that thing,” he said.

Adler, a former Lockheed Martin rocket engineer and a serial entrepreneur, said that while the fund and the automaker work closely together, the fund had a good degree of independence from Toyota because taking every investment opportunity to the carmaker’s management would be too much process.

"We are at the edge of this Toyota ecosystem,” said Adler.

“Being between the outside world and the inside world of Toyota, we are this sort of semi-permeable membrane that brings outside influence into the company.”

The automaker this year started Woven Capital, an US$800 million venture capital fund to make growth-stage investments in companies including those in the Toyota AI Ventures portfolio.


Geneva to play host to Singapore's first hypercar

                SINGAPORE: Singapore is one of the most important markets for supercar makers, yet until now, its residents had to look beyond the city-state's borders when shopping for a serious performance car. However, all of that is about to change.

At this year's Geneva motor show, the Vanda Dendrobium is set to make its official debut. The car's final specifications won't be confirmed until March 9 when the covers are lifted, but it was built using the Bugatti Chiron as a performance benchmark. So expect a vehicle capable of hitting 100kph in 2.6 seconds, of sending 1,500hp to all four wheels and of a potential top speed of 400kph.

However, it will differ from the Bugatti, and every other hypercar from the established builders on show at this year's event in one major respect. This car will be a plug-in electric vehicle rather than a V12 or W16.

"Dendrobium is the first Singaporean hypercar and the culmination of Vanda Electrics' expertise in design and technology," said Vanda Electrics CEO Larissa Tan. "[It] is inspired by nature and rooted in technology, a marriage of design and engineering - I can't wait to reveal the car to the world in March."

Automotive history is littered with failed attempts at building dream cars that can compete with the likes of Ferrari and Porsche. Even marques as revered as Bugatti, Lamborghini and Aston Martin have experienced more than their fair share of financial hardships and bankruptcies on the road to supercar success.

Yet even against this historical backdrop, the Dendrobium could well prove the exception. Although Vanda Electronics is a new company, it is backed by Wong Fong Industries, an engineering company with a 53-year track record. What's more, the car itself is being developed in partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), the technology and innovation arm of the British based Formula 1 team.

The company's involvement also means that following the recently revealed Aston Martin AM-RB 001 and the upcoming Mercedes-AMG Project One, the Vanda Dendrobium is the third road-going hypercar coming to market boasting in excess of 1000hp and a Formula 1 team as development partner coming this year.


Kia Motors and Naza Kia host eco-leadership education programme

                KUALA LUMPUR: For the second year in a row, Kia Motors Corporation with support from Naza Kia Malaysia is hosting the Kia Eco Dynamic Expedition from Jan 6 to 14, 2017.

The Kia Eco Dynamics Expedition is an eco-leadership education programme that gives students who are passionate about the environment and sustainable development the opportunity to take an active role in Ecofriendly Design Development projects to improve developing countries’ quality of life.

These future global leaders are also further nurtured in CSV (Creating Shared Value) areas.

“Now more than ever, it is imperative to cultivate future global leaders who not only recognise the problems faced by developing countries but also conceive innovation solutions for global environment conservation and sustainable growth.

"Through the Kia Eco Dynamic Expedition, Kia is heavily investing in educating the younger generation to become instruments of change who will improve the world,” said Datuk Samson Anand George, Group Chief Operating Officer, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings.

Sponsored by Kia Motors and organised by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) National Committee for the Republic of Korea, the programme started in 2010 and has since grown into a rich gathering of cultural exchange among students from around the world.

This year, over 90 participating secondary school students from South Korea, China, Germany, Sweden, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia will visit a local village, Kampung Orang Asli, to identify the problems face by the Malaysian Orang Asli and design solutions to their daily and environmental concerns.

“We chose to have the Kia Eco Dynamic Expedition in Malaysia because of its rich culture, unique biodiversity and overall good reputation.

"It is a big city yet has a lot of rural areas that makes for an exciting experience, especially for our participants who have never ventured into Asia before. We were so impressed by our visit here last year that we had to come again,” said Sehee Choi, Associate, Youth Marketing Team, Kia Motors Corporation.


Ministry ran stringent tests on B20 biodiesel

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Primary Industries Ministry is maintaining that it had conducted reasonably extensive testing of B20 biodiesel before making it mandatory.

At the launch of the B20 – a mix of 20% palm biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel – here yesterday, its minister Teresa Kok reiterated that her ministry and Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) had conducted field tests with government agencies such as the Kajang Municipal Council, Subang Jaya Municipal Council, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council, Shah Alam City Council and Selayang Municipal Council.

“In addition, vehicle distributors such as Tan Chong Industrial Equipment and Hyundai Sime Darby Motors as well as transport companies such as FGV Transport Services Sdn Bhd and SOP Transport Sdn Bhd were also involved in the B20 test trial.

READ MORE: B20 biodiesel rollout: Fleet operators lament added costs

“A total of 35 vehicles from Primary Industries Ministry and MPOB, which have been using the B20 since June 2019, have not reported any problems to date,” said Kok, who added that this is on top of coordinated technical consultation sessions with stakeholders.

She added that her ministry, MPOB and the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (Jama) have also conducted a B20 trials on diesel engines that are Euro 5-compliant in collaboration with automotive experts from Mazda Malaysia, the Malaysian Institute of Robotics, and IoT Automotive, with support from Road Transport Department and the Environment Department.

Introduced in the European Union in 2009 (for heavy duty diesel engines), the Euro 5 emission standards emits very low levels of fine particulate matter at the tailpipe, among others.

“This study, which is the first conducted by Jama on Euro 5 vehicles, is divided into two laboratory studies, at the Japan Automotive Research Institute, which is expected to be completed in April 2020 and a field study using two Mazda CX-5 cars in Malaysia,” said Kok.

Underlining the government’s intent to head towards an even higher blend of biodiesel, she added that MPOB has also conducted studies using B30 with Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Tun Hussein Onn University Malaysia, Technical University of Malacca, University of Kuala Lumpur, and University of Nottingham Malaysia campus.

The B7 biodiesel (7% palm methyl ester and 93% petroleum diesel) is still being sold at a places with colder climates, such as Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands, and Sabah’s Kundasang, as B20 tends to turn into a gel (no longer free flowing) and clog up fuel lines when it is not warm enough.


Watch this old van beat the helluva BMW i8 and Dodge Viper - VIDEO

                SAN FRANCISCO: A nondescript white van powered by a powerful electric motor has put BMW's i8 electric hypercar to shame in a head-to-head race in California.

The van is a modified Damiler Vanio commercial being used as a test mule by the electric car start-up Atieva in California to show the prowess of its electric powertrain.

Dubbed Edna, the van has an output of more than 900hp and can store 87 kWh of energy, according to its developers. The motive power will form the basis of a first saloon from Atieva in 2018, says the company.

The mule outpaced BMW's expensive i8 supercar in a quarter-mile race stretch at an airport in California.

Along for the run was a bright red Dodge Viper, the menacing sports machine from the US manufacturer, which is no slouch itself.

Despite 645 horses from a V10 combustion engine, the Dodge was no match for Edna, which took just 2.94 seconds to reach 100kph.

Second place went to the BMW i8 hybrid which can sprint from 0-100kph in a Porsche-beating 4.4 seconds and offers strong mid-range acceleration. Power comes from twin electric motors mated to a three-cylinder turbodiesel engine. The Dodge came in third.

Edna also completed the quarter mile in 11.3 seconds, faster than the other two cars.

The Silicon Valley start-up said that even after a sequence of quarter mile runs, its Viano mule had more than enough juice to drive the 150 km-trip back to its Menlo Park headquarters.

Atieva was started in California by former Tesla and Oracle executives. — dpa


Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK Cross EV make history by winning Japan COTY award

                YOKOHAMA: Dec 12 was an electric day of firsts at the Japan Car of the Year awards prize-giving ceremony here.

For the first time in the 43-year history of Japan’s Car of the Year awards, fully electric ‘K-minicars’ — the Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK Cross EV — captured the country’s highest automotive award.

