Mercedes-Benz G 350 d enters at RM1.0mil

                PETALING JAYA: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has launched a less forceful G 350 d in comparison to the tuned-up AMG variant of the G63.

Priced on-the-road without insurance at RM999,888, the G 350 d uses a new 3.0-litre (2,925cc) OM 656 inline-six turbodiesel engine with NanoSlide cylinder wall coating to reduce frictional losses.

The engine provides 286hp from 3,400 to 4,600rpm and 600Nm of torque from 1,200 to  3,200rpm.

With a nine-speed (9G-Tronic) automatic transmission, the G 350 d gets from 0 to 100kph in 7.4 seconds and can cruise at a top speed of 199kph for this off-road icon.

Engineers of this G-Class managed to shorten the 9G-Troni's shift times via software to make it feel a little more livelier on the road.

The all-wheel-drive system splits torque between the front (40%) and rear (60%) axles,,          which particularly suits road-goers.

To boost its comfort levels, the G 350 d has been provided with actively controlled engine mounts.

These soak up and dampen engine noise and vibrations before it reaches the ladder-type frame at slow speeds.

At higher engine speeds, the two engine mounts are automatically made stiffer.

The exterior of the G 350 d is equipped with a combination of the AMG Night Package and the Stainless Steel Package.

Under the AMG Night Package, this G 350 d rolls on 20-inch AMG multi-spoke lightweight alloys while having smoked indicators, reverse lights and headlights.

Adding to the list is an exterior protective strip with black pinstripe trim inserts, radiator grill louvres and spare wheel ring as well as bumper trim elements painted in Obsidian Black.

The Staiunless Steel Package will see the G 350 d fitted with running boards to make entering and exiting this G-Class a lot more convenient.

The spare wheel cover with a 3D three-pointed star, door sills, rear load sills guard, and the exterior protective strip have been painted in Obsidian Black.

Inside, the cabin features a leather-covered instrument panel with exclusive colour options.

As standard, the cabin will be furnished with black Dinamica microfibre roof lining and a frameless rear view mirror under the Exclusive interior package.

A Driving Assistance Package has been included to provide Active Distance Assist Distronic (up to 200kph) and Blind Spot Assist (30 to 250kph).

The G 350 d was launched alongside the Mercedes-Benz GLB luxury compact seven-seater SUV with three model variants.


Porsche invests in Swiss start-up that develops holographic head-up display tech

                STUTTGART/ZURICH: Porsche announced it is funding Swiss start-up WayRay, which develops holographic augmented reality head-up display technologies that could be integrated into cars to enhance the driving experience.

Porsche has bought into WayRay as a strategic lead investor during the current Series C funding round. The total value of the financing round is US$80 million (RM331mil).

Porsche has taken a stake in WayRay alongside Hyundai Motor, JVCKENWOOD and various funds, positioning itself alongside investors such as Alibaba Group.

The collaboration between WayRay and Porsche forms part of the “Startup Autobahn” innovation platform and will now be strategically developed to actively drive forward the future-oriented technology and its use cases in the automotive industry. WayRay is working with various manufacturers to open up the technology to new fields of application.

In comparison to conventional head-up displays on the market, WayRay offers a significantly smaller projection system which can be installed in any vehicle, regardless of the interior design. The technology is being tested for both drivers and passengers, thereby offering potential for new concepts in the context of highly automated driving. WayRay’s technology offers the option of visually displaying these features on the windscreen.

“As a deep-tech company, we are committed to creating fundamental innovations that bring us far beyond holographic Augmented Reality displays and new interfaces," said WayRay founder/CEO Vitaly Ponomarev.

"A growing number of projects with carmakers and strong investors like Porsche are fuelling the company’s growth and boosting our confidence in implementing complex innovations."

WayRay employs over 250 employees, with the Swiss company’s headquarters being located in Zurich. WayRay also has offices in Russia, China and the United States, with a production site in Germany planned for 2019.


Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupe: Savage elegance

                It’s not often that we get to drive an AMG car. But when we do, it’s always an occasion to see how much further it can push the regular Mercedes base car on the performance slider.

The C 63 S Coupe is a genuine show-and-tell example of Mercedes-AMG’s handiwork, an enticing package that harks of the elastic power lurking within.

Exterior

The coupe is undoubtedly a looker. Graceful and aggressive at once, this is a striking car that demands attention. Sitting low to the ground with flared wheel arches that house big forged wheels, the coupe looks fast even when standing still.

There’s a restrained drama in the curves that begins with the AMG grille and continues with the bulging bonnet to the swooping roofline and aggressive diffuser.

With prominent ‘V8 Biturbo’ emblems on the front wings ,it’s a reminder to all about its bestselling feature. In addition, carbon-fibre trim on the sides, bright red brake callipers along with blacked-out wheels/mirror housings/window surrounds/bumpers accentuate the sporty appearance. A set of quad exhaust tips round off the effect.

This is a car that wouldn’t be out of place barrelling down a race track as is or cruising along the expressway.

Interior

The cabin is a snapshot of how Mercedes defines performance luxury. It’s all togged up to complement the exterior façade.

It echoes the familiarity of the standard C-Class but the sporty theme is amplified to justify the much higher asking price.

Dark and masculine, the dashboard is decked out with carbon fibre panellings and brushed aluminium inserts that continue to the doors. Like the regular C-Class coupe, a floating 7-inch display takes centrestage, and still isn’t touch-sensitive.

Typical AMG appointments are the premium Napa leather seats, sports steering wheel with paddle shifters and sport seats with side supports upfront, wrapped in Artico man-made leather/Dinamica microfibre.Also included are the AMG-specific IWC analogue clock, panoramic sunroof, Burmester sound system and blood-red seatbelts to add a racy contrast.

The AMG-specific instrument cluster with AMG main menu includes a Racetimer and an AMG Start-up display.

The C 63 S seats four. Coupes are designed to pamper the duo upfront. Not so the rear where head and legroom aren’t much to speak of.

A low seating position in the C 63 S means it’s easy to go in but takes more effort to get out, more so for the two passengers in the back row of the two-door car.

The floating display and classic instrument cluster still have legs in keeping with the current crop of C-Class cars.

But they are starting to lose their lustre in the face of massive screen redesigns in the other regular Mercedes models, and most recently in the new A-Class. Even the updated C 63/C 43 have begun to get an optional digital meter cluster, among other notable changes -- like the in-your-face Panamericana grille for the C 63.

Practicality

Coupes are hardly known for their practicality in the way sedans of a similar size would. But the C 63 S makes an effort in that department.

In a nod to in-cabin practicality, there is decent glove box capacity, two cupholders per row, a deep centre console compartment, shallow door pockets and side storage spaces in back row. Two rear passengers sit tight but they do get rear air-cond vents as small comfort. There are also hooks in second row to hang shopping bags and what-nots at a pinch.

Out back, the C 63 S has the benefit of a decent sized boot space that should be able to fit in enough luggage for a couple on a weekend getaway.

Safety

As fast as the C 63 S is, safety hasn’t been neglected. It’s available in gobs. Count these as standard: seven airbags (includes kneebag), blind spot detection, lane keeping assist, brake assist, 360° camera, autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, steering assist, queue assist, attention assist and Isofix child seat attachment system.

Little things matter too. Reverse the car and the wing mirrors automatically dip to show a better view of the road at the back.

Equipment

Even without the added niceties of the limited Edition 1 pack that switches the wheels from 19 to 20-inch and other cosmetic touches, the base car is already well-appointed.

The C 63 S test car came with the following equipment and options as standard:
LED High Performance headlamps, keyless entry & Keyless-GO, hands-free access, Eco start/stop, AMG Night Package, Cruise control with Speedtronic, high performance composite brakes, panoramic sliding sunroof, Nappa leather upholstery, sports pedals, AMG Carbon Fibre dash inserts, Burmester surround sound system, tyre pressure monitoring system

Performance

AMG cars pivot their existence around the hand-built engine. Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers once said C 43 customers often move up to the C 63 after overcoming the notion it was sheer overkill.

The C 63 is further differentiated into the standard C 63 and C 63 S – the epitome of C-Class performance. Although you can order the detuned and lower-priced C 63 (-34hp, -50Nm), Mercedes-Benz Malaysia would rather steer you to the pricier C 63 S so that you can savour the full potential of a top-flight coupe whose 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine doles out 510hp from 5,500rpm and 700Nm of twist from 1,750-4,500rpm.

The prevailing logic: if you are going to spend so much on an AMG performer, why settle for less in big muscle territory? The powerplant, incidentally, is a close relative to the one in the AMG GT car.

All that kick-ass power is routed to the rear wheels via an AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports automatic transmission.

The C 63 S is armed with Launch Control, a source of personal amusement. It’s wicked fun to see if you can achieve the 3.9s official sprint time as the car gallops from 0-100kph. The exercise is literally a rush, with top speed capped at 250kph. An optional AMG tune-up bumps up the top speed to 290kph.

Like the fire-breathing engine, the advanced AMG Ride Control chassis with electronically controlled shock absorbers, the AMG Dynamic Select drive settings, the rear differential lock and the dynamic engine mounts that were all developed in-house, worked together to enhance driving dynamics.

Ride & handling

The V8 engine starts up with a bark and gets growly all the way, promising a visceral experience.

Apart from the usual Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual drive modes, the Race mode sets the C 63 S apart from the C 43 and the C 63. A Performance exhaust system with flap control button on the centre console provides the driver with an even greater level of control of the exhaust note. With the button activated, the sound the car makes reminds one of a chugging motorboat heading out to sea.

It doesn't take much pedal pressure to make the coupe go fast with the turbos pumping up the urgency from a lowly 1,750rpm.

The C 63 S is an absolute blast to drive. The beefy tiller affords excellent grip. Ride is firm. Gears shifts rapidly.

The car tackles road duty with taut driving dynamics. Turn-in is quick and there's good steering feedback. It is sharp, agile and stable at speeds, making the driver feel he is in total control.

