BMW Malaysia unveils two 7 Series PHEVs: prices at RM650K and RM700K

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Malaysia has unveiled two new locally-assembled 7 Series plug-in hybrids with the 750e xDrive M Sport and 750e xDrive Pure Excellence variants.

“The 750e xDrive M Sport presents a range of new sporty design elements to the presidential sedan, while the luxury-oriented Pure Excellence variant – limited to only 48 exclusive units in Malaysia, exudes a harmonious blend of elegance, comfort, and convenience," said Hans de Visser, managing director of BMW Group Malaysia.

Retail prices are RM649,800 (750e xDrive Pure Excellence) and RM700,000 (750e xDrive M Sport) – both with 5-year extended warranty and service package, as well as sales and service tax (on the road, without insurance).

With the Straight Line financing plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the 750e xDrive Pure Excellence can be owned with a monthly instalment plan starting from RM7,480 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a seven-year tenure).

The package includes 5-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service programme, roadside assistance and accident hotline.

The new 7 Series is powered by an in-line six-cylinder plug-in hybrid engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, paired with an electric motor featuring a battery capacity of 22.1 kWh, integrated into the 8-speed Steptronic transmission.

Power generated by both drive units are channelled to the road via the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system.

The 7 Series records a top speed of 250km/h, delivering 489hp and 700Nm of torque, and is capable of a century sprint in just 4.8 seconds.

Driving assistance features that is exclusive to the 750e xDrive M Sport is the Driving Assistant Plus, while the 750e xDrive Pure Excellence receives the Driving Assistant Professional.

Standard on both variants include the Parking Assistant Plus, the BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Head-up Display as well as four-zone automatic air conditioning.
Standard safety features include ABS, Dynamic Stability Control, flat tyre monitor as well as brake assist.

Exterior colour offerings for the 7 Series include Oxide Grey Metallic, Black Sapphire Metallic as well as Mineral White Metallic.

Exclusive to the 750e xDrive M Sport is the M Brooklyn Grey Metallic option, whereas the Sophisto Grey Metallic is exclusively offered to the 750e xDrive Pure Excellence.

Upholstery is offered in either ‘Merino’ leather in Black or Tartufo for both variants.

 750e xDrive M Sport - M Brooklyn Grey

Both variants feature daytime running lights enhanced with the BMW Iconic Glow crystal headlights – that when illuminated, presents a multi-faceted ambient light reflection and a shimmering display from the embedded Swarovski crystals.

Contour lighting lends the BMW Iconic Glow kidney grille a stunning look with LED elements that visually impresses in both night and day.

The LED lighting units are also part of the Great Entrance Moments, a special light show that welcomes passengers with a carpet of light and activated interior lighting.

The tall and upright front section also featuresa slightly lowered number plate position, along with increased dimensions from all angles – similar to the BMW i7.

Owners will also be able to enjoy automatic doors that enable occupants to open and close all doors automatically either via the vehicle key, the Control Display, by voice command or directly via the door itself.

The exclusive horizontal M high-gloss Shadowline and M side sills in high-gloss Black enhance the appearance of the M Sport variant, along with M front and rear aprons.

Also exclusive to the 750e xDrive M Sport are Style 907 bicolour 20-inch M aerodynamic wheels, while the 750e xDrive Pure Excellence is equipped with Style 903 19-inch sport double spoke alloy wheels.

At the rear, the 7 Series boasts signature L-shaped BMW taillights.

A washer nozzle for the reverse camera has also been integrated into the BMW logo.

Owners will also get to enjoy up to 575 litres of boot space.

 750e xDrive M Sport - M Brooklyn Grey

There's a new flat-bottomed two-spoke steering wheel, while unique to the M Sport variant is a flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel wrapped in the exclusive M Leather.

The cockpit has the BMW Curved Display, featuring the 12.3-inch Infotainment Display and 14.9-inch Control Display, accompanied by a new backlit BMW Interaction Bar – an opulent centrepiece finished to look like a piece of crystal jewellery.

The interior design language is accentuated by the M signature high gloss fine-wood trim in fineline black with metal effect highlights in the M Sport variant, while the Pure Excellence variant arrives with a fine-wood trim oak mirror finish with grey metallic highlights.

The exclusive Crafted Clarity crystal glass trim can be seen in the switch for fore-and-aft seat adjustment in the door trim panels, the BMW Controller, the volume control and the Start/Stop button, as well as the gear selector switch.

Other standard elements include the Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System.

The Sky Lounge panoramic glass roof in the 7 Series grants a clear view of the sky through a laminated glass structure that is UV-protected.

Rear seat passengers in the 750e xDrive M Sport will also be able to enjoy the Executive Lounge Seating feature that is exclusive to this variant, where the seat and backrest angle can be adjusted individually, along with the adjustable lumbar support and memory function.

Unique also to the 750e xDrive M Sport is the BMW Theatre Screen – a 31.3-inch panoramic screen for rear seat passengers that features 8K resolution paired with an integrated high-end surround sound system.

With a HDMI interface, the BMW Theatre Screen can also be connected to external devices such as a smartphone or HDMI TV sticks.

Additionally, users can control the system via the BMW Touch Command, a touchscreen control panel available in the rear doors that provide access to all functions of the infotainment system, as well as lighting and seating functions.

 750e xDrive M Sport - M Brooklyn Grey750e xDrive Pure Excellence750e xDrive Pure Excellence750e xDrive Pure Excellence750e xDrive Pure Excellence750e xDrive Pure Excellence750e xDrive Pure Excellence


VW lets mobile robots do the EV charging

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen says mobile robots will one day charge electric vehicles completely autonomously.

Here's how the concept works.

The prototype consists of a compact, self-driving robot as well as flexible and agile energy storage devices, also known as battery wagons. When fully charged, these are equipped with an energy content of around 25 kWh each.

A charging robot can move several battery wagons at the same time. When called via app or V2X communication, it brings the energy storage device to the electric vehicle and connects them both autonomously. With its integrated charging electronics, the energy storage device allows for DC quick charging with up to 50 kW on the vehicle.

The robot, which can drive autonomously, is fitted with cameras, laser scanners and ultrasonic sensors. The combination of these systems not only allows the robot to carry out the charging process completely autonomously but also to move around freely in the parking area, to recognise possible obstacles and to react to these.

Depending on the size of the parking area or the underground car park, several charging robots can be employed simultaneously so that several vehicles can be attended to.

The mobile charging robot can be put to use in various ways. It isn’t just a robot arm that connects a car to a fixed charging station. Instead, drivers have the choice to park in any available space, independent of whether a charging station is free or not.

The robot brings the charging station in the form of a mobile energy storage device directly to the vehicle. For operators of different parking facilities this is a quick and easy solution to electrify every parking space.

The compact design of the charging robot is suited for use in restricted parking areas without charging infrastructures, such as underground car parks.