As partners in the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, Nissan and Mitsubishi collaborated to create the electric ‘Sakura’ and ‘eK Cross EV’ K-cars which share platforms, powertrains and underpinnings.

The two sister cars went onto win the ‘K-car of the Year’ special prize as well.

Many jurors praised the their size and roomy packaging, perky 64hp and 195Nm powertrain, 180km range, accessibility to the average motorist, and price, that sees their sticker price dropping under ¥2 million (RM64,340) with tax credits deducted.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 polled 75 votes to be crowned the Japan Import Car of the Year for 2022-23, making it the first Asian model to win a major award in Japan.

The Honda Civic came second with 320 votes, the Toyota Crown received 236 votes to come in third while the Mazda CX-60 was awarded 141 votes for fourth and the Nissan X-Tail got 84 votes to be ranked fifth.


Geely in early talks to enter Thailand EV market

                BANGKOK: Major Chinese automaker Geely is in the early stages of planning an entry to Thailand's electric vehicle (EV) market, including weighing models for import and local manufacturing, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions.

The considerations include whether to market an entry-level electric car in Thailand as well as an electric pickup truck from its new Radar brand, the people told Reuters, asking not to be named because the talks remain private.

"Geely has no such plans," a company media representative said without elaborating, also declining to provide details about any talks it was having about investments in the country.

Thailand's Board of Investment held discussions with five major Chinese EV makers including Geely during a roadshow to China in April, its secretary-general Narit Therdsteerasukdi said.

The others were BYD Co Ltd, Chongqing Changan Automobile Co Ltd , JAC Motors and Jiangling Motors Corp Ltd, according to the agency.

"All expressed keen interest in Thailand's policy to develop a regional EV production base and an integrated EV supply chain," Narit said, without providing more details of the talks with Geely.

Thailand, the world's tenth-biggest auto producer, is searching for new investments as it seeks to protect and diversify a manufacturing base that has been heavily reliant on Japanese brands and combustion engines.

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

BYD and China's Great Wall Motor Co Ltd are already working on building local EV production in Thailand.

Discussions with Geely have faced an additional complication because of the way the company has given working-level autonomy to its brand-level operating groups like Geometry and Radar Auto, one of the people said.

"They have to decide what model to bring to Thailand," the second person briefed on the discussions said, adding that Geely's review included the possibility of building a plant in the country.

Thailand offers some subsidies for EVs, provided automakers commit to bringing production of cars and parts to the country over a period of several years.

Geely, which owns a portfolio of brands including Swedish automaker Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Zeekr, doubled its stake in luxury carmaker Aston Martin in May.

It also has a presence in Southeast Asia through a 49.9% stake in Malaysian carmaker Proton.

Geometry is an electric car brand Geely launched in 2019. Sales in China nearly tripled in 2022 led by the Geometry A sedan. Geely started delivery of the Radar RD6, China's first mass-market electric pickup truck, in February.

China's Great Wall Motor has said it is considering a research and development centre in Thailand that could work on battery-powered pickup trucks.

Pickups are a critical part of Thailand's auto market, comprising more than half of overall light vehicle sales last year and a segment dominated by Japanese carmakers including Toyota Motor Corp and Isuzu Motors Ltd.


Be smart. Pay only RM2,700 for extended warranty on Mercedes hybrid battery

The E 300 BlueTEC.
PETALING JAYA: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia announced today a hybrid lithium-ion battery extended warranty programme.

For RM2,688, customers are able to extend the battery warranty for the E 300 BlueTEC hybrid and S 400 h for an additional 4 years. The extended warranty provides 100% coverage for the repair or replacement of the hybrid battery for up to 8 years or 180,000km, whichever comes first (terms & conditions apply).

Just so you know, the retail price for a new E 300 BlueTEC hybrid battery is RM50,000 and that of the S 400 h is RM65,000. Both cars, introduced locally in 2014, are not plug-in hybrids.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has since discontinued the sale of the two models.

This statement by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is believed to have been issued in response to a photograph gone viral, which showed a purported bill listing an astronomical RM120,000 to replace a Mercedes-Benz hybrid battery.

For more details, call Mercedes-Benz Malaysia customer service at 1-800-88-1133 or e-mail: customercare_my@daimler.com.


McLaren opens carbon fibre chassis  plant in England

                LONDON: British sports-car maker McLaren Automotive opened a 50-million pound (RM273mil) northern English factory on Wednesday where it will make carbon fibre chassis, moving production from Austria in a decision initiated before Brexit.

McLaren, which will build around 4,500 top-end models at its factory in the southern English town of Woking this year, hopes to create more than 200 jobs when the new site in Sheffield reaches full production from 2020.

Chief executive Mike Flewitt said bringing output closer to the firm's car plant was one of several factors behind the move.

"Taking control of that technology was really of key importance, automating it to enable us to have control of costs, bringing costs down (were) all very important contributors to the decision-making," he said.

"There's always a benefit in shortening supply chains... It's a much shorter route from Sheffield to Woking than from Austria to Woking."

The move will take the level of British-sourced components in a McLaren to around 58 percent, a factor which could become more important depending on post-Brexit trading terms and whether EU and British parts can continue to be counted together.

McLaren, which is best known for its Formula One team, began building sports cars for sale in 2011.

Prince William and wife Kate Middleton, together with Bahrain's crown prince Salman Hamad Al Khalifa, jointly opened the plant. Bahrain’s Mumtalakat sovereign wealth fund owns 62.6% of McLaren.


Nissan announces it's working on bio-based solid oxide fuel cell system

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan announced today that it is researching and developing a Solid Oxide Fuel-Cell (SOFC)-powered system that runs on bio-ethanol electric power. The new system— a world first for automotive use features an e-Bio Fuel-Cell with an SOFC power generator.

SOFC is a fuel cell using the reaction of multiple fuels, including ethanol and natural gas, with oxygen to produce electricity with high efficiency.

The e-Bio Fuel Cell generates electricity through the SOFC (power generator) using bio-ethanol stored in the vehicle. The e-Bio Fuel-Cell uses hydrogen transformed from fuel via a reformer and atmospheric oxygen, with the subsequent electrochemical reaction producing electricity to power the vehicle.

Unlike conventional systems, e-Bio Fuel-Cell features SOFC as its　power source, affording greater power efficiency to give the vehicle cruising ranges similar to petrol-powered cars. The range is expected to be more than 600km. In addition, the e-Bio Fuel-Cell car’s distinct electric-drive features—including silent drive, linear start-up and brisk acceleration, allowing users to enjoy the comfort of a pure electric vehicle (EV).

Bio-ethanol fuels, including those sourced from sugarcane and corn, are widely available in countries in North and South America, and Asia. When power is generated in a fuel-cell system, CO2 is usually emitted. With the bio-ethanol system, CO2 emissions are neutralised from the growing process of sugarcane making up the bio-fuel, allowing it to have a “Carbon-Neutral Cycle,” with nearly no CO2 increase.

Nissan said that the e-Bio Fuel-Cell will in future become even more user-friendly. Ethanol-blended water is easier and safer to handle than most other fuels. As this will remove limits on creating a totally new infrastructure, it has great potential for market growth.


Perodua targets 34% market share in 2017

                KUALA LUMPUR: Perodua sold 207,100 vehicles in 2016, a marginal drop from the 213,300 units it sold in 2015.

At a briefing today, president and chief executive officer Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh attributed the lower sales to a challenging 2016, underpinned by stiff competition and prudent lending guidelines.

On total industry volume (TIV), Aminar said Perodua is forecasting a 2% increase to 590,000 for 2017.

“Based on this projection, we target to capture 34% market share or to sell 202,000 vehicles in 2017,” he said.

Based on expected TIV of 579,600 for 2016, Perodua’s market share hit an all time high of 35.7% last year.

Aminar said Perodua grew its exports volume in 2016 to 4,700 units from 4,400 units in 2015 - with over 60% of exports to Indonesia.


ETCM announces first round Riang Raya winners

                KUALA LUMPUR: Three new Nissan owners received the surprise of their lives when they were informed of being selected as winners of Edaran Tan Chong Motor’s (ETCM) ‘Riang Raya’ (Round 1) Campaign.