The coupe handles tight corners well but at the expense of a noisy ride even in Comfort mode.

As in most things that go fast, effective stoppers are equally important. Braking power is immense, bringing the powerful coupe to a quick stop without any noticeable sign of brake fade.

If you know what you are doing, this is a car that will reel out oversteering thrills by the second. Trust the V8 to put on a good show.

While the C 63 S is downright ferocious, it can still be a relatively pliant beast that stays manageable in the hands of a less experienced individual. But the rumble it makes and the quivering forces within are always a reminder that it’s special and meant for the individual who appreciates driving a finely tuned projectile.

In most driving situations, we reckon Comfort is the default mode, with the rest of the drive modes stepping up the excitement when the need for frisky manoeuvres takes hold.

Fuel Consumption

The official figurefor combined fuel consumption is 8.6l/100km but the real-world mileage will depart from the script simply because environments and personal driving styles differ widely.

With more highway driving done than city driving and with a penchant to overwork the go-fast pedal, we ended up with 11.5l/100km after an exploratory weekend. Not bad really for a small car with a big engine.

Reliability

Mercedes-Benz offers a two-year manufacturer warranty and a two-year in-country extended warranty, a mirror image to the manufacturer warranty with unlimited mileage coverage.

The comprehensive coverage keeps cost of ownership under control. You only need to pay for cost of the vehicle maintenance as well as wear and tear items. Such costs vary as vehicle maintenance, wear and tear items charges are subject to individual driving behaviour.

Price

The C 63 S retails at RM773,888 (on-the-road with GST and without insurance). The 4-door version is RM75,000 less.

Summary

No one doubts the C 63 S Coupe’s reputation as a luxury hotrod. It is a supremely talented machine that satisfies many of the parameters that define a performance luxury car.

If you have the means to pay the stiff asking price for an AMG-massaged C-Class, you will be rewarded with a car that is elegant yet savage, allowing for bouts of hooliganism - executed with authority.
READ MORE::
What the Mercedes-AMG C 43 has to offer


Boost e-wallet now accepted at 800 Shell fuel stations

                SHAH ALAM: Malaysia’s e-wallet company Boost has announced that its payment service is now available at 800 Shell fuel stations nationwide with the aim of enhancing customers’ retail experience.

In celebrating the partnership, Boost and Shell are having an exclusive promotion that will run from May 14 to June 14.

The promotion will look to reward its customers with two RM5 cashback after spending RM40 with their Boost e-wallet at selected Shell stations.

The collaboration began in April and its service are now available at more than 80% of Shell's fuel stations across the country.

According to its press statement, Boost indicated that response to its e-wallet payment option has been encouraging enough to make this service available at all Shell stations nationwide by end May 2019.

“Boost was first launched for mobile prepaid users to reload their mobile credit but since getting our e-Money license from Bank Negara Malaysia, our e-wallet features have gained a lot of traction. We are excited to play a leading role in turning Malaysia into a cashless society, in-line with the Government’s ambitions," said Axiata Digital Services (parent company to Boost) CEO Mohd Khairil Abdullah.

“We wanted customers to be able to pay for their goods and services in a convenient and safe manner. As such, we see this partnership as providing more convenience to our users, because now they can use our e-wallet at Shell stations nationwide,” he added.

Customers can now transact payments, money transfers, e-vouchers, e-gifting and prepaid top-ups through Boost's e-wallet payment system and can be downloaded from the App Store (for iOS users) or Google Play Store (for Android users).

The local e-wallet platform claims that it now has over 4.0mil registered users and over 80,000 merchant touchpoints, and growing.

"Our customers are digitally savvy and technology plays an important role in their day-to-day lives. Hence, partnering with the nation’s leading e-wallet enables us to offer them the additional option to pay with their Boost e-wallet when fuelling up with Shell fuels and grabbing their favourite treats at Shell Select,” said Shell Malaysia Trading and Shell Timur managing director Shairan Huzani Husain.

“We are constantly looking to offer Malaysians a more convenient and enhanced retail experience, to help make their life’s journeys better,” added Shairan.


July vehicle sales 13% up

                PETALING JAYA: Total vehicle sales rose 13% year-on-year to 57,552 units last month, compared with 50,854 units in the previous corresponding period as the government’s tax exemptions and aggressive promotional campaigns by automotive companies continued to spur car sales.

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said the stronger sales last month was also due to the fact that it was a longer working month compared with June, whereby sales in July were 29% higher on a month-on-month basis.

However, year-to-date July, total vehicle sales stood at 232,245 units compared with 347,171 units in the corresponding period, due to businesses being forced to shut down for nearly two months during the movement control order (MCO).

An analyst with a local bank-backed brokerage said sales in July were within expectations.

“The rise in vehicle sales can be attributed to the tax holiday, whereby customers are eager to capitalise on cheaper vehicle prices, ” he said.

Under the Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana) announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last month, locally-assembled cars will be fully exempted from sales tax, while for imported cars, the sales tax will be cut from 10% to 5%, until Dec 31.As for August, MAA expects the level of vehicle sales to be on par with July’s.

The association said the projection is underpinned by the sales tax exemption and ongoing promotional campaigns by car companies.

In a recent report, CGS-CIMB said there are positive signs of recovery in the second half of 2020, adding however that key challenges still remain.

“While the MAA is appreciative of the government’s decision to waive sales taxes until end-2020, it is wary that with the current economic situation, consumers are more cautious on spending on big ticket items like motor vehicles.

“Hence, second half total industry volume (TIV) may not be as exciting as the previous tax holiday period in 2018. In spite of the lower interest-rate environment, stricter lending approvals from financial institutions remain a key challenge for the sector.”

TIV in the first half of 2020 plunged 41.1% to 174,675 units from 296,317 units in the previous corresponding period as a result of economic disruptions resulting from the country’s MCO to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last month, the MAA announced that it was revising upwards its vehicle sales target for the year by 17.5% to 470,000 units, as the grim economic outlook is likely to be buffered by the various incentives recently announced by the government.

Nevertheless, the projection would not only mean that sales this year would be a 22% contraction from 2019’s 604,287 units sold. It would also be the first time in 13 years since TIV failed to surpass the 500,000-unit mark.

In April, the MAA revised downwards its 2020 TIV forecast to 400,000 units from the 607,000 units it had projected in January.


Peugeot maker PSA says prepared for plunge in car demand

                PARIS: PSA has enough funds to cope with a halving in auto industry sales this year, the French carmaker said today as it warned of a plunge in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic and said it would try to avoid tapping state aid if possible.

Like rivals across Europe and elsewhere, the Peugeot owner has shuttered plants as governments enforce lockdowns to fight the pandemic, while dealerships are also closed, grinding car sales to a halt.

PSA, which also makes Citroen, DS, Opel and Vauxhall vehicles, has not yet set a date to resume production in Europe, and executives said there was no point in adding to stock levels until vendors opened again.

PSA said 90% of its staff were on furlough or partial unemployment schemes, which in France for instance are government-funded, but has so far not resorted to other forms of state aid.

“We want the company to be as free as possible of public dependence,” financial chief Philippe de Rovira told analysts, adding PSA had not asked for any government-guaranteed loans.

The company posted a 15.6% drop in first-quarter sales €15.2 billion (RM72bil), with European lockdowns only affecting the final few weeks. Analysts at Jefferies said PSA’s revenues had been more resilient than expected.

The group said it now expected auto sector sales to fall by 25% in Europe and Latin America this year, by 20% in Russia, and by 10% in China. But it added it had enough liquidity to deal with market decreases of over 50%.

The French government has urged companies looking to tap state support to scrap or moderate dividend payments.

For PSA, any changes to planned payouts could also complicate a merger agreement with Fiat Chrysler, which entailed dividend arrangements that would have to be re-approved by both firms.

PSA made no comment on progress with the merger today and said the decision on its dividend was still up in the air. Its next shareholder meeting has been postponed to the end of June.

The company maintained its target for an average adjusted operating margin of over 4.5% for its automotive division over the 2019 to 2021 period, and said margins were unlikely to turn negative this year.

PSA is slashing costs in areas like marketing and trying to find purchasing savings to counter the crisis.


Proton achieves a seven and a half year high

                SUBANG JAYA: Proton’s strong start to 2021 continued in March as the company posted not only a new high point for the year but also achieved its best sales month since September 2013.

Some 14,989 units (domestic + export) were sold last month, equivalent to a 26.2% increase over February and an estimated market share of 23.5%.

Overall, Proton retained second position in the sales rankings table. For the first quarter of the year, the company achieved a cumulative sales total of 32,826 units and its highest quarterly market share figure since March 2012.

Deliveries for Proton’s two SUV models continued to grow in March as the company’s new production line at Tanjung Malim increased its output for the month.

Some 3,513 units of the Proton X50 were delivered to customers while the X70 saw a month on month increase of 58.4% to 2,337 units.

 Saga.

When combined, it means Proton set another internal record with 5,850 SUVs delivered, beating the previous record of 4,820 units that was set just last month.

The company’s top seller remains the Saga and with 5,589 units delivered, sales for the A-segment sedan grew by 32.5% compared to February.

The Persona, Iriz and Exora also posted their best figures for the year with the evergreen MPV once again claiming the crown for highest C-segment MPV sales.

Proton Edar chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said Malaysia’s automotive industry had finally hit its stride for 2021 after a soft start.

"We estimate total industry volume (TIV) to be over 63,000 units, suggesting all brands will post their best numbers for the year.

"For Proton, March was a very good sales month as we achieved our highest figure in 90 months but our sense of achievement is tempered by the fact that it could have been even better if we were able to produce more units.

 Roslan.

“As things stand, we still have a large order bank to fulfil so over the next few months, Proton will strive to increase production while maintaining our focus on delivering high quality products.

"We are also mindful that Penjana incentives are currently due to expire by the end June, so we aim to ensure as many customers as possible are able to enjoy the tax holiday given by the government,” he said.

Proton’s in-house automobile financing subsidiary, Proton Commerce Sdn Bhd, has seen a similar increase in volume for financing of cars.