A possible date for the market launch of the charging robot has not been set yet.


Hyundai Staria Premium: Haul with style

                THE luxury multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) market in Malaysia is simply too good to overlook given the runaway success that Toyota is enjoying with its Alphard and Vellfire.

Hyundai has stepped up to the challenge with the Staria Premium.

While the South Korean maker also has the Starex in the line-up, it wasn’t quite in the same league where luxury details and refinement were concerned.

What adds to Staria Premium’s exclusivity is that it’s not a luxury MPV you could buy straight off the showroom although Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors has a demo model at its Ara Damansara premises.

You could check out the demo model and confirm your purchase by customising the body colour (more than 10 options) and four matched interior appointments, among other things, which would then be forwarded to Hyundai in South Korea.

And you would receive your personalised Staria Premium in the chosen colour option and interior combination in about three to six months’ time.

That’s about as exclusive as you could get as it is akin to buying a customised super sports or luxury car from either the Italian or German stable.

On first glance, what stands the Staria Premium out is that it looks like a concept model with its clean, flushed and sweeping body lines.

In the third respect, the efficient body aerodynamics is said to set the benchmark for MPVs with a respectably good aerodynamic co-efficient factor of 0.32.

This is better appreciated when looking at the Staria Premium from the side as the gently tapered front appears to do the job of forward motion with the least of wind resistance.

Another impression is how big it is; from the front where the expansive grille at the lower end lends its broad stance to the side where the body stretches out like a limousine.

The Staria Premium is said to be bigger all round than the Toyota Alphard with a body length above 5,250mm; it is also wider at almost 2,000mm and taller at 1,990mm.

Stepping inside the Staria Premium reveals the focus of its luxurious design, the second-row seats in particular.

The Staria Premium carries seven people but those occupying the middle row seats are the prime passengers, much along the lines of the single rear seat focus by Lexus in its early LS 430 executive sedan.

Hyundai wants the second-row folks to be fully pampered and one of the ways in achieving that is a seat that reclines almost fully flat for napping on long distance drives.

Unlike the business class seats on an airliner, you need to adjust the leg support as it doesn’t operate in tandem with the backrest recline function.

And with the seat fully reclined, it doesn’t limit legroom for the occupants in third row and leaving all on-board comfortably accommodated.

However, if you need luggage room by sliding the third-row seats about 30cm or so to the front, there would be some compromise on passenger space.

Doing that would yield about 117 litres of luggage room and by folding the seatrests, that space is tripled to 431 litres, ideal for low passenger load but maximum luggage on board.

Nappa leather is standard for upmarket appeal and third-row passengers could control air-conditioning to suit them best.

Some ‘smart’ features that come with the Staria Premium are doors that could open on detecting an approaching passenger and a far-side sliding door that wouldn’t open if approaching traffic is detected when getting out.

On the move, the Staria Premium is well insulated for a quiet and comfortable ride but the firmness of the rear multi-link torsion bar suspension might have a slight jarring note.

The driver is well pampered with good ergonomics and pleasant aesthetics in the instrument panel design; it is akin to a multi-info panel without a hood or cowl that complements the centrally located 10.5-inch multi-info panel.

As our drive impression was in the mid-afternoon, the strong sunlight didn’t affect the reading of the information available, which includes the air pressure of the four tyres.

Gear selection is as simple as it could be, merely by pressing Reverse, Neutral or Drive; Parking is automatically disengaged when Drive is selected.

And if you want to enjoy the thrill of selecting the gears – the Staria Premium has an eight-speed shift-by-wire automatic – the steering wheel paddle shifters should come in handy.

For power, it has the 2.2-litre turbodiesel that churns out a decent 177PS at 3,800rpm and lots of torque at 431Nm between 1,500 and 2,500rpm.

We could feel this hefty torque delivering a nippy pace the moment we hit the road, never mind the Staria Premium’s kerb weight of above 2,000kg and five people on board.

Depending on the warranty package, the Staria Premium is priced at RM358,888 and RM368,888 to make it very attractively positioned against its dominant rival.

You would just have to wait a bit to enjoy the luxury ride in an exclusive people mover that is customised to your ideals.


Aprilia Tuono 660 introduced at RM77,900

                PETALING JAYA: Didi Resources Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor for Aprilia bikes in Malaysia, has launched the highly anticipated new Tuono 660.

The Tuono 660 is sporty and versatile, along with the ease and fun of riding that Aprilia is introducing to a new generation of enthusiasts.

Weighing 183kg, the Tuono 660 is light and made up of die-cast aluminium frame and swingarm.

The 95hp bike promises total control, responsiveness and agile handling,

The electronics are top of the class, more advanced than various superbike class bikes.

The electronic goodies include the Ride-by- Wire, multi-level traction control, anti-wheelie control, cruise control, engine brake, selectable engine maps and five Riding Modes of which three are dedicated to road riding and two for the track.

The Tuono 660 is available in Concept Black with the selling price of RM77,900.

For details visit https://www.aprilia.com/en_EN/models/tuono-660/


Tesla CFO leaves as automaker promises profits and cheaper cars

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc’s chief financial officer will leave the company as the automaker on Wednesday promised cheaper Model 3 sedans, the launch of Chinese production this year and profits in every quarter in 2019.

The departure of Deepak Ahuja as well as missing Wall Street profit targets for the end of 2018, sent Tesla shares down nearly 6 percent after hours. Zach Kirkhorn, Tesla’s vice president of finance, will replace Ahuja, who is about 56 years old.

Chief executive Elon Musk touted strong demand for the Model 3, as the company begins to ship the car to Europe and Asia from its Fremont, California factory. But he acknowledged it was paramount to cut costs to lower the price of the vehicle for a wider customer base.

“We have to be relentless about costs in order to make affordable cars and not go bankrupt,” said Musk on a conference call with analysts.

While the company expressed optimism that it could post a profit in the first quarter despite fewer deliveries of its flagship S and X vehicles, Tesla warned of challenges such as logistics and global deliveries of its new Model 3.

Tesla said plans to lower the price of the Model 3 were contingent on quickly building its factory in China. It hopes to produce 500,000 vehicles a year there by the last quarter of 2019 and the second quarter of 2020, a goal it originally expected to meet in 2018.

To start, the Shanghai factory will build 3,000 Model 3s per week, while production at Tesla’s Fremont plant will rise to 7,000 Model 3s per week by year’s end, the company estimated.

“Bottom line is we need the Shanghai factory to achieve that 10,000 rate and have the cars be affordable,” Musk told analysts. “The demand for Model 3 is insanely high. The inhibitor is affordability.”

Musk announced a 7 percent workforce reduction earlier this month, saying it was crucial to cut costs to roll out a lower-priced, yet still profitable, Model 3.