The pioneering campaign ended in June, which offered three new Nissan owners the opportunity to host their own party worth up to RM50,000 and includes the services of an event organiser, venue rental, food as well as beverages to name a few.

The three winners were Suhaila Binti Saleh who purchased a Nissan Grand Livina 1.6L A/T, Tan Yoke Leong who bought a Nissan Almera 1.5V AT and Theng Soon Yew who now owns a new Nissan X-Trail 2.0L CVT.

Although the first round of the campaign has ended, the second ‘Riang Raya’ campaign (till end of July) will see another three new Nissan vehicle owners gifted with the same party package.

All that is required is a Riang Raya campaign entry form to be submitted along with a purchase of a new Nissan vehicle.

“We are really honoured to be able to play a part in creating beautiful memories for our customers, not just through their Nissan cars, but with this one-of-a-kind Campaign,” said ETCM director of marketing and product planning Tan Keng Meng.

Meanwhile, ETCM is offering customers who test-drives a Nissan the opportunity to win a new iPad Air 2 at any Nissan showroom nationwide.

Additionally, the company is also running its “Incredible Riang Raya Savings Promotion Campaign”, where customers can purchase the Almera’s NISMO Aerokit or an IMPUL Aerokit for the Grand Livina or Sylphy at just RM1.

The RM1 promotion also includes an eight-inch display Multimedia Navigation System for the Teana and X-Trail 2.5, leather seats for the X-Trail 2.0 and a Navi-Plus Package for selected variants of the Nissan Navara.

Lastly, customers of the Nissan Serena S-Hybrid can enjoy two years of free maintenance.

For more information log on to www.nissan.com.my or call ETCM Nissan Customer Care Centre at 1800-88-3838.


New Toyota Supra heads for 2019 Detroit reveal

                TOKYO: Confirming one of the worst-kept secrets in the auto industry, Toyota announced it will premiere its oft-teased and much-anticipated 2020 Supra at the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, held between Jan 14 and 27.

Although Toyota ceased production of its highly popular and long-loved flagship sports car, Supra, in 2002, it was revived as a "GR Supra Racing Concept" at the 88th Geneva International Motor Show earlier this year, demonstrating Toyota's commitment to bringing the Supra back to the market.

The prototype of the new Supra has already appeared in front of fans at various occasions this year.

In July, the new Supra made its international debut in prototype form at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Britain. More recently, in October, the Supra also took part in VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring, Race 9 and completed the race, as part of the vehicle's development activities.

Toyota expects its new Supra to reach worldwide markets in the first half of 2019.

The Supra was built in collaboration with BMW for economies of scale, sharing chassis and other components with the new Z4 roadster, which made its world premiere at Pebble Beach in August. The two cars have previoulsy been spotted together undergoing dynamic testing at the legendary Nurburgring.

 Toyota Supra chief engineer Tetsuya Tada with five generations of Supra.

Though they share the underlying hardware, both car makers are determined to ensure their cars will drive differently from each other. Unlike the Z4 roadster with a retractable soft-top, the Supra will only be designed as a coupe.

Both cars share a turbocharged inline four- and six-cylinder engines.

The production of the Supra and Z4 have been outsourced to Magna Steyr, which will built both of them at its plant in Graz, Austria. The plant also makes the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and the Jaguar E-Pace and I-Pace.


Proton X50 R3 accessories package introduced

                SERDANG: Proton has unveiled the R3 accessories package for the Proton X50 sports utility vehicle (SUV) that is limited to 200 units.

Unveiled at the Malaysia Autoshow 2023, the package was designed in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of R3 and celebrating two decades of Proton’s involvement in motorsports.

Customers may place a booking during the show that runs until May 7 for just RM599 (RM500 for a Proton X50 and RM99 for the accessories package) with deliveries targeted to begin in October.

An X50 1.5 TGDi Flagship variant in black scheme and the accessories package was presented at the show.

The accessories package consists of a specially designed R3 Aerokit (front, side, rear and roof spoiler), R3 Flow Formed 18-inch Lightweight Alloy Wheels, R3 Bonnet Stripe, R3 Front Grille Logo, R3 20th Anniversary Exterior and Interior Nameplate, R3 Vehicle Registration Number Holders (front and rear), and R3 3D Carpet Mats.

Proton deputy chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said the introduction of the X50 R3 20th Anniversary Edition Accessories Package is a timely reminder to fans about Proton’s heritage of performance and motorsports.

“The company is also celebrating its 40th year of incorporation in 2023 and our exploits in the world of rallying and circuit racing is an important part of our history,” he said.


Work-from-home culture will cut billions of miles of driving in US

                DETROIT: Working from home and online shopping have become the new normal and that will reduce driving in the United States by up to 270 billion miles a year, according to new study.

The research conducted by consultant KPMG International finds the cocoon culture Covid-19 has created is not going away — even if a vaccine is made widely available — and that will have potentially dire consequences for the auto industry.

For starters, the decline in commuting will remove 14 million cars from US roads, KPMG forecasts.

During the height of the pandemic in April, Americans sheltering at home drove 64% fewer miles, an unprecedented decline in travel.

Those new habits will die hard, with KPMG predicting as much as a 10% permanent reduction in the nearly 3 trillion miles typically travelled every year and vehicle ownership declining to slightly less than two-cars per household.

"People buy a car to get to and from work and because shopping is a very important part of their lives,” Gary Silberg, head of KPMG’s global automotive practice, said in an interview.

"If two of the primary missions that the American public buys a car for are going to reduce in demand, we know that’s going to have an adverse impact on auto sales. It’s just like gravity.”

The change in habits could result in roughly 1 million fewer sales of new cars and trucks annually, Silberg said. Americans have bought more than 17 million cars, sport-utility vehicles and light trucks annually for the last five years.

The National Automobile Dealers Association expects US auto sales to plunge as low as 13 million this year due to the pandemic’s chill on the economy.

As the industry works its way out of the hole created by the shutdown, the potential loss of 1 million sales a year will loom large.

"People will fight very seriously for a million vehicles, especially if sales drop,” Silberg said.

With fewer miles driven and fewer cars on the road, that also means dealers and mechanics will have less money coming in from repairs and other after-market services aimed at keeping cars running.

"This is terrible news for the after-market, where a lot of profits are being made,” Silberg said.

"Fewer cars driving fewer miles means less wear and tear. These will lead to profound changes.

”The upside of these changes is that the market for delivery vehicles is booming thanks to the surge in online shopping. automakers are already capitalizing on that shift, with Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG joining forces to develop commercial, self-driving and electric vehicles, including delivery vans.

Startups such as electric-truck maker Rivian automotive also are getting in the growing commercial market, with a contract to provide 100,000 delivery vehicles to Amazon Inc.

"The silver lining is that with all these people pushing the buttons, it’s Christmas every day,” Silberg said. "All the packages we’re getting is massively increasing demand for commercial vehicles.”


Toyota developing new taxi for Japan, ties up with hire-taxi body

                TOKYO: Toyota is developing a next-generation taxi for the Japanese market and it has formed a partnership with the country's hire-taxi federation to explore uses for new technology, the company said today.

The partnership comes as Japan's biggest automaker invests heavily in automated driving, car sharing and other connected mobility technologies, while Japan's powerful taxi industry has opposed efforts by ride-hailing app Uber to expand into the country.

Toyota's new taxi, which is being developed in cooperation with the Japan Federation of Hire-Taxi Associations, will focus on being accessible to the elderly, families with children and foreign tourists. It would become available in 2017, it said.

The automaker said that it would collaborate with the association, which represents more than 15,000 taxi operators nationwide, to use taxis in Tokyo to collect and analyse information on road traffic, and apply the results to technologies including automated driving.

Toyota produces the majority of the country's taxis. It has said it plans to market a vehicle which can drive autonomously on highways by 2020.

The tie-up is the latest in a series of new partnerships Toyota has inked in the past year, including with Uber, while the company has also set up a US$1 billion artificial intelligence research institute.


Toyota recalling 2.9 million vehicles globally over seatbelt issue

                TOKYO: Toyota said today it is conducting a global recall of 2.87 million vehicles due to the possibility that their seatbelts could be damaged by a metal seat frame part in the event of a crash.