"Nearly 4,000 loans were disbursed in the first three months of 2021 with an estimated 1,700 going out in March alone. The latter figure is equivalent to a 122% growth over February and overall, disbursements for the first quarter of the year are up by 141% over 2020.

“While the increase in unit sales of Proton vehicles has been our main focus, it is important to acknowledge the growth in loan disbursements by Proton Commerce.

"This proves we are offering attractive financing packages to our customers and can compete against other players in the automotive finance market," Roslan said.


Tesla unveils electric pickup truck, futuristic design ignites controversy

Musk gesturing while wrapping up his presentation of the Cybertruck at Tesla Design Center in Hawthorne, California on Nov 21. — AFP
LOS ANGELES: Tesla Inc on Thursday unveiled its first electric pickup truck that looked like a futuristic angular armoured vehicle in gunmetal gray, as the California company took aim at the heart of Detroit automakers’ profits.

At a launch event here, Tesla chief executive Elon Musk said the Cybertruck will have a starting price of US$39,900 and production is expected to begin in late 2021.

Other versions will be priced at US$49,900 and US$69,900 with the most expensive offering a range of more than 800km.

“We need sustainable energy now. If we don’t have a pickup truck, we can’t solve it. The top 3 selling vehicles in America are pickup trucks. To solve sustainable energy, we have to have a pickup truck,” he said.

The truck, which Musk claimed “won’t scratch and dent”, was described as having windows made from armored glass. But the glass cracked like a spider web when hit with a metal ball during a demonstration. Musk appeared surprised but noted that the glass had not completely broken.

Reactions on Twitter ranged from love to hate of the sharply angled vehicle. “I just watched tesla release the #cybertruck and honestly? My life feels complete,” wrote @aidan_tenud, while @nateallensnyde wrote “Its nice to see Elon Musk make a cardboard box car he drew in kindergarten,”.

Musk earlier tweeted the design was partly influenced by the Lotus Esprit sportscar that doubled as a submarine in the 1970s 007 film “The Spy Who Loved Me”.

The truck marks the first foray by Tesla, whose Model 3 sedan is the world’s top-selling battery electric car, into pickup trucks, a market dominated by Ford Motor Co’s F-150, along with models by General Motors Co, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV.

The pickup shifts Tesla more towards trucks and SUVs. The automaker has so far sold mostly Model S and Model 3 sedans, but also offers the Model X SUV and starting next year the Model Y compact SUV.

A focus on the high-performance end of the market is only natural given the success of Ford’s 450-horsepower F-150 Raptor truck, which launched in 2009 and whose sales have since risen annually, according to Ford spokesman Mike Levine.

While Ford does not disclose Raptor sales, Levine said annual demand is well above 19,000 vehicles and the No. 2 US automaker has never had to offer incentives on the model, which costs in the high US$60,000 range. Ford also offers the more expensive F-150 Limited, its most powerful and luxurious pickup.

Ford and GM are also gearing up to challenge Tesla more directly with new offerings like the Ford Mustang Mach E electric SUV as well as electric pickups.

Electric pickups and SUVs could help Ford and GM generate the significant EV sales they will need to meet tougher emission standards and EV mandates in California and other states.

The Trump administration is moving to roll back those standards, but electric trucks are a hedge if California prevails.

Demand for full-size electric pickup trucks in the near term may not be huge, however.

Industry tracking firm IHS Markit estimates the electric truck segment - both full- and mid-sized models - will account for about 75,000 sales in 2026, compared with an expected 3 million light trucks overall. The Tesla truck is not part of that estimate.

Ford aims to sell an electric F-series in late 2021, sources familiar with the plans said. It also will offer the Mach E next year as part of its plan to invest US$11.5 billion by 2022 to electrify its vehicles.

In April, Ford invested US$500 million in startup Rivian, which plans to build its own electric pickup beginning in fall 2020.

GM plans to build a family of premium electric pickup trucks and SUVs, with the first pickup due to go on sale in the fall of 2021. It plans to invest US$8 billion by 2023 to develop electric and self-driving vehicles.


Mayflower buys into GoCar car-sharing service

                KUALA LUMPUR: Travel and car rental company Mayflower Acme Tours Sdn Bhd is buying a majority stake in technology start-up GoCar Mobility Sdn Bhd (GoCar), a car-sharing service.

The acquisition is part of Mayflower’s strategy to expand its presence in the mobility market, search for new mobility solution opportunities, and allow Mayflower to strengthen its share in the car service/livery business.

Following the acquisition, GoCar will become a subsidiary of Mayflower and will continue to operate under its own name and brand. Mayflower is a subsidiary of Warisan TC Holdings Berhad.

Founded in March 2015, GoCar is a startup that allows members to rent cars by the hour or day, through via a website or mobile app. Since its launch, GoCar has received over 5,000 hours of bookings for its cars located in Cyberjaya, Mont Kiara, Mid Valley, and Bangsar.

GoCar has been awarded the CIP 500 grant by Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd. The RM500,000 grant enables the car-sharing service to further expand into new markets, scale the tam, and boost its marketing reach.

“By joining the Tan Chong family, we will significantly scale our fleet, allowing us to expand to other regions in Malaysia seamlessly, as well as leveraging existing Mayflower’s airport and retail counters," said GoCar executive director T.J. Tan.


Takata air bag recall probe could expand, says US regulator

                WASHINGTON: US regulators said on Monday they could expand their investigation into Takata Corp  air bag inflators beyond 11 automakers, as questions arose about whether vehicle design played a role in the devices posing a deadly risk to the public.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) chief Mark Rosekind said his agency can add more auto manufacturers to the consent order that regulators announced with Takata in May. He said some car makers could also begin to move more quickly when they suspect a potential problem.

On Thursday, NHTSA expects to make a case in public that it should coordinate the Takata recall to ensure that an estimated 23.4 million air bag inflators installed in 19.2 million US vehicles from 11 automakers are properly replaced.

"We’ll try to be very specific on Thursday but it goes beyond the 11,” Rosekind told reporters.

"All of these are fitting under the investigation we currently have. And we’ll be talking about all of those," he said.

The air bag inflators, which can explode with too much force and spray metal shrapnel into passenger compartments, have been linked to at least eight deaths and more than 100 injuries worldwide.

Rosekind's comments follow news in August that regulators directed the US units of Volkswagen AG to provide information on the June rupture of a Takata side air bag in a 2015 model VW Tiguan. The report does not fit the pattern of other cases, which have involved front air bags of older model vehicles.

Takata declined on Tuesday to comment on which automakers' cars could be added to the list under investigation. The list already includes vehicles manufactured by Toyota Motor Corp, Honda Motor Co. Ltd and General Motors.

"We're concentrating on producing replacement parts and we're working with automakers to contain the issue. We plan to continue our co-operation with NHTSA," a company spokesman said.


Mercedes-Benz cars to have 'supercomputers', unveils Google partnership

                BERLIN: Mercedes-Benz said on Wednesday it has teamed up with Google on navigation and will offer "super computer-like performance" in every car with automated driving sensors as it seeks to compete with Tesla and Chinese newcomers.

Automakers new and old are racing to match software-powered features pioneered by Tesla, which allow for vehicle performance, battery range and self-driving capabilities to be updated from a distance.

The German carmaker agreed to share revenue with semiconductor maker Nvidia Corp, its partner on automated driving software since 2020, to bring down the upfront cost of buying expensive high-powered semiconductors, chief executive Ola Kaellenius said on Wednesday.

"You only pay for a heavily subsidised chip, and then figure out how to maximise joint revenue," he said, reasoning that the sunk costs would be low even if drivers did not turn on every feature allowed by the chip.

But only customers paying for an extra option package would have cars equipped with Lidar sensor technology and other hardware for automated "Level 3" driving, which have a higher variable cost, Kaellenius said.

Self-driving sensor maker Luminar Technologies Inc, in which Mercedes owns a small stake, said on Wednesday it struck a multi-billion dollar deal with the carmaker to integrate its sensors across a broad range of its vehicles by the middle of the decade, sending Luminar shares up over 25%.

Mercedes' announcements at a software update day in Sunnyvale, California, detailed the strategy behind a process underway for years at the carmaker to move from a patchwork approach integrating software from a range of suppliers to controlling the core of its software and bringing partners in.

It generated over one billion euros ($1.06 billion) from software-enabled revenues in 2022 and expects that figure to rise to a high single-digit billion euro figure by 2030 after it rolls out its new MB.OS operating system from mid-decade.

This is a more conservative estimate as a proportion of total revenue than others like Stellantis and General Motors have put forward.

"We take a prudent approach because no-one knows how big that potential pot of gold is at this stage," Kaellenius said.

Mercedes said the collaboration with Google would allow it to offer traffic information and automatic rerouting in its cars.

Drivers will also be able to watch YouTube on the cars' entertainment system when the car is parked or in Level 3 autonomous driving mode, which allows a driver to take their eyes off the wheel on certain roads as long as they can resume control if needed.

Other carmakers like General Motors, Renault, Nissan and Ford have embedded an entire package of Google services into their vehicles, offering features like Google Maps, Google Assistant and other applications.

All vehicles on Mercedes' upcoming modular architecture platform will also have so-called hyperscreens extending across the cockpit of the car, the company said on Wednesday.


MG aims to rekindle sporting spark with new electric hatchback

                LONDON: The MG brand, which was saved 15 years ago after a buyout by China's SAIC Motor, has confirmed more details of its upcoming new global electric hatchback, the MG4 Electric.

The striking four-door EV with a large octagonal MG badge prominent on the bonnet will debut in September as the first of four new electrics in the company's "cyber" series. These are based on SAIC's new Modular Scalable Platform (MSP).

The MG, marketed as the Mulan in some markets, squares up against the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Kia Niro EV, with a range of up to 450km between charges. It's designed to appeal to both Chinese and global customers alike.

The EV showcases some new design thinking, with crisper lines and visuals inspired by those first seen on last year's Cyberster roadster concept.