The cheapest today is priced at US$44,000. Musk gave a “rough guess” that Tesla would begin building its originally promised US$35,000 version around the middle of this year.

Roth Capital Partners analyst Craig Irwin called Tesla’s results “somewhat weak, but largely as expected.”

“We think people have been too bullish about Tesla showing earnings power, and sustained positive cash from operations,” he said.


Rolls-Royce unveils Black Badge Cullinan Blue Shadow

                LONDON: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has unveiled its Black Badge Cullinan 'Blue Shadow' private collection.

In a statement, the luxury British automaker said all 62 examples have been allocated to clients worldwide.

For this, Rolls-Royce designers were inspired by the Kármán Line, the invisible boundary 62 miles above the Earth's surface, where the planet’s atmosphere ends and outer space begins.

This transition from blue sky to the inky darkness of space is captured on Blue Shadow's unique painted fascia and door panels.

These were created using six layers of paint, combining five different shades of blue with a deep black hue to produce a mesmerizing three-dimensional effect.

The final touch is a clear-coat layer incorporating blue and clear glass particles to add further depth and lustre – the ratio was precisely identified down to a fraction of a percent: it is exactly 0.05%.

The fascia is completed with a Bespoke clock, unique to the private collection, which features light blue anodized details and 'Blue Shadow' engraving.

The marque’s fabled Starlight Headliner features an intricate Moon embroidery, surrounded by an array of ‘stars’.

Representing the Moon's surface with its multitude of craters in three dimensions, the embroidery incorporates five different colours of thread.

In total, the embroidery iscreated from 250,000 separate stitches – a process that takes two entire days to complete.

The Starlight Headliner contains a total of 1,183 ‘stars’ – 799 white and 384 blue – each individually placed in the leather canvas through perforated holes, precisely chalked and punched by hand.

In a first for Rolls-Royce, the front and rear seats feature a unique perforated artwork, inspired by the view of Earth from space.

These perforations are made in two different sizes: the smaller (just 0.8 mm in diameter) form the land, while the slightly larger (1.2 mm) define the sea; the blank spaces of leather in between represent the clouds.

Each seat has over 75,000 perforations, all individually placed.

"In creating Blue Shadow, the Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople captured this spirit by embarking on their own voyage of discovery, once again pushing the boundaries of craftsmanship, ” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.


Europe’s carmakers are competing with retail banks for deposits

                BERLIN: Some of Europe’s biggest carmakers are looking more and more like retail banks.

Renault, Volkswagen and BMW are among those making a push into the business of taking customer deposits.

They say it’s a cheaper way to finance car leasing after an unprecedented rise in interest rates made corporate bond issuance — the primary means of funding in recent years — far less attractive.

Automakers’ finance companies can use the deposits they attract to backstop car loans to other customers, helping keep sales going.

It’s a change from the ultra-low rates era, when they were able to sell bonds cheaply to raise funds, and use that money for customer loans. Some carmaker accounts require deposits to be left for a certain amount of time, but others have no time limit, and are akin to a savings account at a traditional bank.

“In the current positive rate environment, deposits have become significantly cheaper than market funding,” said Jean-Marc Saugier, VP Finance and Group Treasury of Renault’s Mobilize Financial Services.

The French carmaker started its deposit-taking business in 2012 to diversify its funding, but has been making a big push into banking since last year. It funded nearly half of its car loan program through deposits last year, up from 35% in 2018.

Volkswagen has also had a banking business for a long time — more than three decades. But the sharp rise in costs for other forms of financing, including corporate bond issuance and asset-backed securities, has made it more important than ever.

The auto giant, which recently announced plans to combine its Volkswagen Financial Services AG and Volkswagen Bank GmbH units, has raised interest rates on customer deposits twice this year, to the current 3.1% rate, in a bid to attract more savers.

Around 160,000 new accounts have been opened since the start of the year, adding about €8 billion (RM41bil) in deposits, according to a spokesperson.

Fellow German carmaker BMW also offers deposit accounts through its financial services unit, with rates of up to 3.2%, according to its website.

Like Volkswagen, BMW has recently hiked interest rates for fixed-term deposits and call money — or savings — accounts, the company said.

BMW has been able to significantly increase its total deposit volume, and deposits play an important strategic role in the refinancing mix of the carmaker’s banking unit, a spokesperson said.

Carmakers’ efforts to attract deposits comes as they face spiraling borrowing costs on new debt. The yield on a Bloomberg index of European automobile bonds has risen to 4.23% from 0.29% in the past two years.

RCI Banque, the issuing entity behind Renault’s banking unit, sold €750 million of five-year bonds last month with a yield of 4.95% — a big jump from the 0.62% on debt it issued in January 2022.

“Automakers are keen to get as many deposits as they can. They have exceptional brand name recognition among depositors in countries like Germany and France,”said Nesche Yazgan, a senior credit analyst at RBC BlueBay Asset Management.

At the same time, savers in Europe don’t have as many options as those in the US, where money-market funds provide an easy alternative to traditional banks, she said.

To be sure, carmakers will still need to issue bonds despite the growing contribution from deposits. Auto companies in Europe sold €8.45 billion in bonds in the region in May, the biggest month for auto debt issuance in six years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, as they took advantage of good market sentiment to get ahead of upcoming debt maturities.

The increasing cost of that debt may translate to higher car loan rates for customers, with implications for demand for new cars, according to some analysts.

Still, savers like Pere Domec, a teacher from Lerida in Spain, continue to be attracted by the higher rates offered by some carmakers.

He first started investing with Renault’s bank about a year and a half ago, when the rate paid on a Spanish instant access account was around 1.2%.

That rate has since jumped to more than 2.6%, he said. ING Groep NV, which is active in Spain with its online bank, offers a rate of 1.25% on its savings account.

“After doing my homework, we decided to invest,” Domec said.

“There’s no reason in Spain now to stay with one of the big banks that will give you so little for your money.”


Automotive sector to see strong TIV in 2023, say research houses

                KUALA LUMPUR: RHB Investment Bank Bhd (RHB IB) is expecting the automotive industry to see strong earnings growth in the first quarter of 2023 (1Q 2023) and 4Q 2022 as automotive companies are in the final stretch of fulfilling the Sales and Service Tax (SST)-exempted orders before June 30.

The investment bank said some companies may absorb the SST if they fail to deliver the cars to customers before the registration deadline of March 31, 2023.

"Given the surprisingly resilient orders on hand, we are of the view that the subsequent quarters will also remain robust,” it said in a note today, adding that it expects to see strong total industry volume (TIV) in February and March.

Overall, RHB IB anticipates the 2023 TIV to be at 680,000 units, which represents a mere six per cent year-on-year softening against the high 2022 base, supported by existing orders and new launches this year.

The Malaysian automotive Association (MAA) currently forecasts a 2023 TIV of 650,000 units, while Perodua’s internal estimates stand at 705,000 units.