In an email, the world's biggest-selling automaker said that the global recall involved its RAV4 SUV model produced between July 2005 and August 2014 and sold worldwide, and its Vanguard SUV model produced between October 2005 and January 2016 and sold in Japan.

The recall includes 1.3 million vehicles in North America announced earlier in the day by Toyota's US unit, along with around 625,000 vehicles in Europe, 434,000 vehicles in China, 177,000 in Japan and 307,000 in other regions.

The automaker said it would add resin covers to the metal seat cushion frames on all affected vehicles to prevent any metal pieces from cutting the seatbelt in the event of a crash, after it had received two reports in which rear seatbelts separated following crashes.

Toyota said it could not determine whether these incidents were linked to any injuries or fatalities.


First production Bentley Bentayga rolls out but not for sale

                LONDON: After four years of conceptualising, design and development the first real-world example of the world's most powerful and most luxurious SUV has finally rolled off the production line.

The occasion was marked with a special event at Bentley's plant in Crewe, England on Friday attended by the British Prime Minister.

"Bentley Bentayga will be the benchmark against which all other SUVs are measured, defining a new segment - the luxury SUV," said Wolfgang Durheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors. "This is an important moment in our history, where we reflect and celebrate, but also look ahead to delivering this extraordinary car to our customers."

The Bentayga is a bold step for a company more closely associated with luxury GT cars and limousines, but demand for performance, exclusivity and supreme luxury at the highest end of the SUV market has never been greater. Hence the new car boasts a twin-turbo W12 engine capable of delivering 600hp and a 0-100kph time of 4 seconds as well as a cabin awash with the finest wood and leather.

"I am delighted that the first Bentley Bentayga has rolled off the production line in Crewe. It marks the culmination of a period of exceptional hard work by Bentley and its dedicated workforce as they brought this remarkable new vehicle to market," Prime Minister David Cameron, said.

Unfortunately, the first completed model is not heading to a client, it will be going straight to the Bentley Heritage centre for preservation.


Infiniti to start selling Q60 in Europe from 41,000 euros

                GENEVA: Infiniti has announced that the Q60 premium sports coupe will be sold from 40,581 euros (RM185,000) when sales start in Europe in October.

As entry-level option, the Q60 will be available with a four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol engine turbocharged to produce 208hp. The Q60 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo version of the sports coupe, which produces 400hp, will arrive at a later stage in showrooms across Europe.

Infiniti said the Q60 has been engineered to deliver an engaging sports coupe experience, with a balance of compliant ride and agile handling. Key to this level of performance is its Dynamic Digital Suspension which includes new dampers to achieve the effect.

Its second-generation Direct Adaptive Steering also contributes to high levels of steering feel and feedback. The Drive Mode Selector in the Q60 gives drivers the option to personalise and tailor the steering to suit their own preferences.

The Q60 is available for online pre-orders in Europe.
http://www.infinitipress.eu


Proton dealer Atiara Johan Group opens 3S centre in Puncak Jalil

                KUALA LUMPUR: Proton dealer Atiara Johan Group has opened a new 3S centre in Puncak Jalil, Selangor, today.

The new 3S centre, operating under the name of Jaya Johan Sdn Bhd, is a green building. It is equipped with a solar system, and also boasts a big showroom, a 10-service bay and spare parts centre for quick service turnaround, insurance renewal, as well as a customer lounge with a spread of food and beverages.

This 3S centre can cater to up to 60 cars a day.

A shuttle service for drop-off and pick-up is also provided for customers living nearby, who would like to return home or be dropped off somewhere while waiting for their cars to be serviced.

Atiara Johan CEO Eric Moo said the new centre is strategically located nearby Bukit Jalil and Taman Equine.

“We are also able to provide body and paint works with Atiara Johan Sdn Bhd’s 4S centre in Puchong,” he said.

Having served Proton customers for six years, Atiara Johan Group is also a qualified dealership of the newly launched X90.

This new 3S centre is Atiara Johan Group’s third Proton outlet. The company also owns a 1S and 4S Proton centre in Puchong.

Visitors and customers can call 017-6530988 or drive to this 3S centre located at Lot PT 59674, Persiaran Puncak Jalil, Taman Puncak Jalil, PJU 6, 43300 Seri Kembangan.


Toyota C-HR for car sharing trials in Tokyo

                TOKYO: A trial car sharing service in central Tokyo, will use 60 Toyota C-HR units for a 10-month period from June 2018 till end-March 2019.

The trial car sharing service is a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corp and Park24 Co Ltd.

In the new trial, Park24's car sharing service operation system will serve as the base, operated through Times Car PLUS, which operates more than 20,000 vehicles and serves 900,000 members.

Toyota and Park24 have been collaborating since April 2015 on trial sharing services, such as Times Car PLUS Toyota i-ROAD Drive and Times Car PLUS × Ha:mo, which are based on the concept of personal mobility.


What does a chief cost optimisation officer do? Ask Hyundai

                LOS ANGELES: Hyundai Motor Americas Region has appointed Carlos Servin as the chief cost optimisation officer.

Servin will be responsible for leading the strategy and execution of all cost optimisation initiatives across North and South America.

This includes benchmarking and implementing best practices for localisation, supplier assessments and cost optimisation to improve efficiency across Hyundai’s operations in the region.

Servin reports to Hyundai Motor North America president and CEO, José Muñoz, and begun work yesterday.

“Carlos’ deep automotive industry knowledge, strong analytical skills, intercultural experience and entrepreneurial mindset will drive Hyundai’s cost optimisation efforts in North and South America,” said Muñoz.

“As we rapidly grow our business, there is a tremendous opportunity to create efficiencies across our operations. I’m looking forward to Carlos joining our leadership team.”

Servin has over 30 years of global automotive expertise at Ford Motor Company, Volvo Car Corporation AB and Nissan. He was most recently the corporate vice president, global controller for marketing and sales, industrial operations and regions for Nissan.

Servin has worked at both the global headquarters and at the regional level at each of these companies and in markets around the world, including North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, China and Asia.

Servin earned his MBA from Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico City.


Ousted Tata chairman Mistry says he doesn’t want his old job back

Mistry, whose family owns about 18% of Tata Sons, is bent on a new mission to seek more rights for minority shareholders in the group. — Reuters
MUMBAI: Cyrus Mistry, the former head of Tata Sons Ltd will not seek to return as chairman of India’s biggest conglomerate despite winning a court case against his ouster.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, last month, also ordered Mistry to be reinstated as director of Tata companies.

Mistry in an emailed statement on Sunday said he will not seek to be a director on group firms such as Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Tata Teleservices Ltd. or Tata Industries Ltd.

The executive, whose family owns about 18% of Tata Sons, will instead seek more rights for minority shareholders in the group, he said.

"I will however vigorously pursue all options to protect our rights as a minority shareholder, including that of resuming the thirty-year history of a seat at the board of Tata Sons,” Mistry said in the statement.

"It is time the group’s management introspects and reflects on its conduct as it embarks on future actions.”

Mistry’s latest comments may come as a relief for Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of the conglomerate, whose actions to fire Mistry, the court said, were "oppressive.”

Ratan Tata and a host of Tata group companies filed petitions on Friday in India’s Supreme Court seeking to quash the tribunal’s order to rehire Mistry. The court last month also restrained Ratan Tata from taking any decision that would require a majority decision by Tata Sons’ board.

Mistry’s "statement opens an avenue for a possible resolution by avoiding a forced leadership change and thereby avoiding a larger crisis,” said Mathew Antony, managing partner of Aditya Consulting, an advisory firm.

"It can also be construed as a sharp business move to protect the Shapoorji Palloonji investments in the group by retaining a directorship on Tata Sons board and letting go of all other demands.”

Tata Sons is the holding company of the group that also owns the luxury Jaguar and Land Rover brands. The turmoil couldn’t come at a worse time for the $110 billion conglomerate. It comes just as the group contends with a crisis at its British unit, Jaguar Land Rover automotive Plc — one of the crown jewels of Ratan Tata’s buying spree — and an economic slowdown at home that’s damped demand for wares from steel to Tetley teas.