The shark-nosed MG4 Electric is more aggressively styled than previous models from the maker. It's being seen as an attempt to conjure up the heritage of the original British brand, famous for its sports cars and racing success. The MG story goes back to 1924.

The MG4 will be launched with the choice of 167-hp and 201-hp single-motor rear-wheel-drive power train, with a range-topping 443-hp dual-motor range-topper in the pipeline.

MG said the 64kWh battery can be charged at up to 135kW, meaning a charge time of only 35 minutes from between 10 and 80%.

The MG4 EVs come with a seven-year warranty and a raft of hi-tech features, including a 10.25-inch infotainment screen and a 7-inch driver display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity.

Pricing has not been announced but the MG4 is expected to retail in Europe for less than €30,000 (RM137,000), making it cheaper than a VW ID.3.

"We believe our new MG4 EV will be an enticing proposition for customers seeking an affordable electric car without compromise," said MG's UK commercial director Guy Pigounakis.


Tesla cuts waiting time for Model 3, Model Y deliveries in China

                SHANGHAI: Tesla Inc has shortened delivery waiting times for Model 3 and Model Y cars in China to a maximum of 14 weeks, according to its Chinese website.

The US automaker slashed the waiting times for most of the Model 3 and Model Y cars to six to 10 weeks, the website showed.

Buyers of the long-range version of Model Y still need to wait for 10 to 14 weeks after placing the orders, compared to 16 to 20 weeks previously.


Tesla suspends production at US vehicle plant due to coronavirus

A view of Tesla Inc's US plant. — Reuters
SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc on Thursday ended a standoff with local California authorities concerned about the spread of the coronavirus, saying it will suspend production at its San Francisco Bay Area vehicle factory on March 24.

The company said its New York solar roof tile factory will also temporarily suspend production, while operations at its Nevada battery plant will continue.

“Despite taking all known health precautions, continued operations in certain locations has caused challenges for our employees, their families and our suppliers,” the company said in a statement.

Tesla’s shares were down 8% in after-hours trading following the announcement.

The decision to suspend production at the Fremont, California, plant comes as Tesla ramps up production of its Model Y sport utility vehicle at the factory. Demand for the Model Y is expected to be higher than for all of Tesla’s other models combined, chief executive Elon Musk has said.

Musk on Thursday tweeted that Tesla’s China operations were running “normally across hundreds of suppliers & all of Tesla Shanghai.” The Shanghai factory is key to Tesla’s growth strategy and the company plans to expand car production capacity there.

Tesla’s decision to suspend production came after several days of discussions with local officials and after the company met on Thursday with the city of Fremont.

The highly contagious respiratory illness has infected more than 10,700 in the United States.

The automaker also said it believed it had enough liquidity to successfully navigate the extended period of uncertainty, with some US$6.3 billion in cash at the end of the third quarter, ahead of a recent $2.3 billion capital raise.

The city and officials from the surrounding Alameda County did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

Alameda County is one of six counties covered by an order from regional officials to “shelter in place,” which limits activity, travel and business functions to only the most essential, and advises people to stay home except for the most crucial reasons.

The county sheriff’s office said on Tuesday afternoon Tesla was not considered an essential business and cannot continue to operate its factory normally.


Next Hyundai i30 unveiled

                LONDON: The new-generation Hyundai i30 sets a new milestone and shifts customer perception of Hyundai as a brand that is European at heart.

Available in early 2017, it is the first Hyundai car to feature the new turbo-charged petrol engine, the 1.4 T-GDI with 140ps.

There are three petrol engines and one diesel engine, including a 1.0 T-GDI turbocharged three cylinder engine with 120ps or the 1.4 MPI four cylinder with 100ps and one diesel engine: the 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine, available with three power outputs: 95, 110 and 133ps.

Mated to the engines is either the six-speed manual transmission (6MT) or Hyundai’s efficient and direct-responding seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (7DCT).

It has a luggage capacity of up to 395 litres with a practical two-stage luggage board and a ski hatch in the rear centre seat.

The new-generation i30 was tested on the most demanding race track in the world, the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

Compared to its predecessor the steering is 10 per cent more direct and the vehicle response is 15mm faster.

The new chassis of the New Generation i30 has been completely reworked to provide a dynamic and compliant driving experience with high levels of ride comfort.

Contributing to this is the standard multi-link rear suspension for all versions.

Hyundai Motor is the only car manufacturer to make its own steel for the production of its vehicles globally, with great benefits for the new i30 featuring a strong and light body.

The quantity of Advanced High Strength Steel has almost doubled to 53 per cent while at the same time reducing the weight of the body-in-white by 28kg and increasing rigidity by 22 per cent in comparison to its predecessor.

The new i30 features the latest active safety features: Autonomous Emergency Braking with Front Collision Warning System, Smart Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Keeping Assist System, Speed Limit Information Function and High Beam Assist.

New to the Hyundai line-up is the Driver Attention Alert.


New BMW grille reimagined without changing size

The rendered new grille compared to the original (below). Do you like the tweaked version? — All rendered images by CarScoops

PETALING JAYA: Ever since the M3 and M4 went official, BMW has caught a lot of attention for the two products.

Not only for the better performance that the new generation cars are expected to deliver but also the front end of the car.

Rightly so. The face of a car gives it a solid identity and in the latest incarnation, it has drawn plenty of criticism.

Well, you guys know what we are talking about. You have seen the pictures and the videos on the latest M cars so it doesn't need repeating how the vertical grille has elicited many an unkind remark.

It's a dramatic departure from M car grilles of yesteryear though its design was said to be inspired by the vertical shapes of the earliest BMWs.

 Shaving off some height.

Ask Chip Foose and people who share his views. Some with car design chops like the aforementioned person had taken to offer their own take of what the new grille should look like.

In the ongoing debate of the grille, auto site CarScoops wades in with a tweak here and there of the standard grille in what it believes to be a better rendition of the M grille.

It homed in on shortening the grille and replacing the horizontal slats in the grille.

CarScoops argued that in good-looking vehicles, none of their grilles ever rise above the line of the headlights. Even if they do, it's just a smidgen. It said the overly tall grille had resulted in awkward proportions.

 Closing the gaps.

To fix the gaps between the slats, CarScoops opted for the mesh look to complement those in the side intakes. It also brushed out the double hood vents for a cleaner look.

At the end of the day, it's a done deal on the grille as far as BMW is concerned. Accept it and move on, some defenders will say. Critics will continue to do what they do best.

And life goes on.


Benelli RFS 150i gets new livery, priced from RM7,238

                PENANG: Following the launch of the Benelli RFS 150i by Mforce Bike Holdings two years ago, the 150cc bike is back again with three sporty liveries for choice.

Priced on-the-road at RM7,238 and currently available at all Benelli dealers nationwide, the RFS 150i is available in black and red, while the Special Edition now comes in blue with florescent green wheels to do away with the matte grey livery of its predecessor, and commands a RM7,488 price tag. Prices stated exclude insurance and road tax.

The bikes have been touted to have a throttle grip and also light-weight adjustable brake lever.

The 126kg (wet) bike with a 4.8-litre fuel tank, uses the same 149.8cc 157FMJ-3 single cylinder four-stroke four-valve single-overhead cam motor with an electric starter and a compression ratio of 11.3:1.

With an output of 15.15hp at 8,500rpm and 13Nm of torque at 7,000rpm, the water-cooled motor that uses a pressure splash lubrication system is managed by a six-speed manual gearbox with a wet multi-plate clutch for the rear wheel to get a load of up to 171kg moving.

The motor is housed within a Straddle-type chassis that's suspended by front telescopic forks with an 88mm travel, while the rear suspension uses an oil-damped Kayaba telescopic coil spring that provides 17mm of travel.

Its wheelbase measures in at 1,311mm, while the bike's dimensions stand at 1,267mm-tall, 2,021mm-long and 764mm-wide to give it a saddle height of 787mm and a ground clearance of 160mm.

Grip comes from a front 70/90 and rear 120/70 tyres fitted on to 17-inch wheels while a 240mm (front) and 220mm (rear) discs represent the braking department as a 12V 6Ah YTX7L-BS battery takes care of the electricals.


Up to 130,000 units of electric ID. Buzz to be produced from VW's Hanover plant

                HANOVER: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) has recently started production of the electric ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo.

The first vehicles will be delivered to customers in the autumn.

The brand is pressing ahead with the electrification of the site. In the course of the year the company plans to increase the plant’s daily production to a total of 900 vehicles. In future, there are plans to build up to 130,000 units per year at VWCV's main plant.

With the production start of the ID. Buzz, the VWCV plant here is now the third German production site for vehicles of the ID. family.

“The ID. Buzz is a milestone in the electrification of the brand and the plant in Hanover”, said Josef Baumert, Member of the VWCV Brand Management Board for Production and Logistics. “In just eight years’ time more than 55 per cent of our vehicles in Europe will have battery-electric drive. The ID. Buzz has a leading strategic role in this”, says Baumert.

This year, VWCV is planning to produce a total of around 15,000 ID. Buzz. Up to 130,000 units of the ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo would be produced at the plant from 2024.

Since May, VWCV has produced three models at the Hanover plant. They are based on three different platforms and can have three different drives: the ID. Buzz as a battery-electric vehicle, the new Multivan as a plug-in hybrid and with conventional drive and the variants of the T6.1 with a combustion engine.

In the factory, the vehicles are partly produced on one line. “Our production method is highly complex, but it enables us to respond flexibly to customer demand”, said Baumert. Despite the many factory modifications over the past two years, production of the popular T6.1 continued uninterrupted.

The first all-electric vehicle from Hanover and new, digital systems also resulted in far-reaching new demands on the employees. During the start-up of the ID. Buzz 4,000 employees in the factory were trained for the production of the new vehicles.

“We trained our employees in high-voltage technology and also adapted our apprenticeships to the new tasks”, Baumert added. Apprenticeships offered by VWCV in Hanover include mechatronics technician for system and high-voltage technology.