"We maintain our ‘overweight’ call on the industry. Our top picks are UMW Holdings Bhd as well as MBM Resources Bhd, and we also note the attractive yields of MBM, Bermaz Auto Bhd and Sime Darby,” said RHB IB.

Meanwhile, Kenanga Research also projected an upbeat 2023 TIV target of 720,000 units, premised on strong reception to new models, a pause in the overnight policy rate hike and the deferment of new excise duty regulations resulting in stable car prices.

"MAA is more cautious about the industry outlook as a whole, especially for the low-end segment, likely due to the impact of high inflation on the lower income group with the rising cost of basic necessities,” it said.

It also noted that the backlog in bookings rose to 350,000 units as of end-January 2023 --higher than 300,000 units three months ago -- indicating strong order replenishments, especially for attractive new models even in the absence of the SST exemption.

"Additionally, vehicle sales will be supported by new electric vehicles (EVs) which will enjoy SST exemption and other EV facility incentives,” it said.


Syndicate selling subsidised fuel busted in Perlis

                KANGAR: The operator of a petrol station in Kangar who sold subsidised RON95 petrol and diesel to a third party to be marketed to foreign vehicle owners has been caught red-handed by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.

The ministry's Perlis chief enforcement officer Mohamad Amir Abdullah said it carried out two raids, at the petrol station and on a store in Kampung Kolam in Padang Besar, on Monday following intelligence-gathering carried out over the past few weeks.

Mohamad Amir said in the raid on the petrol station at around 12.45pm, two individuals were caught filling RON95 petrol and diesel into jerrycans placed in two cars.

"Investigation by the raiding team found that there was a cash transaction made by the two men for the purchase of subsidised fuel.

"A woman believed to be the owner of the petrol station and the two men were then detained," he told a press conference at the ministry's Perlis headquarters here today.

In the second raid, Mohamad Amir said several drums of RON95 petrol were found at a store believed to be used as a resale point.

"The modus operandi of this syndicate was to buy subsidised fuel at petrol stations and store it for redistribution or sale to owners of foreign vehicles near Padang Besar," he said, adding that a local woman believed to be the owner of the premises was also detained for further investigation.

Mohamad Amir said the ministry seized a total of 2,420 litres of RON95 petrol, 500 litres of diesel and two vehicles with a total value of RM19,056 in the raids.

"The ministry regrets the irresponsible action of certain parties taking advantage to misappropriate subsidised fuel.

"A stern warning was issued to other petrol station operators to abide by the rules to avoid action being taken against them," he said.


April 5-11: Fuel prices unchanged for second week

PETALING JAYA: Fuel prices remain unchanged again, from last week.

To recap, RON95 petrol is priced at RM2.20 per litre and RON97 at RM2.47. Diesel is RM2.18.

The new prices were announced on the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry’s official Twitter account on Wednesday (April 4) evening and will take effect from 12.01am on April 5 until 11.


Tyre industry pushes back against evidence of plastic pollution

                SINGAPORE: A growing body of scientific research linking tyre wear to microplastic pollution, as well as increasing scrutiny from lawmakers in the European Union (EU), has led the US$180 billion-a-year tyre industry to fight back.

The companies have stepped up lobbying with EU lawmakers weighing tougher regulations on tyre wear, according to lawmakers and LobbyFacts.eu, a website that tracks EU lobbying data.

They are also quickly countering scientific studies on tyres and microplastic pollution with ones of their own that say tyre particles present no significant risk to humans and the environment.

Cardno ChemRisk, a US-based consultancy that has worked with companies facing chemical exposure litigation, including Johnson & Johnson, BP Plc and Ford Motor Co, is spearheading the tyre industry’s response to the microplastics threat. It declined to comment for this story.

The plastic particles, which are increasingly being found in the air, food, drinking water and even Arctic ice, may pose a risk to human health and marine life, although there is no scientific consensus on the issue.

The World Health Organisation said last year that there was an urgent need to find out more about the health impact of microplastics, which some environmental researchers say could weaken the immune system.

At least 10 studies since 2014 by academics and environmental consultancies cite particles generated by friction between tyres and the road as one of the biggest sources of microplastics - fragments less than five millimetres long – being released into the environment.

Reports commissioned

The tyre industry has published at least 10 studies over the last decade concluding that tyre particles present no significant risk to humans and the environment, and are not as prevalent as other research shows.

The reports, available online, were all fully or partly authored by Cardno ChemRisk, according to a Reuters review of the documents. Three of the reports have been published since 2017.

On its website, the consultancy says its work “is not influenced by the member companies of the (tyre) industry, nor by the trade associations”.

The Tire Industry Project – which is funded by 11 tyre companies, including Bridgestone Corp, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, The Michelin Group and Continental AG - commissioned most of those assessments, according to the group’s website.

READ MORE:
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The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association, an industry body lobbying European lawmakers, also commissioned a study authored by Cardno ChemRisk consultants.

Two former Cardno ChemRisk employees who prepared some of the reports and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the assessments were partly aimed at preparing for potential chemical exposure claims that could be brought by individuals, companies or governments. It was not possible to independently confirm this.

“We focus on issues where we think there is a lot of litigation potential,” one of the former employees said. “If we found something that would make our client look bad, we wouldn’t publish it.”

Gavin Whitmore, a Tire Industry Project spokesman, said the group’s sponsored research was aimed at “answering fundamental questions about the potential human health and environmental impacts of tyres” and not as preparation for possible chemical exposure claims. He added that the group had no knowledge of Cardno ChemRisk omitting information from its studies.

ChemRisk worked with BP after the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, Pacific Gas & Electric in the water contamination lawsuit in the 1990s that inspired the movie Erin Brockovich, and for Johnson & Johnson and Ford in asbestos cases. It was bought by Cardno, an Australian infrastructure group, in 2012.

The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association and Tire Industry Project said the research they commissioned from Cardno ChemRisk was independent and fair.

New regulations loom

For tyre makers facing new rules, the stakes are high. EU lawmakers are considering regulations that would set minimum standards for tyre design to reduce microplastic pollution, such as the rate of abrasion and durability.

The requirement could lead to billions of dollars in redesign costs for tyre makers, three industry sources said.

Jarmo Sunnari, senior manager on standards and regulation at Nokian Tyres Oyj, a Finnish manufacturer, said the effect would be of “that kind of great magnitude”, when asked about estimates of a financial hit of billions of dollars made by several industry experts.

Such added costs would be a financial headache for an industry that has suffered a sharp drop in sales due to the coronavirus outbreak, European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association data last week showed.

Fazilet Cinaralp, European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association’s secretary-general, acknowledged a cost from future regulations but that it was too early to quantify. She said the association’s goal was to broaden knowledge about tyre wear by funding research and helping with the development of a tyre wear test.