Mistry was ousted as chairman of Tata Sons in October 2016, about four years after he had taken over the position from Ratan Tata.

He turned to the National Company Law Tribunal to overturn the dismissal and, following an unfavourable ruling, appealed seeking to expunge disparaging remarks against him in the original order.


Porsche aims to offer hybrids across model range, says CEO

                FRANKFURT: Volkswagen's sportscar maker Porsche aims to offer hybrid versions of all its models in the foreseeable future, Porsche Chief Executive Oliver Blume told a German newspaper.

A plug-in hybrid of the 911 model with a range of 50km will hit the market in 2018 already, Westfalen-Blatt quoted Blume as saying in a summary of an interview to be published today.

Porsche said last month it would spend about 1 billion euros (US$1.08 billion) on production facilities at its biggest plant to make its first ever all-electric sports car, reflecting parent VW's growing commitment to increase its electric offerings as it struggles to overcome an emissions scandal.

Porsche plans to bring the Mission E model, with more than 600hp and a range of over 500km, to market by the end of the decade.

At the same time, CEO Blume said he did not believe driverless cars were in Porsche's future, saying "an iPhone belongs in your pocket, not on the road", and that Porsche did not need to team up with any big technology companies.

"Partnerships are generally not a bad idea if one's own competencies are insufficient. But we are on the one hand part of a strong company and on the other hand have no plans to lead the charge in this area. We'll leave that to others," he said.


MINI Bangsar issues open house invite to all

                KUALA LUMPUR: MINI Bangsar wishes to usher in the Year of the Goat with fun filled activities and hot MINI models during their upcoming 'oopen house'.

The dealership's event will be held on Feb 28 to Mar 1, with highlights of the day including activities for the whole family such as Live Chinese Calligraphy Art and Dragon Beard Candy-making demonstration.

Visitors will also be treated to a special Lion Dance performance on Sunday at 11:00am.

MINI Bangsar will also be offering irresistible festive deals for the hot MINI Hatches and the MINI Countryman throughout the weekend.

For more information, call Ingress Auto Bangsar at 03-2287 9988.


Oh look, another SUV: What makes Hyundai's new Bayon so special?

FRANKFURT: Just try and stop Hyundai making another SUV. The latest plus-sized ride from South Korea after the Kona, Tucson and Santa Fe is the Bayon, a small crossover set to join an ever-more-crowded range of SUVs.

With a length of just under 4.20 metres, it will go tyre to tyre against the likes of the Opel Mokka and VW T-Cross in the first half of 2021, the automaker has announced.

International pricing has not yet been confirmed, but according to company sources, the car will start at well under €20,000 (under RM98,000) in Europe.

The Bayon (not to be confused with the Chinese manufacturer Byton) has a comparatively rugged appearance with more ground clearance, but unlike the similarly sized Kona, it does not have all-wheel drive.

According to Hyundai, a wheelbase of 2.58 metres provides enough space for all occupants and a boot capacity of 411 litres guarantees everyday usability.

In a more unusual move for a small SUV, Hyundai is going all out in terms of equipment and drive and you'll also find — partly at extra cost — automatic distance control and active lane-keeping assistance.

Hyundai has also fitted a large touchscreen with the latest generation of Bluelink telematics software.

Under the bonnet there are three petrol engines with 84, 100 or 110 horsepower. The most powerful of those comes standard as a mild hybrid, while it's an option for the 100-hp engine.

According to Hyundai, you can get the Bayon as manual or automatic seven-speed double clutch. Hyundai has not yet provided information on fuel consumption and performance.


4 million general Insurance policy holders affected by SST

                KUALA LUMPUR: About four million general insurance policy holders who renewed or purchased their policies during the Goods and Services Tax (GST) tax-holiday period will be affected by the Sales and Services Tax (SST) regime, says the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM).

Deputy Chairman Chua Seck Guan said affected policy members included those who purchased or renewed their motor, fire or personal accident insurance during the zero-rated GST period from June to August.

“When they purchased or renewed their policies during the tax holiday, they made a lump-sum payment for 12 months.

“But the zero-rated period was only effective from June to August, which means they still have to pay the SST for the remaining nine months beginning from September,“ he said during a press conference on the upcoming 3rd ASEAN Insurance Summit (3rd AIS) here today.

Chua said rightly, PIAM should have passed an endorsement to collect the chargeable tax from affected policy holders, but no action had yet been taken.

“We are still waiting for the decision from the ministry,” he said, adding, the SST implementation would not affect the sales of general insurance as it is a tax that “everyone has to pay”.

In August, PIAM issued a statement calling on the government to remove the SST for general insurance products.

In the statement, Chairman Antony Lee said other than the impact on policy holders who renewed or purchased products during the tax holiday, the SST was a contrast to the former service tax regime, which would not apply to insurance policies purchased by individuals.

Meanwhile, when asked if the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) would continue to ask the government to include tax relief measures as part of the upcoming Budget 2019, President Anusha Thavarajah said it was a request the association makes every year.

“At the end of the day, we will continue to do our best to grow the penetration rate to 75% by 2020 from the current 54%,” she added.

Organised by the ASEAN Insurance Council (AIC) and supported by LIAM and PIAM, the 3rd AIS will be held on Nov 28 at Sasana Kijang (Bank Negara Malaysia) where the industry players would discuss the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the insurance industry.


Car makers rushing to put latest tech in lower-priced models

                DETROIT: Rapidly evolving technology is upending the traditional pecking order in the luxury car market, which until now has operated on the principle that bigger is better.

Now, Mercedes-Benz and a host of others are quietly changing the rules.

Mercedes' new E-Class mid-sized sedan, unveiled at the Detroit auto show Monday, will come with better computer chips, cameras, software and sensors than those in the larger and more expensive S-Class - the flagship that has for decades showcased the automaker's latest technology.

"The speed of innovation is so fast that you have to use every launch of a new model to roll stuff out," Dieter Zetsche, head of Mercedes-Benz Cars told Reuters on the sidelines of an event to launch the new E-Class at the Detroit Auto Show.

The shift reflects intense pressure on automakers to keep their model lineups on the technological edge, especially to compete for younger customers. Another sign: features that can be updated with software, a tactic used often by Silicon Valley electric car maker Tesla Motors and likely to spread across the industry.

Mercedes plans similar software updates and is moving aggressively to update its hardware as well. It has cut the time it takes to produce a prototype to 10 months from 18 months, in part through the use of digital prototypes.

Aerodynamic testing, for example, is done largely with simulation software, cutting development time in a wind tunnel.

 BMW 2 Series Coupe.

The E-Class has fourth-generation driver assistance systems, while the top-of-the-line S-Class makes do with third-generation technology, executives at Daimler, parent company of Mercedes-Benz, explained in Detroit.

More recent sensors and software give the new E-Class better algorithms to recognize a street, a vehicle or a pedestrian, giving the vehicle a better ability to interpret its surroundings. This in turn allows the Mercedes to travel greater distances in self-driving mode.

It also has car-to-car communications technology, allowing it to exchange information with vehicles ahead to receive warnings about potential accidents or broken down vehicles ahead.

The current S-Class model, which has been in showrooms since 2013, does not have the same capabilities. That is because the launch date of the new E-Class was better timed to take advantage of improvements in computing and sensor technology, as well as regulatory changes needed to make autonomous and semi-autonomous driving a reality.

Mercedes plans to continue the strategy of introducing its latest breakthroughs with the earliest feasible model debut. Other automakers may well follow suit.

"The best features were always introduced into the highest end vehicles. That is not going to be the best solution for the car industry anymore," said Thilo Koslowski, vice president of the automotive practice at technology market research firm Gartner.

"Younger customers want the latest features immediately, and this will force carmakers to change their offerings, and it will change the way they define premium." Mercedes-Benz already introduced its Collision Prevent Assist Plus into the compact B-Class before it spread it to larger vehicles.

Zetsche acknowledged that the shift could cause some would-be S-class buyers to migrate to the less expensive E-class, but the more important purpose is to steal customers from Audi and BMW.