Polestar Precept concept styling to be on new SUV in 2021

                GOTHENBURG: Polestar, Volvo Cars' performance and electric car brand, is set to reveal its first SUV (sport utility vehicle) - the all-electric Polestar 3 - in 2021.

The Polestar 3 is likely to use styling elements from the company's Precept concept which had a digital reveal in February.

The Precept concept was created to showcase three key areas for the Swedish brand: sustainability, digital technology and design.

"Precept shows you where we will be heading – our design direction, our ambitions about sustainability and the great digital user experience we will bring with those future cars," says Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath.

The Precept interior shows how high-tech, sustainable materials used together can create a new luxury design language.

Composite material reduces interior component weight by 50% with an 80% reduction in plastic.

The seat covers are 3D-knitted from 100% recycled PET bottles in a single thread, while recycled plastic bottles are also used for the 100% recycled headlining textile.

The ECONYL carpets are woven from Nylon 6, recovered from reclaimed fishing nets, and waste and recycled cork from the wine industry is converted into cork-based vinyl for seat bolsters and head rests.

The cabin features an Android-powered infotainment system, a large 15-inch digital interface, Google Assistant with advanced speech technology, video streaming services, a 9-inch horizontal driver display that contains vital information and is linked to eye tracking.

Google Maps and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) are now merged into one system for safer manoeuvres, and shown together in one combined graphic in the driver display.

The exterior has an avant-garde design and features 22-inch performance wheels, and the Thor’s hammer front light signature.


BMW C 400 X and C 400 GT introduced

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Motorrad Malaysia has introduced the new BMW C 400 X and C 400 GT scooters that promises urban riding experience that prioritises comfort and safety, without compromising on its performance and riding dynamics.

The C 400 X comes with retail pricing (on-the-road, without insurance, and with BMW Motorrad Malaysia’s 3-Year Warranty and 3-Year Roadside Assistance Programmes) of RM44,500 and the C 400 GT at RM48,500.

The scooters get a revised brake system, EU-5 homologated single-cylinder drive with new E-gas feature, optimised engine management and centrifugal clutch.

The Automatic Stability Control also sees further optimisation, along with a new illumination design in the seat storage compartment, and USB charging equipment.

The C 400 X retains its light manoeuvrability as a mid-sized scooter with the V-shaped trim components, upright proportions, a front mudguard, and the clear, graphic separation of the painted trim components.

The large asymmetric LED headlight also equips the C 400 X, along with the Daytime Running Light –now available as standard to the model.

 C 400 X.

Meanwhile, the C 400 GT reigns in the maxi scooter segment and gets LED lighting technology and can be instantly identified by the aerodynamically designed twin LED headlight with now-standard Daytime Running Light.

The ergonomically designed seat guarantees a comfortable as well as confident seating position.

Featuring a separate rider backrest and integrated footboards, the C 400 GT also retains its high windshield for everyday practicality and touring suitability.

The ingenious storage concept with Flexcase now features optimised lighting under the seat bench for both the new models to improve comfort significantly.

The lighting now illuminates from above, instead of the sides, for even better clarity.

In addition to the 12-volt onboard socket, the front right storage compartment is now equipped with a USB charging socket as well.

Both models are powered by an efficiency-optimised single-cylinder engine with a capacity of 350cc as the drive unit.

The engine outputs 34hp at 7,500rpm and 35Nm peak torque at 5,750rpm.

The models employ power transmission through a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) gearbox including a torsional drivetrain swing arm with minimum vibration.

Their double-disc brake system at the front now offers a more stable and clearly defined pressure point, as well as improved roll-back behaviour of the brake pistons.

Both models are also equipped with an instrument cluster in the form of a 6.5-inch full-colour TFT screen.

Together with the advanced BMW Motorrad Multi-Controller offering integrated operation, it allows the rider to access vehicle and connectivity functions.

 C 400 GT.

Effortless navigation by means of arrow-based navigation is also available through the BMW Motorrad Connected App.

The advanced Keyless Ride feature now equips both models as standard, offering transponder activation for the steering lock, ignition, fuel-filler flap and anti-theft device, all in one vehicle key.

The C 400 X is available in the new Black Storm (Style Triple Black), while the C 400 GT arrives in three paint finishes of new Black Storm (Style Triple Black), Callisto Grey, and Alpine White.

With the Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, ownership of the C 400 X and C 400 GT start from RM550 and RM590 per month, respectively based on balloon financing estimates of an 80% loan on a 4-year tenure.

Owners can also enjoy additional benefits with the industry-leading Premium Engine Oil Inclusive, Service Inclusive and Warranty Extension Programmes by BMW Motorrad Malaysia.

For details, logon to https://www.bmw-motorrad.com.my/en/service/warranty.html.


A 300hp Alpine will tear up the roads

                PARIS: Renault has announced its intention to relaunch an Alpine program. The plan is to release a first model by the end of 2016, probably inspired by the "Celebration" show-car first presented at Le Mans and then at Goodwood in June 2015.

Presented at Le Mans ahead of the prestigious 24-hour race, and then at Goodwood during the Festival of Speed, the Alpine Celebration bills itself as a sporty two-seater coupe in the spirit of the old competition Alpines.

The car stands out thanks to its relatively low profile, sloping, creased hood, sculpted sides, distinctive rear window and other design details are all clear echoes of models like the A110 that have featured so prominently in Alpine's glorious history.

According to industry press, this car foreshadows a future production model that will likely have a four-cylinder 1.8-liter gas engine pushing out between 250 and 300hp and with a total weight of approximately 1.2 tons. This new Alpine could even roll out with different power units for different versions, making it a direct rival to cars such as the Alfa Romeo 4C and the Lotus Elise.

The first model, in the spirit of the A110, could make its first appearance at the 2016 Paris Auto Show and be commercialized shortly thereafter. Other Alpine projects are also supposedly in the works, including an SUV.

Founded in 1955 by Jean Redele, a French manufacturer of racing and rear-mounted Renault engines, Alpine merged with Renault in 1965. Beyond its production cars, the brand made a name for itself in rallying, where it won the constructor's championship in 1973, and also at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the Renault Alpine dominated the race in 1978. Though the brand closed shop in 1995, the "Alpine" name made a comeback in 2013 in endurance racing.

A brand relaunch had been highly expected following Alpine's aborted partnership with Caterham and the Renault group catalogue could now see itself expand to include four distinct brands, each one with its own specific target demographic Dacia for low-cost, Renault for the general public, Alpine for sports cars and Initial Paris for the high-end market.


VW Tiguan now offered with six-month free instalment

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is celebrating the Tiguan mid-sized sports utility vehicle's (SUV's) achievement for surpassing the six-million mark in global sales with a special deal.

On average, a brand-new Tiguan rolls off the production line every 35 seconds at Volkswagen factories located around the globe.

The company is currently offering new buyers of the German carmaker's best-selling model for 2019 with the opportunity to drive it home with six months of free instalments for all units booked and registered from now until June 30.

Additionally, those who place a booking via the company's eShowroom will enjoy an additional RM4,000 rebate.

Based on a nine-year loan at 2.3% interest rate together with a 10% downpayment and RM4,000 rebate, new Tiguan customers are able to save RM1,630 monthly (RM1,670 without RM4,000 rebate).

Over a six-month period, customers will be able to save RM10,020 (RM9,780 with rebate).

For added convenience, new customers can opt to have their new Tiguan sent directly to their doorstep with the Volkswagen Home Delivery service for free to owners located within a 20km radius from the dealership.

The Tiguan is powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged TSI direct-injection engine producing 150PS and 250Nm of torque that's managed by a six-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG).

The company boasts that this mid-sized SUV is capable of achieving an approximate range of 800km between refuelling.

Inside, the cabin has been fitted with the Digital Cockpit that features a high-resolution display with a three-view customizable screen via the infotainment system with over 30 combination options.

With regards to connectivity, occupants are able to utilise App-Connect via MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

For safety, the Tiguan is fitted with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Multi-collision brakes, Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) as well as hill-hold control among others.

The Tiguan made its debut at the 2007 Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA).

For more information, log on to www.volkswagen.com.my or visit the nearest dealership.


BMW's new boss urges staff to narrow sales gap with Mercedes

                FRANKFURT: BMW’s new chief executive urged employees to embrace change and to find innovative ways to help the Bavarian carmaker overtake rival Mercedes at a time when demand for luxury cars is waning.

Oliver Zipse addressed staff in an internal email a day after his predecessor Harald Krueger stepped down. BMW has lost ground to Mercedes-Benz producer Daimler in the past five years and seen rivals such as Tesla jump ahead in electric car sales.

“Instead of blaming the current situation, conditions, political landscape or particular individuals, a positive spirit will enable us to seize the opportunities available to us. Such a positive spirit will be reflected in our culture: the harder the job, the more innovative our solution,” Zipse said.

“We don’t always have to be first, but we most certainly have to be far better than our competitors in everything that we do. This applies not only to our products and services, but also to our processes and structures, as well as our costs,” he said.

BMW has already narrowed the sales gap between BMW and Mercedes and is preparing to launch more models, Zipse said.

BMW’s flexible production methods, which allow the carmaker to build electric and combustion-engined cars on the same production line, provide a major competitive advantage because it will allow the carmaker to scale up or slow down production of electric cars in line with demand, Zipse said.


Perodua unveils affordable child seat priced from RM680

                RAWANG: Perodua has introduced its Care Seat, a new and affordable child seat suitable for infants and toddlers.

Priced at RM680 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM695 in East Malaysia, the Perodua Care Seat can be used by children of all ages up to 12 or weighing up to 36kg and replaces Perodua’s previous GearUp Infant and Toddler seats, which respectively cost RM785 and RM975 (Peninsular prices).

Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the Perodua Care Seat forms part of the company's continuous drive for higher road safety as a caring, People First company, in-line with the government’s aspirations.

“It bears repeating that all children should be properly secured in child seats in moving vehicles for their safety. In encouraging this, Perodua is bringing out a product that is durable, adaptable, comfortable, affordable and meets safety standards,” he added.