“The tyre industry wants to be part of the solution,” said Cinaralp.

Olly Jamieson, a researcher for Eunomia, a sustainability consultancy that conducted a 2018 study on tyre wear for the European Commission, said the industry tended to focus on external factors influencing tyre wear like driver behaviour, road conditions and weather, rather than things like tyre design, cited in the scientific studies.

Environmental groups have also questioned the independence and accuracy of the industry studies. Specifically, they take issue with the narrow use of consultants and the industry’s conclusion that there is no risk to health from tyre particles.

“Given evidence of the contribution to both air pollution and aquatic pollution, it is misleading to claim that there is no risk of harm from tyre-wear microplastic emissions,” said Julian Kirby, plastics pollution campaigner for Friends of the Earth, an environmental group that has studied the links between tyres and plastic pollution in Britain.

“There is an appreciable risk that pollution from car tyres is harmful to human health.”

The tyre companies and company-funded groups say it is premature to declare that particles from tyres are harmful to humans or the environment.

“The peer-reviewed scientific research that we have sponsored concludes that” tyre and road-wear particles “present low risk to human health and the environment,” Tire Industry Project’s Whitmore said.

“The scientific data that we have do not show a risk on human health or any demonstrative impact on flora and fauna,” said Cyrille Roget, Michelin’s technical and scientific communication director.

“It’s important to continue to work on the gaps that we have in our knowledge.”

Joerg Burfein, who was until recently head of global standards and regulations at Continental, said microplastics had become a focus for the firm in the last two years.

“We are open to solve it but we also said let’s look at all facts, let’s not have an emotional debate,” said Burfein, who was named president of Hoosier Racing Tire Corp., a Continental subsidiary, in January.

Eunomia’s 2018 study concluded that 500,000 tonnes of microplastics are generated from tyres in the EU every year, accounting for potentially the largest source of microplastics in the aquatic environment.

A year earlier, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature published a paper that estimated that tyres were responsible for 28% of primary microplastics in the world’s oceans.

Weeks later, European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association, the tyre-lobbying body, commissioned a study that found that most tyre particles never make it into rivers and oceans as they are captured in drains or by the roadside.

The association says it could be take up to seven years to roll out a test for tyre abrasion, which will affect the timeframe for future legislation. Some critics say this is a delaying tactic. Cinaralp said the association was not trying to delay EU legislation.

“I do not see any great commitment by the tyre industry to address this problem,” said Joao de Sousa, a marine plastics specialist at International Union for the Conservation of Nature, who has held consultations on microplastics with tyre industry officials. “They want business as usual.”


Ferrari's twin-turbo V8 grabs 'International Engine of the Year Award'

MARANELLO: Ferrari has won the International Engine of the Year Award with the twin-turbo V8 that powers the 488 GTB, 488 Spider and, with a slightly different displacement, the California T.

In fact, this engine also won the Performance Engine and New Engine categories, as well as the 3-litre to 4-litre displacement category.

The award ceremony was held at the Engine Expo 2016 in Stuttgart on Wednesday.

With 63 jurors from more than 30 countries, the International Engine of the Year Award is one of the industry’s most coveted honours.

Ferrari’s naturally-aspirated 6.3-litre V12 engine that powers the F12berlinetta and F12tdf also received the Above 4-litre award.

Ferrari’s return to twin-turbo technology for the V8 range has set a new benchmark for turbo-charged engines. Zero turbo lag and a progressive delivery of torque throughout the rev range maintain unprecedented levels of driver involvement, as well as providing a signature Ferrari soundtrack and power delivery that propels the Prancing Horse into the lead in this segment.

“It’s a giant leap forward for turbocharged engines in terms of efficiency, performance and flexibility. It truly is the best engine in production today and will forever be remembered as one of the all-time greats,” said International Engine of the Year Awards co-chairman Graham Johnson.

Watch the International Engine of the Year Awards 2016 highlights


Tesla says California is still home — for its engineering HQ

Newsom (left) and Musk. — Screengrab from twitter.com/Tesla
SAN FRANCISCO: Elon Musk is not entirely abandoning California, saying on Wednesday that Tesla Inc will make the state its global engineering home, even though the electric vehicle maker's corporate headquarters are now in Texas.

Musk on Wednesday announced the news with the state's governor, Gavin Newsom, and the Tesla CEO later told CNBC that putting the engineering hub in California means it is "effectively a headquarters of Tesla."

Tesla in 2010 acquired a plant from a joint venture of General Motors Co and Toyota Motor Corp in Fremont, California, which it still operates and which will increase production this year to more than 600,000 vehicles, Musk said.

Still, Wednesday's announcement marked something of a shift for the billionaire CEO, who had criticised California's regulations and taxes harshly after he moved Tesla's official corporate headquarters to Texas in 2021.

The two states are political and business rivals.

Democratic-controlled California, the most populous US state, has more electric vehicles than any other and provided Tesla with tax incentives as it grew.

Second-ranked Texas is known for relatively light regulation and is the heart of the nation's oil-and-gas industry.

Musk previously criticised California for "overregulation, overlitigation, overtaxation" and in 2020 clashed with local officials over closure of the company's Fremont factory due to Covid-19.

Musk has said he has voted for Democrats in the past, but suggested voting Republican in the 2022 midterm elections. He did thank Newsom, a prominent Democrat, for buying one of Tesla's early Roadster cars.

"It is a reminder of the advantage of building on success in California and does suggest that Musk made a strategic mistake in moving his HQ to Texas," said Stephen F. Diamond, associate professor of law at Santa Clara University.

On Wednesday on CNBC, Musk said California should still be cautious about taxes and regulations.

For his part, Newsom, during the event, bragged that his state was the biggest manufacturing centre in the nation, but he did not aim his remarks at Texas.

"Eat your heart out, Germany," he joked, as the news came not long after Tesla said it would focus battery cell production in the United States in light of federal incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Tesla is one of the first companies to declare such a strategy shift prompted by the legislation.

"Given that the Bay Area in California is home to many leading tech companies, it makes sense for Tesla’s engineering headquarters to be located there as a way to attract top talent," said Seth Goldstein, an analyst at Morningstar.

The new Tesla engineering headquarters will be in a former Hewlett Packard building in Palo Alto. "This is a poetic transition from the company that founded Silicon Valley to Tesla," Musk said.

> Watch Newsom-Musk Twitter clip


Turbodiesel Maserati Levante open for booking - VIDEO

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Levante, Maserati's first SUV, is now open for booking in Malaysia ahead of its launch at the end of the year. It was previewed here today in a left-hand drive petrol model.

Although the all-wheel-drive Levante (Mediterranean wind) is seen in its left-hand drive petrol guise, the first batch of these Italian SUVs will arrive with an eight-speed automatic gearbox from ZF mated to a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine.