"We are interested in external conquest," Zetsche said.

Further, he said, Mercedes may choose to update older models like the S-class as well.

Consumers are driving the changes, said Andrew McAfee a principal research scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who studies how digital technologies are changing business and society.

"A car is the second-biggest investment you will ever make, so you do not want to buy something obsolete," he said.

Other automakers are also moving away from waiting on top-shelf models to package new technology. When BMW AG launched its new 2 Series in 2014, it had a navigation system that could be upgraded over the air, a company spokesman said. The company's top of the line 7 Series only got that function when it was redesigned last year.

Ford Motor Co is using its mid-sized sedan, the Fusion, as the package for new hands-free automatic parking and lane-keeping features.

In the past, the automaker might have waited for the release of the next flagship from its Lincoln luxury division to unveil top-end technology.


Tiguan 1.4 Twin-charged advantage

Volkswagen’s Tiguan 1.4 combines excellent fuel efficiency with performance thanks to its high-tech powertrain.The trend of going smaller in engine displacement to gain on fuel economy and cleaner emissions is clearly reflected in the latest Volkswagen Tiguan, the mid-size sports utility vehicle that was introduced here recently.It now comes as a 1.4-litre model, and before you pooh-pooh this new Tiguan as a gutless especially  considering its fairly big dimensions and styling direction, let us just say the 1.4-litre engine powering the SUV is no normally aspirated unit.That’s right, the engine enjoys assisted fuel feed and this comes not only in one form but two: the blow-through turbocharging system and the suck-through supercharging fuel feed.Modern engineering has led to compact air-fuel charging systems that can be applied to the engine without taking a lot of space nor add to its weight and affect performance adversely in acceleration and fuel economy.As to the choice of a Tiguan 1.4, Volkswagen Germany believes that the latest model with its twin-charger engine would be perfect in meeting the performance and fuel consumption needs of those who prefer smaller displacement power units.The other option is the 2.0-litre variant, which will be brought in on demand.With 160PS at 5,800rpm and lots of torque at 240Nm developing early at 1,500rpm and holding till 4,500rpm, there should be enough horses to haul slightly more than 1,550kg of vehicle weight, plus 200kg or more when you factor in passengers, at a good pace.The idea of having a twin-charger engine is to counter the initial engine lag that is often encountered with turbocharging, although developments have reduced that very significantly.A suck-through supercharger system delivers the air-fuel mixture quickly for the engine to develop plenty of torque early till about 2,500rpm, after which the turbo system takes over to build up horsepower, and it is all electronically controlled.Volkswagen has the previous single charge 1.4-litre engine (with turbocharger only) models that we had motoring experiences with such as the Golf, Polo and Scirocco.As these are lighter cars, the single charge engine develops adequate torque early enough to give them good initial acceleration.For the heavier Tiguan, we found the twin-charger 1.4-litre engine complementary in performance: there was no pause when we stepped on the accelerator to pass other vehicles and we could easily get up to high speeds on the highway and on open stretches.Having driven a big engine displacement vehicle just a few days earlier, we noted the slightly slower build-up in road speed but make no mistake, the Tiguan would get you going fast soon enough.Its name is a combination of ‘tigua’ and ‘leguan’, the former is a German word for tiger to denote aggression while the latter means iguana to represent good traction.The traction part came during the winding road drive to and from Fraser’s Hill: the Tiguan 1.4 is a front-wheel drive SUV with a six-speed wet DSG (direct shift gearbox), complete with sequential Sport shift option.The steering is an electromechanical system that is speed sensitive; the tyres are Dunlop SP Sport 01 235/55 R17 on ‘Boston’ alloy wheels; and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is standard.For a fairly tall vehicle (above 1,700mm in height), the Tiguan 1.4 took to the winding section well: we hardly felt the roll of the body and we liked the directional feel of the steering as we know where the tyres were pointing when we ‘attacked’ the corners.In one of our more exuberant moments, we experienced quick progression of understeer by going too fast into a righthander.One of the rear wheels hit the loose earth and the rear end stepped out for a short while as we tried to maintain vehicle control with the accelerator and steering input: the ESC probably did its part as well. It was a close call!By keeping our adrenaline in check, we mostly enjoyed the winding drive as the Tiguan was about as dynamically nimble as its smaller size brethren.We were rear passengers during one of the legs and found the dynamic moments through the winding stretches easily tolerable.The seats gripped the body well and the foldable centre armrest with cupholders served as an adequate brace: by the way, the centre armrest is part of the folding rear seatrest as we could access the luggage area with it folded down.There is also a folding tray behind each of the front seat and the centre console has two round vents to channel cool air to the rear, a charge point and a small folding cubicle for storing small items.Apart from the flat tyre indicator, another interesting item is the ‘Rest Assist’ drowsiness detection system: the driver is being monitored electronically and if the system detects the driver being drowsy during long distance drives, a warning light will come on in the instrument panel as an indicator to break journey.We were not on the highway long enough to see if we could be drowsy enough for the ‘Rest Assist’ function to be activated.A comfortable ride was also enjoyed as the suspension system was well tuned to handle the impacts over bumpy roads, with the harshness ironed out nicely.Road roar was also largely subdued and on the highway, the discernible rustle along the roof area on the side (noticeable more at the rear) was mild and a normal conversation could be held with the relatively quiet ambience.A Stop/Start system is standard but unlike other similarly featured cars and vehicles, we could not find a way to turn it off (when the engine is off, so is the air-conditioning system and it may not be practical with El Nino currently in roasting mode).Regenerative braking is also part and parcel, and that takes some load off the engine in charging the battery.The thing is having a smaller displacement engine has not taken the fun or practicality out of driving the Tiguan: on the contrary, the better fuel consumption should be the bonus to the twin-charger power performance.As an import model, the Tiguan 1.4 holds a fairly premium price of RM178,888 and the optional Tech Pack model comes at an additional RM10,000.SPECIFICATIONSVolkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSIEngine: 1,390cc, twin charger, four-cylinder with direct injection.Maximum power: 158bhp at 5,800rpmMaximum torque: 240Nm from 1,500 to 4,500rpmTransmission: Six-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox)

Front Suspension: MacPherson struts independent with coil springs and stabiliser barRear Suspension: Multi-link independent with coil springs and stabiliser barAcceleration (0-100kph): 8.9 secondsTop Speed: 198kph
Features: Six airbags, roll-over sensor, anti-lock braking system (ABS), braking assist (BA), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (ESC) and traction control, flat tyre indicator, rain sensor, Rest Assist drowsiness detection system, start-stop system with regenerative braking, speed-sensitive electromechanical power steering, bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights, dual-zone temperature control, cruise control, dynamic headlight range adjustment and bending lights, rear view camera, eight-speaker RCD 310 with radio/CD/MP3 playback, USB/AUX ports and Bluetooth connectivity, 17-inch wheels with 235/55 tyres.Price: RM178,888 (On-the-road without insurance).


ETCM issues recall on some X-Trail, Teana and Liberty models

                KUALA LUMPUR: Three Nissan models sold in Malaysia produced from 2002 to 2007 are being recalled over the infamous Takata airbag problem.

Local Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) said the affected cars were the X-Trail (sold in 2002 to 2007), Teana (2004) and Liberty (2003).

ETCM started the recalls from June after confirming that a total of 12,444 Nissan cars in Malaysia could have the flawed airbag inflator on the front front passenger side.

All labour and replacement parts will be offered at no charge to affected car owners.

The X-Trail launched in Malaysia in January 2015, as well as other current selling Nissan models are not affected by this exercise.

For more information, call the Nissan hotline at 1800-88-3838 or go to www.nissan.com.my.


BMW stays cautious on outlook, says some car prices may rise

                BERLIN: BMW will not cut electric vehicle (EV) prices in China and may raise some car prices at a global level, to help weather the higher input costs of EV production, it said on Thursday following first quarter results.

The carmaker reported a higher earnings margin for its cars segment, at 12.1% from 8.9% a year earlier, but kept its outlook unchanged in the face of ongoing high costs and rising competition.