The ISOFIX-enabled Perodua Care Seat complies with ECE R44/04 standards.

It can be rotated to face forwards or backwards and features six recline angles as well as a harness that self-adjusts according to headrest position.

“The Perodua Care Seat is more cost-effective as the same seat can be used for the child throughout, without needing to change from an infant to a toddler seat as the child gets older,” said Zainal Abidin.

“Perodua will continue to spread awareness, educate and advocate the use of child seats among our customers. We hope the use of child seats in Malaysia will become commonplace one day – this would go a long way in reducing road injuries and fatalities, especially of our precious young ones,” he added.

Available in grey or blue, the Perodua Care Seat comes with a one-year warranty – double the warranty period of the outgoing GearUp Infant and Toddler seats – and can be factored into the hire purchase of new Perodua vehicles.

The Perodua Care Seat is on sale now at all authorised Perodua outlets nationwide.


Nissan to enter Formula E in 2018/19 season

                AMSTERDAM: Nissan is to become the first Japanese car manufacturer competing in Formula E with an entry in the fifth season of the electric car racing series, organizers announced on Wednesday.

Formula E said in a statement that Nissan would replace one of the existing manufacturers in the 2018/19 season.

Media reports have indicated that will be alliance partners Renault, allowing the French manufacturer to focus on its works Formula One team.

“To have a name like Nissan coming on board is a momentous day for the series,” said Formula E chief executive Alejandro Agag in a statement.

“It’s great to see our first Japanese manufacturer entering the frame, showing truly how global the electric revolution is. Japan is a country at the forefront of new technologies with one of the biggest followings of Formula E.”

Manufacturers already involved in the electric series include BMW, Audi, Renault, Jaguar, Citroen and India’s Mahindra.

Mercedes and Porsche are due to arrive for season six, which is scheduled to start in 2019 and end in 2020.

In a related development, Renault today said it would exit Formula E at the end of Season 4 in July 2018. An inaugural partner in Formula E, Renault e.dams clinched its third consecutive FE Teams’ title in Montreal at the end of July 2017 and will soon begin Season 4.

It is leaving Formula E to focus its resources on Formula 1. It is part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, the world’s largest automotive collaboration.


Risk of losing teams due to virus, says FIA chief

                PARIS: International automobile federation (FIA) chief Jean Todt warned Thursday that the coronavirus could threaten the future of motorsport teams and manufacturers.

Nine races in the Formula One world championship have already either been cancelled or suspended.

"There has been this cascade of cancellations and postponements. We must reconsider the calendars and ask ourselves when everything will be able to resume," Todt said.

"Motor racing, starting with F1, is too expensive.

"We have already taken steps in this direction, but the pandemic makes it more difficult to bear these costs.

"There is the risk of losing teams, constructors. You have to be responsible and implement more acceptable and accepted solutions."

The Canadian Grand Prix, which was set for June 14, was the latest F1 race to be scratched from the 22-event schedule.
Even before the Montreal event was binned, McLaren boss Zak Brown said Formula One was in a "very fragile state".

He warned that as many as four teams could go to the wall, deprived of the massive TV and sponsorship revenues which keep them afloat.

New technical regulations, planned for 2021, have already been pushed back to 2022.

Brown said last week that all teams have agreed to lower the salary cap from $175 million to $150 million.

He wants it reduced further.

However, Todt cautioned: "Everything is not included in this ceiling. We are working on it."

With over a third of the races planned for the F1 season already shelved, Todt insists it's not the right time to talk of a diminished championship.

"I don't know if we can say that. What is it worth in the current context? 2020 will remain a black year that we never thought we'd live through and I hope we will not have to live again.

"We can take stock at the end of the year but it's too early today."

The Australian Grand Prix was the first event of the 2020 season to be cancelled despite teams having travelled to Melbourne for the March 15 opener.

Todt defended the decision to make the trip despite it being a PR disaster.

"People say we shouldn't have gone. To me, that's not true. There was no reason not to go to Australia.

"However, when we were there, things accelerated so quickly that we decided not to run the race.

"The same weekend, we sent the French to vote (in the first round of the municipal elections).

"There was no reason not to send them, and afterwards they say we shouldn't have. It's so easy.

"Talk is cheap. I think we have to try to be a little more humble to better understand things."


Border reopening: Users must tap Touch 'n Go card on scanners at toll plazas

                KUALA LUMPUR: Highway users going through the Sultan Iskandar Building (Johor Causeway) and Tanjung Kupang (Linkedua Highway) toll plazas must still tap their Touch 'n Go card on the scanner at the toll booth to enable PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) to record traffic data.

Users of both toll plazas can enjoy toll exemption for a week from April 1-7 as announced by the government recently.

PLUS said in a statement that users must also comply with the stipulated border control standard operating procedure (SOP), as well as ensure sufficient balance in their Touch ‘n Go cards.

PLUS has also made preparations by providing additional customer service staff at both the toll plazas to help customers requiring assistance.

Meanwhile, PLUS managing director Datuk Azman Ismail said they welcomed the return of Malaysians and the arrival of friends from Singapore with open arms.

"At the same time, PLUS remains committed to providing a safe and smooth journey as well as an exciting experience for highway users entering Malaysia,” he said.

He added that PLUS expects a slight surge in traffic on some routes on the highway following the reopening of land borders as well as the coming Ramadan month and, as such, has made various preparations to ensure road users get to enjoy a safe and smooth journey.


MINI owners hook up with Huawei for National Day outing

                MALACCA: MINI Owner Club Malaysia struck a patriotic chord in its latest outing using the latest Huawei P9 smartphone to document all things Malaysian ahead of National Day celebrations.

It recently teamed up with Huawei Malaysia, Leica Malaysia and Auto Bavaria MINI to host the “Mini, Monochrome, Makan, Malacca” Treasure Hunt 2016.

Over 100 club members went on a road trip to Malacca to capture the unique aspects that embodies the story of Malaysia by using the P9 to capture images about art, culture, food, sports and other aspects of life during a walkabout along Jonker Street.

The partnership gave photography enthusiasts an opportunity to use the P9 to capture the success of Malaysia over the past 59 years through the racial unity of our country.

The treasure hunt marks Huawei Malaysia’s first step into partnerships that it hopes to form in the future.

“This event serves as a good platform for our members to explore Malacca by capturing the beauty of Malaysia using the Huawei P9," said club member Roslyn Kong.

The P9 and P9 Plus are dual-lens camera smartphones using Leica lenses. According to Huawei, the phones boast superior smartphone camera technology, with the ability to capture lighter and better photo clarity to produce brilliant colour and striking black and white images that are the hallmark of Leica lenses.

Huawei is also hosting a social media contest "MYFoodStories" for P9 and P9 Plus users in conjunction with Merdeka month.

https://www.facebook.com/HuaweiMobileAPAC/photos/a.494898960639843.1073741828.494767693986303/942829379180130/?type=3&theater


BMW shows artist's drawings of Z4 First Edition

MUNICH: BMW went on social media to offer the world a peek into the all-new Z4 roadster in its latest tease.

Well, the three images released on Facebook show an artist's rendering of the so-called Z4 First Edition, which looked quite different from the camouflaged prototype we have seen undergoing dynamic testing in France recently.

The G29 Z4 is expected to make its debut at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California this week ahead of its showing at the 2018 Paris Motor Show.

The third-generation roadster is being jointly developed with the new Toyota Supra to cut costs, so both sports cars will share components. The new Z4 will only be available with a motorised soft-top unlike the second generation which uses a retractable hardtop.


Which car will be crowned European king?

                LONDON: The shortlist of nominees for European Car of the year 2016 have been revealed ahead of the awards ceremony on Feb 29 at the 2016 Geneva Motorshow and this year's pack is one of the most competitive in recent times.

There are many car of the year awards around the world but what makes the European event so noteworthy is that it represents the oldest, most mature, diverse and demanding of all automotive markets.

It's an especially strong pack of contenders this year and crucially, there's a very strong chance that the winner could be crowned car of the year for the very first time. Only two shortlisted manufacturers - Audi and Opel/Vauxhall - are former winners.

Audi A4
The latest generation car builds on the foundations of the last A4. It's not overly aggressive to look at and it's competent, rather than exciting to drive. But where it impresses is in comfort and refinement and that all-round sense of well-being that's needed to stand out alongside the latest BMWs and Mercedes.

BMW 7 Series
Despite being runner up on numerous occasions, BMW has never won the ultimate prize. Even though the 7 Series sets new benchmarks for driving dynamics and tech in the highest echelons of the executive sedan sector, the fact that it is such a premium vehicle may count against it. Nevertheless, it is the first car that can be remotely parked via its key fob and has a very clever transmission that uses GPS to automatically pick the right gear to suit the road ahead.

Jaguar XE
Lightweight, economical - so much so that it leads the class - and engaging to drive, this is one of the best Jaguars in years and certainly the most complete sedan. Even the infotainment and active safety features are on a par with the best from Germany and Japan.

Opel/Vauxhall Astra
With the Astra, a huge dose of premium German quality has been injected into the mass-market family hatchback sector dominated by the Ford Focus and VW Golf. Sharp lines, good looks, full web connectivity and concierge service all come as standard.

Mazda MX-5
Despite changing trends and tastes, Mazda has never been tempted to tamper with the MX-5's recipe. The latest generation is just as much fun to drive as the original car and is just as easy to live with.

Skoda Superb
If the Skoda emblems were hidden, it would be very easy to convince drivers that they were getting behind the wheel of a BMW or an Audi. The Superb really does live up to its name in terms of comfort, rear passenger space, quality and even exterior styling.

Volvo XC90
Like the 7 Series, the XC90's price might put it out of the running as affordability is a criterion of the judging panel. However, this is the safest car currently on sale at any price and one of the most comfortable. It is also proof that making an off-roader that's as elegant as it is robust is not a trait exclusive to Land Rover's flagship Range Rover.


New BMW X3 unveiled

                MUNICH: Here we go. Presenting you the new BMW X3.