The diesel variant will churn out 275hp at 4,000rpm and 600Nm of torque from 2,000 to 2,600rpm and pricing for them are expected to start from under RM800,000.

Although the Italian brand with Neptune's (or Poseidon's - if your prefer Greek mythology instead of Roman) trident hasn't quite prepared the right-hand drive petrol versions just yet, Naza Italia vice-president Farid Sulaiman assured that it "will make a strong entrance and will more than meet expectations."

For the moment, Bentley's Bentayga and Jaguar's F-PACE are due to arrive on Malaysian soil later this year and Aston Martin is currently making plans for their own SUV that's based on the DBX concept.

READ MORE:
CarSifu drives Jaguar F-PACE in Montenegro
Bentley Bentayga coming to Malaysia

In terms of performance, the diesel-powered 2,205kg (kerb) Levante is capable of reaching 100kph from standstill in just 6.9 seconds before reaching a top speed of 230kph and has a fuel economy rating of 7.2 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.

A detuned diesel variant is also available, which is 25hp down at 250hp that can also be found at 4,000rpm while maintaining peak torque of 600Nm as well. But it may be unlikely that this will be made available.

With the 2,109kg (kerb) petrol-powered variant arriving later, there will be two 3.0-litre (2,979cc) 60-degree twin-turbo V6 engines mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox being made available and one of them will provide 350hp at 5,750 rpm along with 500Nm from 4,500 to 5,000rpm.

This means its 0-100kph sprint time will take 6.0 seconds before reaching a top speed of 251kph.

As for the other more potent twin-turbo mill, that adds an additional 80hp and 80Nm to the offering table, bringing the final performance figures to 430hp at 5,750rpm and 580Nm of torque from 4,500 to 5,000rpm.

With the increase in output, the Levante is able to shave the 0-100kph sprint time down by 0.8 seconds to 5.2 seconds while adding an additional 13kph to its top speed at 264kph.

As standard, the Levante rolls on 18-inch wheels with 255/60 series tyres which partially hides the front and rear two-piston callipers that bite down on the 345mm (front) and 330mm (rear) drilled steel discs for stopping power.

The Levante has four drive modes of Normal, I.C.E., Sport and Off-road - each altering the engine, transmission, suspension and electronic characteristics to suit the chosen path, while carrying 580 litres of precious cargo in the boot.

For safety, it comes with six dual-stage airbags, active headrests, tyre pressure monitoring system, adaptive cruise control, blind spot alert, rear cross path detection, lane departure and forward collision warning systems to name a few.


Interstate travel: Three-day grace period up, every car to be checked

                PETALING JAYA: The three-day grace period that police gave for people to travel home across states and districts ended on Friday and from now on, “lame excuses” will no longer be tolerated at the roadblocks.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Soffian Santong said Penangites were given three days to adjust to the new movement control order and from now on, every car would be checked at roadblocks.

He said that drivers without a valid reason for going out might be issued a compound on top of being told to turn back.

“Since the first day on Jan 13, we’ve been getting lame excuses from motorists like going to meet friends or visit parents living elsewhere but from today (Saturday), no one has given us a poor excuse yet.

“For the first three days, we were easy on drivers and just told those who did not have a valid excuse to turn around.

“We will decide on a case-by-case basis.

“If they come up with a bad excuse, we might not let them go that easily and will have to take action, ” he said.

On traffic holdups at roadblocks, ACP Soffian said this problem was unavoidable as the police must check the vehicles.

“It has not been too bad and traffic has been moving.

“The public need to be understanding as the police have to speak to each driver, ” said ACP Soffian.

The locations of permanent roadblocks in the island’s northeast district are in front of Batu Uban Sports Complex, the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway intersection leading to Penang Bridge, Jalan Paya Terubong, Jalan Batu Ferringhi and Weld Quay.


Larry Page-backed Kitty Hawk shows off flying car prototype

                SAN FRANCISCO: Silicon valley company Kitty Hawk has announced this week its first prototype of a personal flying car, which will go on sale by the end of 2017.

The Kitty Hawk Flyer is a new, all-electric craft which the company claimed is safe and allows the user to learn how to fly in minutes. The first version was designed to fly over water as the promo clip below shows.

According to Kitty Hawk, the craft is categorised by US authorities as an ultralight and therefore doesn't require a pilot’s licence to operate. It has been tested and is legal to operate in the United States in uncongested areas, it added.

Adding to Kitty Hawk's newsworthiness is the fact that Google co-founder Larry Page is an investor in the company.

“We’ve all had dreams of flying effortlessly. I’m excited that one day very soon I’ll be able to climb onto my Kitty Hawk Flyer for a quick and easy personal flight,” Page told the New York Times.

The price of the single-seater will be announced closer to the launch date. For those who signed up as a Kitty Hawk member for US$100, they will get a US$2,000 discount off the Flyer's price at launch.

Members will also get exclusive behind-the-scenes content about The Flyer and be eligible to attend meet-ups and industry events.


Audi brings semi-autonomous features to new Q3

                INGOLSTADT: Audi has unveiled a second-generation version of its Q3 compact SUV, a larger and more comfortable revamp with semi-autonomous driving aids. The new Q3 will be heading to the Paris Motor Show and is expected in dealerships by the end of 2018.

Faced with increasingly tough competition -- in particular from BMW (X3) and Volvo (XC40) -- Audi has revisited and reworked its small SUV rather than giving it a simple restyling.

The Audi Q3 has been updated in line with the German brand's current design signatures, from the front grille to the lights. Note that the Q3 also gets 10cm longer, which notably makes more space in the back of the vehicle.

In terms of driver aids, the Audi Q3 comes with adaptive cruise assist, incorporating traffic jam and lane assist functions, as well as blind spot monitoring and park assist. The latter function automatically steers the car into and out of parking spaces, leaving the driver to accelerate, brake and shift gears.

The new Audi Q3 will be available in gasoline and diesel versions with power outputs ranging from 150 to 230HP, and with a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed automatic transmission.

The new Q3 will be on display at the Paris Motor Show, Oct 4-14, with deliveries in Europe expected to start from November. Pricing is yet to be announced. A new version of the RS Q3 model is expected to follow in 2019.

 The outgoing RS Q3.


Tesla taking orders for US$80,000 electric SUV

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla has begun taking orders for its Model X electric sport utility vehicle with a starting price of US$80,000 (RM337,000).

The Model X price can quickly ramp with extras such as self-driving capabilities, more powerful batteries, or "ludicrous speed."

Model X SUV come in three models and are not expected to ship before the middle of next year.

The Model X will be the second electric vehicle that will be coming off the innovative car maker's production lines. It is also two years behind schedule.

The X has a surprisingly rounded and tapered profile for an SUV compared to the more massive frames and rectangular lines of its competitors.