BMW said in March it intended to keep prices stable this year after two years of passing on rising costs to customers, but chief financial officer Nicolas Peter said some more moderate hikes could still be expected.

"When it makes sense, we could adjust a price here and there," said Peter, who will from this month be replaced in his role by Walter Mertl.

Peter and chief executive Oliver Zipse struck a cautious tone on the outlook for the global economy in coming months, calling the environment volatile and tense.

"Many experts assume that major economic areas are likely to drift further apart - both from a political and technological perspective, and also with regard to regulations," Zipse said.

Sales were down 1.9% in Europe and fell 6.6% in China, attributed to inflation and the after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic. But an upward trend was visible in March and April, BMW said.

Pursuing ringfenced strategies in each region would allow the carmaker to compensate for weaknesses in one market through revenues from others, Zipse said, pointing to difficulties in China being offset in the first quarter by a stronger US performance.

Daniel Roeska of Bernstein Research wrote in a note that markets may question why BMW had not raised its outlook in light of the cars' increased margin.

"BMW has a reputation for guiding extremely conservatively ... the top question for most investors, as with peer Mercedes-Benz, will be whether a guidance raise needs to occur some time later this year," Roeska said.

Peter said it was too early to adjust the outlook.

Mercedes-Benz, which last week beat quarterly earnings forecasts, said it now expected to hit the higher end of its cars margin forecast of 12-14%.


Powertrain in Proton X50 wins top Chinese award

                PETALING JAYA: The Geely-developed powertrain found in the Proton X50 has won the top prize in the China Automotive Industry Awards for Science and Technology.

The award on Oct 28 is the Chinese auto industry's equivalent to the "Nobel Prize."

The award-winning powertrain, available in the 1.5 TGDI Flagship variant of the X50, is the direct fuel-injected turbocharged 1.5-litre 3-cylinder engine mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission.

The three-cylinder engine, co-developed by Volvo and its parent company Geely, offers a decent amount of performance, is lightweight, and delivers good mileage.To date, it is used in more than 600,000 vehicles worldwide. In the X50, this engine outputs 177PS at 5,500rpm and 255Nm of torque from 1,500 to 4,000rpm.

The 7DCT transmission was developed by Geely based on Volvo standards, providing a maximum efficiency of 97.2% and 0.2 second shift response time, making it suitable for pairing with the 1.5TD engine.
The 7DCT transmission is estimated to have been fitted to over one million vehicles by the end of 2020.

On perceived engine vibration from a three-cylinder engine, Geely carried out 120 noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) optimisation changes to minimise the issue. It included the dedicated design of 12 key parts such as a vibration damping balancer shaft and the use of a dual mass flywheel with centrifugal pendulum absorber damper.

Currently, the 1.5TD+7DCT powertrain has been exported to 11 countries. They include Malaysia, Britain and Sweden. Geely plans to export it to 27 countries by 2021.

 The award for the Geely-Volvo powertrain.


UK car sales crash to 1946 low on virus lockdown. That's a 97% drop

Traffic crossing Tower Bridge in London.— Bloomberg

LONDON: Britain's new car sales crashed in April to hit the lowest level since 1946, mirroring falls across Europe, with many showrooms shut for the coronavirus lockdown, industry data showed today.

New registrations for all cars collapsed by a "precipitous" 97 percent last month on a yearly basis to just 4,321 vehicles, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said in a statement.

That was the worst performance since February 1946 and compared with 161,000 cars in the same month of 2019.

"The decline was the steepest of modern times, and is in line with similar falls across Europe, with France 88.8 percent down and the Italian market falling 97.5 percent in April," the SMMT said.

It added that car showrooms were closed for Britain's lockdown -- which was implemented nationwide on March 23 -- but some deliveries did take place for key workers and front-line public services and companies.

The group meanwhile forecast that around 1.68 million new cars will be registered in 2020, which would mark a 27-percent slump from last year.

And it called for car retailers to be in the first wave of re-openings, when the lockdown starts to be lifted, in order to kick-start economic recovery.

"With the UK's showrooms closed for the whole of April, the market's worst performance in living memory is hardly surprising," said SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes.

"These figures, however, still make for exceptionally grim reading, not least for the hundreds of thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on the sector.

"A strong new car market supports a healthy economy and as Britain starts to plan for recovery, we need car retail to be in the vanguard.

"Safely restarting this most critical sector and revitalising what will, inevitably, be subdued demand will be key to unlocking manufacturing and accelerating the UK's economic regeneration."


SKILLDRVN Swift one-make race series launched

                KLANG: Kegani Racing Academy, a four-wheel motorsports training and education centre based in Klang, Selangor, launched the SKILLDRVN Swift One-make Series featuring the Suzuki Swift Sport.

In attendance was Kegani Racing Academy principal and founder Kenny Lee together with Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) founder and president Adian Yein.

"The local motorsports scene has been lacking a grassroots entry-level series that emphasises purely on a driver's skill along with succession path for a racer's career," said Lee who has over 20 years of racecar driving under his belt.

"We see this new race series as the future successor to the current Saga Cup and these race series will start alongside each other," said Adian.

Lee said the Swift Sport was chosen for its relatively low cost to acquire along with his familiarity with the vehicle and its plethora of spare parts despite its age.

"The purpose of this affordable race series is to create a new generation of drivers in terms of standards before they go racing," explained Lee.

The one-make race series featuring the Suzuki Swift Sport will make its inaugural debut with four rounds beginning from June 10 to 11 at Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

Round Two will be held from July 29 to 30, followed by Round Three from Sept 16 to 17 and finally Round Four from Oct 21 to 22. For 2024, the race series is expected to have five rounds instead.

Touted as an affordable one-make race series, it is open to all Swift Sport generations that uses a five-speed manual transmission to manage the 1.6-litre (1,586cc) M16A engine producing 125hp at 6,800rpm and 148Nm of torque at 4,800rpm.

Lee said the Swift Sport's performance will remain stock with about 120hp driving the front wheels.

"With the exception of a drop-in air filter, just safety and racing equipment as per FIA regulations will go into the car and the Engine Control Unit (ECU) will be untouched. Nothing else can be tampered with," said Lee.

At present, the academy has 12 Swift Sport owners of ages ranging from 18 to 50 already signed up, of which nine have already been trained and their cars prepared by the academy to see some racing action.

"As the number of drivers increases, it will eventually get its own start and we look forward to its growth and progression," said Adian.

Lee explained the course can take three to six months to complete since it includes practical on-track sessions at SIC which will depend on its availability.

To prepare the vehicle, Lee said it will cost Swift Sport owners some RM33,000 to complete and this includes training, equipment, parts, lubricants and support.

This includes a limit of eight Hankook Motorsports tyres for the season, Bendix brake pads, a choice of either Total Energies or RS Lubricants engine oils and services from KJ Brake Performance.

Once racing starts, racers will only need to pay RM3,500 per round which includes tyres, fuel and brake pads among others.

In addition to the trophies, winners will be given parts from the sponsors of the race series to help cover the expenses for next season.

Aside from damages acquired from car-to-car action, on-site race support and assistance to drivers will be provided for mechanical issues.

"A succession plan is already in the works and once we reach about 50 cars, we can start to graduate some drivers to higher-powered cars," said Lee about his future plans.

Lee hopes to attract and encourage more female drivers to participate with 16 ladies currently in training.

Through Lee's SKILLDRVN Speed Angels Programme, he hopes it will help to field 10 female racers in the 2024 season and eventually set up an all-female race series in the future.


Kia Soul EV used to develop revolutionary wireless charging technology

                LOS ANGELES: There are a number of issues that have to be addressed before electric cars can become the mainstream, and most of them concern the battery. There are also a number of different approaches to solving the battery issues of charging and range, and a three-year partnership project has been investigating one of the more advanced options of wireless charging using Kia Soul EVs.

The project is being conducted by a collaboration of Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center (HATCHI), wireless charging company Mojo Mobility, and the US Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).

How long an EV can drive on a full charge, how long the battery takes to recharge, and the availability of charging points are all things that need to be addressed before most people can seriously consider running an EV as their main vehicle. Bigger batteries with greater range are expensive, and even the fastest fast charging stations are few and far between and still take far longer to charge a battery than it takes to fill a tank with petrol or diesel.