A week before the official launch of the all-new third-generation X3, which took place today, excitement was already building for the reveal by the German auto giant, and it got a further boost over the weekend with leaks of details and unofficial images.

The X3, unveiled at the BMW plan in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA, where it will be produced, is a compact crossover and fierce rival of the Audi Q5, which has been around since 2003. The current second-generation has been in production since late 2010, and its replacement uses much of the same design language.

The new X3 was rolled out at a time when the US plant has grown to become the largest manufacturing facility in the BMW Group production network after 25 years.

On the whole, the cosmetic changes in the X3 represent much more of an evolution than anything close to a revolution. The whole vehicle is a little more rounded as BMW continues to tone down the angles that were so prevalent in its design philosophy a few years ago.

There are new hexagonal lights and a bigger, more muscular "three-dimensional" kidney grille, but the exterior changes could pass for a mid-cycle refresh than a full-blown new generation.

It's a different story underneath though, as the 2018 is built on a new platform this time around. The platform is a lightweight, rear-wheel drive affair to deliver improvements in fuel-efficiency, handling and performance over the current model. It is the same platform that underpins the new 5 Series sedan, and it's also expected to be the starting point for a new 3 Series in 2018.

The new X3 range will include three petrol and two diesel engine variants, and models listed for the US include the flagship BMW X3 M40i and the xDrive30i.

The interior has also been enhanced for an ergonomic feel while drivers will also be able to benefit from a refined system connecting them to their car and their smartphone, with gesture and voice control for BMW's ConnectedDrive. Three lines will be available: xLine, Luxury Line and M Sport.

Set to roll out this November, the prices of the 2018 BMW X3 range will be announced closer to that date.


2020 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupé to launch at Frankfurt Motor Show

                STUTTGART: The new Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupé will be unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show which starts September 12.

Impressive agility is guaranteed by the 435hp 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line engine with 48 volt technology, fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive, the AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G 9-speed automatic transmission and the 60mm shorter wheelbase compared with the SUV variant.

The enhanced driving dynamics also come by virtue of the AMG-specific drive programs and the AMG RIDE CONTROL+ air suspension with stabilising, electro-mechanical AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL.

"The attractive coupé lines envelop sophisticated suspension technology and our powerful, efficient six-cylinder in-line engine with 48 volt technology. Both guarantee a thrilling driving experience," says Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG.

20-inch light-alloy wheels with AMG lettering are fitted as standard.

In the cabin, there are AMG seats in black ARTICO man-made leather / DINAMICA microfibre and a three-spoke AMG steering wheel with aluminium shift paddles.

Buyers will enjoy the AMG RIDE CONTROL+ air suspension newly developed in Affalterbach which provides both long-distance comfort and great agility, neutral cornering behaviour and maximum traction.

One new feature is the active roll stabilisation system AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL which not only reduces body roll when cornering, but also allows more precise and faster handling control.

The GLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupé is powered by an electrified 3.0-litre engine with twin turbocharging by a turbocharger and an electric auxiliary compressor.

The 6-cylinder in-line engine generates 435hp and delivers a maximum torque of 520Nm.

Its EQ Boost starter-alternator delivers an additional 22hp and 250Nm of torque for a short period, and also feeds the 48 volt onboard electrical system.

The GLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupé accelerates from zero to 100 km/h is just 5.3 seconds,.

It has the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive for maximum traction and dynamism, and extremely fast AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9-speed automatic transmission (TCT = Torque-Clutch Transmission).

One option is the AMG TRACK PACE which provides a virtual engineer that enables up to 80 vehicle-specific data as well as times on closed-off circuits.


Mercedes cause stir by reinventing the steering wheel

General view of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton's steering wheel during testing earlier this week. — Reuters

BARCELONA: Mercedes brought intrigue to Formula One testing on Thursday with television images showing Lewis Hamilton moving his car's steering wheel forwards and backwards as he drove.

The mechanism appeared to alter the alignment of the front wheels, with the six-times world champion pulling the wheel towards him on the straights and pushing it back as he approached corners.

Technical director James Allison was coy about the details of a system he said was known within the team as DAS (Dual-Axis Steering).

"It's novel idea," he told reporters. "It just introduces an extra dimension to the steering for the driver that we hope will be useful during the year.

"Precisely how we use it, and why we use it, that's something we prefer to keep to ourselves."

Mercedes are chasing their seventh successive title double this season, with Hamilton aiming to equal Michael Schumacher's record seven drivers' titles.

The team started last year with eight wins in a row, despite Ferrari having an impressively quick car in testing.

Testing is not bound by the same regulations as grand prix weekends, with teams sometimes trying out developments they may never race.

Asked whether Mercedes were worried the governing FIA might rule the device illegal, Allison said they had been talking about it for some time, safety was not an issue and it was within the rules.

"This isn't news to the FIA," he said. "The rules are pretty clear about what is permitted on steering systems and I'm pretty confident that it matches all of those requirements."

"I'm just pleased we've got it on the car, it seems to be useable and we'll find out over the coming days how much benefit it brings us."

Hamilton said he had only one morning using it, did not find it distracting and was encouraged to see his team were continuing to innovate to stay ahead of the game.

Allison said the steering wheel represented "only the tip of the iceberg of similar stuff" hidden out of sight across the car.

"Each of the new cars we bring to the track are festooned with innovation," he said. "It's just they are not always as obvious to you as a stand-alone system like this where you can see it with your own eyes.

"One of the things that gives me massive pride from working at Mercedes is to be part of a team that doesn't just turn the sausage (machine) handle each year."


In Spain first, Madrid bans half of cars to fight smog

                MADRID: Madrid's city hall announced it had ordered half of most private cars off the roads to fight a particularly bad bout of pollution, a first in Spain.

From Thursday, between 0530 GMT and 2000 GMT, it said vehicles with even-number registration plates were allowed to drive around on even-number days and cars with odd-number registration plates on odd-number days.

The measure, which will be re-evaluated on a daily basis depending on pollution levels, is a first in Spain.

It is activated when levels of harmful nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere go above 200 microgrammes per cubic metre in at least two measuring stations for two days running, and if the air is unlikely to clear imminently.

There are exceptions to the ban, such as for mopeds, hybrid cars, those carrying three people or more or used by disabled people. Buses, taxis and emergency vehicles are also exempt.

"It's not about traffic restrictions but about public health," Deputy Mayor Marta Higueras told reporters.

"Lots of people suffer from breathing problems and are very affected by pollution."

With 3.2 million residents and some 1.8 million cars, Madrid often suffers from bad bouts of pollution.

The move to ban half of cars off the roads is level three out of four anti-pollution measures.

Level four also bans taxis from the city, bar those using hybrid cars.

The measure implemented by the city hall, led by an alliance of leftist groups since 2015, sparked criticism from the conservative Popular Party (PP) which ruled Madrid for nearly a quarter century and governs at the national level.

Inigo Henriquez de Luna, PP spokesman in Madrid's local parliament, slammed it as "ideological" and said authorities should do more to encourage residents to avoid using their cars rather than punish them.

The anti-pollution measures were implemented by former PP mayor Ana Botella just before municipal elections in May 2015.


Mercedes' next headlights will behave like projectors

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz has released more details about the world’s next generation of headlights - ones capable of behaving like projectors and shining lensed light and images onto the road in HD quality.

Branded as "Digital Light," the lamps are currently making the transition from the research stage into pre-production and should be available on cars in just a few years, announced the German automaker.

Mercedes' suppliers have created tiny chips with more than a million microscopic mirrors. These reflect light from high-voltage LEDs and each project one "pixel" of the overall beam of light as if it were a picture.

The smaller these pixels are, the more precisely the beam's distribution can be controlled, explain the developers.

Existing LED lights can already cater to oncoming drivers, putting them in a black part of the beam to keep dazzling light from their eyes, and the beams can be adapted to the shape of the road and traffic to illuminate most what a driver needs to see.

These features are controlled by camera and radar sensors, which are already necessary for adaptive cruise control systems or lane tracking assistants.

With more precise light distribution, Mercedes not only wants to improve road visibility even more, but also project additional information onto the road on the fly.

The product developers foresee the lights projecting warnings, navigation arrows or even customized road markings in situations with poor visibility.

The Digital Light will also have the potential to improve communication with others sharing the road, for example by projecting a zebra crossing onto a road while in autonomous driving mode, in order to signal to pedestrians they can cross safely.

Before Mercedes brings the projector technology into production, however, the developers are planning on an intermediate step and will get started on the next generation of LED lights.

These will feature four LED chips per headlamp, each with 1,024 individually controllable light points.


Huawei to make EVs, too?

A source claimed Huawei EVs will target the mass market. — Reuters
HONG KONG/BEIJING: China’s Huawei plans to make electric vehicles under its own brand and could launch some models this year, four sources said, as the world’s largest telecommunications equipment maker, battered by US sanctions, explores a strategic shift.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is in talks with state-owned Changan Automobile and other automakers to use their car plants to make its electric vehicles (EVs), according to two of the people familiar with the matter.

Huawei is also in discussions with Beijing-backed BAIC Group’s BluePark New Energy Technology to manufacture its EVs, said one of the two and a separate person with direct knowledge of the matter.

The plan heralds a potentially major shift in direction for Huawei after nearly two-years of US sanctions that have cut its access to key supply chains, forcing it to sell a part of its smartphone business to keep the brand alive.

Huawei was placed on a trade blacklist by the Trump administration over national security concerns. Many industry executives see little chance that blocks on the sale of billions of dollars of US technology and chips to the Chinese company, which has denied wrongdoing, will be reversed by his successor.

A Huawei spokesman denied the company plans to design EVs or produce Huawei branded vehicles.

“Huawei is not a car manufacturer. However through ICT (information and communications technology), we aim to be a digital car-oriented and new-added components provider, enabling car OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to build better vehicles.”

Huawei has started internally designing the EVs and approaching suppliers at home, with the aim of officially launching the project as early as this year, three of the sources said.