This car is full of gadgets. The wing doors can be opened from a distance, with sensors adjusting the angle to avoid other cars parked close by, and there is a special "biodefence" air filtration button.

More than 20,000 reservations have reportedly been placed for Tesla's SUV since it was unveiled in September at the company's plant in the Northern California city of Fremont.

Tesla loyalists, the list of which includes Google co-founder Sergey Brin, have been able to get their hands on more expensive limited edition Founders and Signature versions of the Model X, according to Tesla.

The electric car maker hopes to expand its customer base, and become profitable, by expanding its line-up.

Tesla has yet to turn a profit, despite having won over stock market investors and public opinion.


China's Geely to launch new car brand codenamed 'L'

                BEIJING: Chinese automaker Geely will launch a new brand next year, codenamed "L", with cars based on joint architecture developed with Volvo, said three people with knowledge of the matter.

The brand will launch with a sport-utility vehicle - the first model based on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform developed by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and Volvo, the Swedish automaker it bought from Ford in 2010. A sedan is also under development for the new brand.

Spokesmen for both Geely and Volvo declined to comment.

Launching a new car brand when China's economic growth is at its slowest in a quarter of a century may seem ambitious, but Geely, under chairman Li Shufu, beat the industry growth rate last year and has turned around Volvo's fortunes.

Geely sales rose 22 percent to around 510,000 cars last year, and Volvo earnings tripled, with the Swedish automaker predicting record sales for 2016.

Car sales in China, the world's biggest market, are forecast to grow by around 6 percent this year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

The aim is for L-brand cars to compete with Chinese-foreign venture brands, such as those produced jointly by General Motors and SAIC Motor Corp. That would leave Volvo to focus on the luxury market, and Geely to go up against domestic Chinese brands, two of the people said.

The new brand would launch into an already crowded Chinese market where at least a dozen foreign automakers and more than 20 local passenger car manufacturers, many with multiple brands of their own, compete.

"The last thing the Chinese automotive world needs is another brand," said James Chao, Asia-Pacific chief of consultancy IHS Automotive. "The elimination of more brands in China should be the route."

Launching a new brand can cost hundreds of millions of dollars, if not billions, require years of patience and even then would need to be a truly groundbreaking product to succeed, Chao said.

But the potential return could be substantial if Geely can pull it off.

SAIC GM's budget Baojun cars, launched in China in 2011, sold nearly half a million vehicles last year. But other new brands, including Toyota Motor's Scion sub-brand aimed at younger buyers in the United States, have failed to gain traction. Scion was axed as a standalone brand earlier this year.

Qoros Automotive, backed by Kenon Holdings and China's Chery Automobile, was founded in 2007 and sold just 14,250 cars last year.

The new L-brand is something of a U-turn for Geely, which said only two years ago it would eliminate three sub-brands and only sell under the Geely logo, consolidating its sales network in the process.

L-brand cars will be sold through Geely's existing dealership network, said one individual with direct knowledge of the plan, unlike previous Geely sub-brands that were sold through separate exclusive dealerships.

New factories will be set up to make cars for the new brand, codenamed after the marque's first initial, and once it is established in China it will export to other markets, the person said.

China Euro Vehicle Technology AB, a Geely subsidiary that coordinates research and development with Volvo, is leading the work on the CMA platform from its headquarters in Sweden, with some operations in China.

Developing the CMA platform is part of Geely's preparations for a push into European and U.S. markets, sources previously told Reuters.

The platform will allow all three brands - Volvo, Geely and L-brand - to design new models from a common base.


Why countless commuters are ditching bikes and buses for scooters

                WASHINGTON, D.C.: "I mostly use a scooter for short distances, to get to from the subway to the office," says Robert Price from Washington. He's one of many in US cities that are giving up cars, bikes and public transport for rentable battery-powered scooters.

Scattered all over city centres, they can be rented out from operators like Lime and Bird for less than the price of a train ticket for 10 minutes use. Anyone who wants to start a quick ride just uses an app on their smartphone to unlock one.

Once you've unlocked the scooter with your smartphone, two or three pushes with your foot and you're on your way. Then, all you need to keep yourself moving is a lever on the handlebars. Once you're done, there's a handbrake and kickstand so it doesn't fall over.

Reaching speeds of up to 24kph and weighing around 11kg, the scooters are designed mainly for shorter trips, and can cover between 11km and 23km on a full charge.

It's not just commuters, but also tourists that like the idea of buzzing around on scooters. "The whole concept is cool," says John Lawrence, a British-German tourist visiting Washington.

Users like having an alternative to buses and cars. The scooters allow them to avoid traffic and free them from having to find a parking space. And when you've reached your destination, you just park the scooter on the side of the path for the next person to rent it out.

Now that companies like Bird and Lime have taken off in several North American cities, the e-scooters also look set to conquer European cities like Vienna and Paris.

"Today, 40 per cent of car trips are less than two miles (around 3km) long," Travis VanderZanden, founder and chief executive of Bird, one of the biggest electric scooter companies, recently told the Washington Post.

"Our goal is to replace as many of those trips as possible so we can get cars off the road and curb traffic and greenhouse gas emissions."

But not everyone is happy about the rapid rise of the new form of mobility. One problem is that once people have finished with the scooters, they just leave them anywhere. In San Francisco, scooters are being found dumped in the bay, and even in trees.

When on the go, they can also pose risks for both riders and pedestrians. Riders are supposed to stay on the road, but many also choose to go on the pavement, against the advice of operators.

People whizzing past you at 20kph on the pavement is bound to be disconcerting for many people.


Porsche offers braided carbon fibre wheels on exclusive 911

                STUTTGART: Porsche has become the world's first car manufacturer to offer braided carbon fibre wheels as an option - on the limited edition 911 Turbo Exclusive S model, of which only 500 examples are being made.

A set of the handsome wheels weighs 8.5 kilos less than four regular alloys, making them 20 per cent lighter as well as 20 per cent stronger.

The wheels also boost driving pleasure, since the lower rotating masses mean "more spontaneity both in acceleration and braking," according to the German maker.

The 20-inch carbon fibre wheels are available from 2018 for a hefty extra cost of 15,232 euros (RM74,202) on top of the car's list price of 260,000 euros (RM1.3mil).

Each wheel is made from 18km (eight square metres) of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP).

To produce the wheels, Porsche uses a huge braiding machine borrowed from the textile industry. It weaves strands of the high-tech black material into a dense, compact wheel, increasing rigidity.

Porsche says the process uses the high-tech material more efficiently, which results in less waste.

The wheel centre is braided into the rim, and the assembled wheel is injected with resin before being sealed under high pressure.

The finished result is a deep glossy finish which highlights the texture of the intertwined carbon fibres.