Wireless charging is one of the most ambitious ways of solving these problems, and it's definitely making advances in the right direction. If or when it is widely available it would allow drivers to simply park and charge without having to bother with a cable. Kia is the latest automaker to test inductive charging, and has now announced it's deployed a fleet of Soul EVs capable of recharging wirelessly.

Five vehicles have been equipped with the technology and tested in real-world environments. The system works using electromagnetic fields transmitted between a transmitter coil on the ground and a receiver on the bottom of the car to transfer the energy. This particular system can charge at over 10 kW, with 85 percent grid-to-vehicle efficiency.

Kia claims the system is therefore so efficient that it can still charge even if the two coils are misaligned to some degree, so a less-than perfect parking job doesn't mean the car won't be able to recharge.

"We're thrilled with the success of the system and its efficiency," said HATCI president William Freels. "We set out to develop wireless charging that has real world applications and is easy to use for the consumer. Now, with this fleet of wireless Soul EVs, we can clearly see a future of unplugged electric vehicles."


No tyre change required: Goodyear tyre that heals itself

                BRUSSELS: In lieu of a presentation shown at the now-cancelled Geneva Motor Show, Goodyear revealed its newest concept tyre - the Goodyear reCharge - online Tuesday.

Instead of future drivers having to swap out tyres when they get a flat, Goodyear imagines a future where tyres can repair themselves from the inside out.

The intelligent tyre consists primarily of a lightweight frame and a regenerative, "reloadable and biodegradable" tread compound that builds itself upon the skeleton where needed.

Depending on the driver's location, vehicle, what season they are driving in, and how long their journey is, the tyre will regenerate itself accordingly.

All owners have to do to support their tyres is to fill the core with the proper capsules, each of which is filled with a customised liquid compound that converts into tread when and where it is needed.

The liquid is reinforced by fibres inspired by spider silk - one of nature's strongest biological materials - ensuring that the resulting material is both durable and sustainable.

At last year's Geneva Motor Show, Goodyear showed off the Aero tyre, a concept equipped with a rotor designed not for street cars, but for the autonomous flying cars of the future.

A few months later at the Movin'On Summit in Montreal, Michelin too announced its own version of the airless tyre. Like Goodyear's reCharge, it was puncture and flat-proof.

In any case, whether tyres are self-regenerating or not, drivers of the future will likely have no need to change, rotate or patch their tyres.


Director, company fined RM350,000 for having over 21,000 litres of diesel without permission

                SHAH ALAM: A director and his company were fined a total of RM350,000 by the Sessions Court, here, today for possessing 21,035 litres of diesel without permission.

Judge Rasyihah Ghazali meted the sentence on Tan Chooi Kim and his company, Midas Dragon Sdn Bhd, as those summoned after they changed their plea to guilty during the case mention.

Tan was fined RM120,000 or in default 12 months in jail, while his company was fined RM230,000. Tan paid the fines.

Tan and his company were each charged with having 21,035 litres of diesel in their possession without permission, violating Regulation 18 of the Control of Supplies Act (Amendment) 2021 and Regulation 21 of the Supply Control Regulations 1974.

The offence was committed at a premises in Bestari Jaya, near here, at 1.50pm on July 28.

Deputy public prosecutor from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, Nor Alimah Mohd Sanusi prosecuted the case, while both the accused were represented by lawyer, Azfar Asadullah Abdul Sathar.


New Grantt engine oil offers extra protection for turbocharged cars

                SUBANG JAYA: UMW Grantt International Sdn Bhd has launched a new lubricant touted as the first such in the country to protect car engines from LSPI (low speed pre-ignition).

"LSPI is premature internal combustion when the air-fuel mixture ignites before the spark plug fires, while the engine is still under high load at low RPM (revolutions per minute); for example, when the car is in idle mode or is being driven slowly and then is rapidly accelerated - it creates excessive pressure that can damage internal engine components," UMW Corp president of manufacturing and engineering division Megat Shahrul Azmir Nordin at the launch of the new Grantt Stellar 8000 SAE 0W-20 API SN Plus fully synthetic engine oil formulated with Knock Guard technology for LSPI protection.

The new engine oil is aimed at cars with turbocharged petrol direct injection engines, and is also billed as delivering more than 80% better engine protection against wear and power loss.

Its unique antioxidant additives help to control oil thickening, thus offering protection during cold engine start at low temperatures while retaining viscosity benefits at higher temperatures and operating conditions to protect against severe wear.

Its advanced dispersant and detergent system promotes cleaner and efficient engine performance.

The new Grantt Stellar 8000 SAE 0W-20 with the low viscosity oil, can also give users fuel savings of up to 4%.

The recommended retail price for a 4-litre pack is RM199.

"With more car manufacturers developing engines which are increasingly smaller, more efficient, more advanced and at the same time more powerful; this also creates more extreme operating conditions, especially for turbocharged petrol direct-injection engines. This makes today's engines more susceptible to LSPI which causes internal engine damage and lead to engine failure," said Megat.

UMW Grantt International (UMWG), a wholly-owned subsidiary in the UMW Group, blends and distributes Grantt lubricants.

Grantt is an in-house brand and it is blended at UMW's ISO 9001 certified plant in Shah Alam that is equipped with a full-fledged product development laboratory.

Grantt offers a premium range of lubricants for passenger cars, motorcycles, diesel engines as well as transmission fluid, grease, industrial oil, marine oil and auxiliary products.

Grantt is made from premium quality base oils and advanced additives with proprietary formulation that promote outstanding engine cleanliness, exceptional fuel efficiency, wear protection that meets and exceeds the latest API standards.


NY may soon approve self-driving vehicles ahead of auto show

                NEW YORK: Public highways in New York could soon be open to testing self-driving cars according to a measure in the budget New York State lawmakers are negotiating in Albany.

New York's decades-old state law requiring drivers to keep at least one hand on the wheel has kept self-driving cars off of the state's roadways. The budget measure would allow the change for autonomous car testing and demonstration.

The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, which owns and operates the New York International Automobile Show, supports the measure and has been working closely with New York state governor Andrew Cuomo to allow the testing of autonomous vehicles in New York.

"Our involvement in the issue really began as we started to plan our Empire State of Mobility Conference for this year's New York Auto Show and we realised that we would not be able to have any real-time demonstrations of autonomous vehicles for government officials and the media. It just didn't make sense. The whole world looks to New York City as a place where trends begin and news is made, yet there was no provision for this important game-changing technology to be tested in the most populous and diverse city in the nation," said GNYADA president Mark Schienberg.

The New York Auto Show's Empire State of Mobility Conference takes place at the Jacob Javits Center on April 12 in advance of the 10-day public auto show.

The conference will address how to fund and turn fundamental shifts in mobility into lucrative business opportunities, promote access to jobs, make logistics smarter, connect visitors, empower citizens and make transportation more sustainable.

"It is our belief that urban areas will be at the heart of the autonomous driving revolution and we want the automakers and emerging tech companies to view New York City as the center of research and development in this area," said Schienberg.


Renault brings driverless control system closer to reality

                PARIS: Renault announced today it has developed an autonomous control system that can handle challenging driving scenarios.

In an industry first, the system can demonstrate road obstacle avoidance and match those skills performed by professional test drivers at the wheel. The tests were conducted at the Renault Open Innovation Lab – Silicon Valley in the United States, using a Renault Zoe called Callie.

The lab is part of the network within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and is focused on improving safety and advancing autonomous driving technology.

The advancements announced were tested against professional test drivers, Will support Groupe Renault’s goal of becoming one of the first brands to offer widely available "Mind Off" technology on mainstream vehicles and deploy fleets of robo-vehicles

The basis for this work comes from research published by Stanford University's Dynamic Design Lab (led by Professor Chris Gerdes, former Chief Innovation Officer for the US Department of Transportation), with which Renault Open Innovation Lab has been working with.

Renault said the innovation would contribute to the launch of over 15 Renault models with different levels of autonomous driving capabilities by 2022.