Richard Yu, head of Huawei’s consumer business group who led the company to become one of the world’s largest smartphone makers, will shift his focus to EVs, said one source. The EVs will target a mass-market segment, another source said.

All the sources declined to be named as the discussions are private.

Chongqing-based Changan, which is making cars with Ford Motor Co, declined to comment. BAIC BluePark did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Shares of Changan’s main listed company Chongqing Changan Automobile rose 8% after Reuters reported the discussions. BluePark’s shares jumped by their maximum 10% daily limit.

Growing EV market

Chinese technology firms have been stepping up their focus on EVs in the world’s biggest market for such vehicles, as Beijing heavily promotes greener vehicles as a means of reducing chronic air pollution.

Sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs), including pure battery electric vehicles as well as plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, are expected to make up 20% of China’s overall annual auto sales by 2025.

Industry forecasts put China’s NEV sales at 1.8 million units this year, up from about 1.3 million in 2020.

Huawei’s ambitious plans to make its own cars will see it join a raft of Asian tech companies that have made similar announcements in recent months, including Baidu Inc and Foxconn.

“The novel and complicated U.S. restrictions on semiconductors to Huawei have slowly been strangling the company,” said Dan Wang, a technology analyst with research firm Gavekal Dragonomics.

“So it makes sense that the company is pivoting to less chip-intensive industries in order to maintain operations.”

In the United States, Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc are also developing auto-related technology or investing in smart-car startups.

Huawei has been developing a swathe of technologies for EVs for years including in-car software systems, sensors for automobiles and 5G communications hardware.

The company has also formed partnerships with automakers such as Daimler AG, General Motors Co and SAIC Motor to jointly develop smart auto technologies.

It has accelerated hiring of engineers for auto-related technologies since 2018.

Huawei was awarded at least four patents related to EVs this week, including methods for charging between electric vehicles and for checking battery health, according to official Chinese patent records.

Huawei’s push into the EV market is currently separate from a joint smart vehicle company it co-founded along with Changan and EV battery maker CATL in November, two of the sources said


SIC extends early bird offer for F1 tickets

                SEPANG: Spurred by popular demand, Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is extending the unmissable early bird offers for the 2015 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix until 11 January 2015.

Members of the public still have time to grab tickets for the 2015 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix at an attractive 50% discount.

The 17th edition of the Malaysian F1 race - slotted as the second round of the 2015 season, will take place from 27 to 29 March 2015.

The Formula 1 tickets can be purchased online at SIC’s website or any of the promotional kiosks in the city, or by calling the SIC TICKET HOTLINE at 03-8778 2222.

Other than seats in the Diamond, Sapphire and Emerald zones – which are excluded from the promotion, the 50% discount is applicable for all other seats.

Meanwhile, tickets for the eni FIM Superbike World Championship 2015 and Shell Advance Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix 2015 are also on offer, with early bird discounts of up to RM30 available for tickets to the eni FIM Superbike World Championship 2015 and reductions of up to RM50 offered for tickets to the Shell Advance Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix 2015.

Discounts for the second edition of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship in Sepang, to be held from 31 July to 2 August 2015, will be available until 31 May 2015.

For the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2015, which will see the 25th edition of the Malaysian leg held from 23 to 25 October 2015 as the penultimate round of the 2015 MotoGP World Championship, early bird discounts are available until 30 June 2015.

The season will be the first for the new SIC Racing Team, participating in the Moto3 category.


How self-driving cars could make traffic lights obsolete in 20 years

                LONDON: Traffic lights could become obsolete in 20 years, an engineer supporting a groundbreaking self-driving cars trial said.

Thomas Tompkin of the UK's Smart Mobility Living Lab (SMLL) says “a seismic shift in the way our roads are laid out” is possible.

Two self-driving electric cars built by Japanese manufacturer Nissan have completed hundreds of laps around a 4.3km route featuring busy roads in Woolwich, south-east London during the past two years.

This is part of the UK's ServCity research project to identify and overcome barriers to deploying autonomous vehicles in cities, which ends next month.

It is believed to be the UK’s first trial of driverless technology involving the use of roadside infrastructure as well as the vehicles’ own systems.

Around 270 cameras installed on the route by the SMLL relay information to the Nissan Leaf cars about potential issues ahead, such as buses stopped in the left lane.

This enables the cars to change lanes well before encountering obstructions, creating a smoother flow of traffic.

Tompkin, head of network, infrastructure and operations at SMLL, estimated that the high-specification roadside systems cost “around one million pounds per kilometre” but claimed a wider rollout involving more basic technology could be done for a fraction of the price.

“That starts to become a bit more of a compelling business case,” he said.

“If we think about maybe 20 or 30 years time, can you start to then think about the infrastructure outside? Can you start to remove some of that infrastructure such as traffic signals? Obviously, there’s a lot of work to be done before that ever takes place," he said.

"But that’s where you can start to see a seismic shift in the way our roads are laid out."

Tompkin said he hopes the UK will have “moved on a lot” towards “completely driverless cars” in public use by the end of the decade.

The UK government has previously expressed its commitment to introducing legislation that will enable the use of self-driving vehicles.

ServCity’s cars have a qualified driver behind the wheel who can take control when needed.

A driver intervened on at least two occasions during media demonstrations earlier this week, to avoid a possible collision with a bus and to miss a chunk of road surface dislodged from a pothole.

The cars have covered more than 2,500km during testing, with no accidents, according to the project’s leaders.

Robert Bateman, who manages ServCity for Nissan, said there have been significant differences in London’s trials compared with those in the US and Japan.

“With London there’s more pedestrian interactions and crossings,” he explained.

“In Japan, everybody follows the rules. Not so in the UK. This is why Nissan has decided to do this research work here in the UK. Quite frankly, if you can get it right here you can then deliver an autonomous vehicle anywhere in the world.”

Bateman insisted the cars are safer than those with a human in control.

"The car is looking 360 degrees around it. That’s the autonomous vehicle system’s only job," he said.

“It’s not eating a sandwich. It’s not texting. It’s not thinking what it’s going to be doing at work. It is 100% safer.” - PA Media


‘Cloned’ car turns out to be stolen

One of the Mazda sedan with the same number plate as the other had been reported stolen in Pahang.— Image from Facebook
KAJANG: A social media post has gone viral claiming that the owner of a red Mazda6 managed to track down a cloned car with the same number plate here in Bangi, Selangor.

However, the police say that checks revealed that the “cloned” car - also a red Mazda6 - was reported stolen.

Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Zaid Hassan said a police team from the Bandar Baru Bangi police station was dispatched to Section 1, Bandar Baru Bangi at around 6.30pm on Sunday.

"We initially received information about a cloned vehicle there and sent a team to investigate. When our personnel arrived at the scene, they found a locked red Mazda parked in a public parking spot," he said in a statement today.

He said checks showed that the car was using a fake licence plate.

"Further checks revealed that the vehicle had been reported missing in Beserah, Pahang. We have brought the vehicle back to the Bandar Baru Bangi police station for further investigations," he said.

The facebook page Shidie Art Pelukis Rakyat had posted three photos of two identical Mazda vehicles bearing the same licence plate, in a post that claimed that the original owner from Johor, was fed up of receiving summonses for offences at places he had never been to before.

He eventually managed to track down the “cloned” vehicle to Bangi.

ACP Mohd Zaid also advised the public with any information on crime activities to contact and cooperate with the police.


Polestar unlocks Android developer potential at Google I/O

                GOTHENBURG: Polestar has presented a new platform that encourages Android developers to create innovative in-car digital experiences. Appearing at the Google I/O developer conference in California one week after making its North American debut in San Francisco, the Polestar 2 is one of the first cars in the world to feature a new infotainment system powered by Android that offers huge potential for developers.

At developer.polestar.com, Polestar invites Android developers to imagine their own concepts, with the goal of unlocking opportunities that improve in-car infotainment for the entire automotive industry. Polestar will also present and showcase its own inspirational ideas, on the new website.

Ahead of his speech at Google I/O, Thomas Ingenlath, chief executive officer of Polestar, comments: “The Android platform which we have introduced in Polestar 2 has so much potential for innovation that we immediately identified the chance to engage with the developer community.

“Together with Google, our own digital team has created an exciting interface in the car, and we know that this system will enable great opportunities. We look forward to inspiring new ideas that could make the digital experience in Polestar 2 even better.”


PLUS offering 20% rebate for users who pay electronically on Deepavali

                PETALING JAYA: PLUS Malaysia Berhad is offering a 20% toll rebate for highway users who pay electronically on select PLUS highways on Nov 10, in conjunction with Deepavali.

PLUS Malaysia Berhad CEO Mohammad Fuad Khusairi said those who paid their toll using PLUSMiles cards, Touch ‘n Go cards or SmartTAGs will be able to enjoy the discount if driving a Class 1 vehicle (light vehicles with two axles and three or four wheels except taxi).

“The toll rebate can be enjoyed the whole day and is not restricted to a particular time frame,” Fuad said.

However, he added that drivers would still be required to pay the full amount on the day, but that the rebate can be redeemed when they reload their electronic cards at all PLUS customer service centres between Dec 15 and March 14, 2016.

Highways where the rebate will be in effect include the North-South Expressway (NSE), the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE), the North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE) and the Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing (Linkedua).

The toll rebate, however, will not be given to those paying toll at the Tanjung Kupang, Bukit Kayu Hitam, Bangunan Sultan Iskandar and Penang Bridge toll plazas.

PLUS expects traffic on the NSE to increase by 8% to 1.4 million vehicles every day between Nov 6 and 15, compared with 1.3 million on normal days.


Compact Maserati Grecale SUV heads for Nov 16 debut

                MODENA: We knew for some time that Maserati would have the Grecale world debut in November but not the date.

Well, the Italian automaker has made it specific in a brief announcement today. The Grecale will be revealed to the world on Nov 16 in Milan.

To recap, the Grecale will be Maserati's second SUV.

It's positioned below the mid-size Levante, and would be available with a petrol engine, as a plug-in hybrid, and also as an all-electric vehicle.

More details in CarSifu's August post.