Eye-catching Hyundai i30

It didn’t take long for deja vu to set in, after we were given the new Hyundai i30 hatchback for a day to see what the South African countryside around Cape Town had to offer.

Sure, the scenery was familiar enough – it could have been Australia – and the weather was extremely pleasant – southern England in autumn, perhaps – but realisation gradually dawned that it was the car.

It was as if I’d been in the cockpit before and taken the car out for a spin. The layout and ergonomics were no strangers to me. Then, it struck me – of course!

The Korean cars of today are a quantum leap from yore and are no longer fodder for the scoffers, from any perspective.

The i30, which was designed based on Hyundai’s “fluidic concept” styling philosophy, had a familiar feel to it because my home ride is a Korean car (a Kia, actually). I intuitively settled into the i30 within the hour.

That it possesed a distinct Hyundai-Kia DNA was beyond doubt to me. Given that both marques are under the same roof, it only makes sense to adopt a shared approach in some areas.

There’s also the Gamma 1.6-litre multi point injection D-CVVT petrol engine of the test-drive vehicle, which was equipped with the newer six-speed auto transmission (my car’s a four-speed auto).

The unit, not untypical in this class and price, isn’t the liveliest powerplant around but because the hatchback is lighter, responded more willingly than a sedan version of this model would.

Which, of course, is befitting of the i30’s sporty demeanor.

The six-speed transmission exhibited smooth changes through the range, marginally nipper through the low revs as it shifted quickly from start.

Those craving a bit more control can always switch to the manual shift buttons.

There are two other variants of the i30 – a six-speed manual transmission mated to this 1.6-litre engine, and a 1.8-litre Nu MPI derivative (with only a six-speed manual option).

Power on tap for the 1.6-litre version is 95kW (130bhp), with 157Nm of torque, both figures increasing to 110kW (150bhp) and 178Nm for the bigger engine.

At the time of writing this, no details on which versions will be made available in Malaysia.

Hyundai says both engines, with their lightweight aluminium construction and Continuous Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) from the double overhead camshafts, offer a balance between performance and economy.

The claimed fuel consumption figures are 6.4 and 6.8 litres per 100km for the 1.6L manual and automatic respectively, and 6.5 litres per 100km for the 1.8L.

The handling and steering had a familiar feel, too, while there’s a European-ness in the suspension, which felt tight and right for a car in this class.

The steering wasn’t the sharpest in terms of feel, but the less demanding driver won’t mind.

There was little difficulty easing the i30 into tight spaces, and when I negotiated more demanding stretches of twisting roads, there was a reassuring feel of confidence about this hatch that made me want to push it harder.

The i30 uses an electronic steering, which can be tailored to needs, depending on the situation. Of course, it also contributes to fuel economy.

Three steering modes are provided – Comfort, Normal and Sport, respectively for city driving, regular conditions and the highway, where there’s purportedly more feel and rigidity.

These modes are quickly accessed via a button on the steering wheel.

The cabin punches above class – it’s not spectacular but the high standard of fit and finish is obvious, while the range of features is a common trait of a Korean car these days.

The TFT display cluster on the dashboard provides a wealth of information, and here, there’s again a continental air about the overall layout. As for other useful features, there’s dual climate control.

Expect the local version to be equally well-specified, as the Koreans are known to be generous with the features.

The i30’s cabin was quite roomy, apparently more so than the previous model.

The overall length (4,300 mm) and width (1,780 mm) have been increased, but height has been reduced (1,470 mm) for a sportier look and better handling.

Cargo capacity in the new-generation i30 is 378 litres with rear seats upright – an increase of 10% compared to the original model.

The range of safety features is reassuring – electronic stability programme, anti-lock braking system, vehicle stability management and Emergency Stop Signal, along with six airbags.

Also comfortingly, the i30 has been awarded the maximum five-star rating in the Euro NCAP’s impact assessment programme.

I found little to complain about NVH levels – the i30’s interior was as quiet as you would expect a car in this class to be, on the highway and in town.

The i30’s design was conceived by the Hyundai Motor Europe Design Centre, and the car was initially unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The original i30 was made with the European market in sight, explaining the internal and external styling cues.

This new-generation i30 also bears Hyundai’s signature frontal feature – the hexagonal-shaped grille.

The vehicle is scheduled to be launched in Malaysia soon, when the full local specs and price of the local variants will be announced.

It certainly will catch the eye of the younger driver in the market for a sporty hatch.


Toyota ends production of diesel RAV4

                LONDON: Japanese manufacturers have never really been particularly enamored with diesel engines, so not too many tears will have been shed by Toyota as it was announced production of the diesel version of the RAV4 is now ending.

The Japanese auto giant is committed to eradicating oil-burning models from its portfolio, and the popular RAV4 is the latest victim of the ongoing purge of all things diesel at Toyota.

Petrol and electrified powertrains are where Toyota now sees its future, so the single 2.0-litre diesel version of the compact crossover has now been axed.

Speaking to the UK's Autocar publication, A Toyota spokesman said: "there will still be cars in stock or in allocation from production" based on predictions of demand, but "no new specific orders [for diesels] can be placed."

The end of the diesel to leave just 2.0-litre petrol and 2.5-liter hybrid versions of the RAV is well timed as the current generation of the globally popular RAV4 is now entering in its "run-out phase." A new, considerably more rugged generation that was unveiled at the most recent New York International Auto Show replaces the current model in 2019.

Even though the 2019 RAV4 will be built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform and will be larger than the current model, the same powertrains will be offered, albeit in updated forms. Of course, no diesel variants of the new model will be offered whatsoever.

The end of the diesel RAV4 is no surprise as only last year Toyota's executive vice-president, Didier Leroy, claimed the company's success with petrol and hybrid powerplants meant diesel was no longer relevant. Leroy said: "My personal opinion — and this is my personal opinion, not a company one — is no, we'll not launch another diesel car."

The diesel version of the Toyota Auris already ceased production towards the end of last year, so that now leaves the Verso MPV, Proace Verso MPV, Land Cruiser, Proace Van and Hilux pickups as the only diesel models in the company's European lineup. In the US, even Toyota's full-size Tundra pickup truck is a petrol-only model.


Maserati GranTurismo Folgore takes to the streets with Tavares at the wheel

                ROME: A prototype Maserati GranTurismo Folgore Full-Electric coupé has taken to the streets here for the first time.

For the Rome E-Prix 2022, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares rode the prototype car to the Eternal City's Formula E circuit.

The new GranTurismo will be the first model in Maserati history to adopt 100% electric solutions.

Made at the Mirafiori production hub, it will debut on the market in 2023. It will offer the characteristic Maserati sound as well as cutting-edge technical solutions, high performance, comfort and elegance.

The GranTurismo Folgore will come with an 800-volt battery to deliver more than 1,200hp to all four wheels. The 0-100kph sprint could be completed in less than 3s. Speed could top 305kph.

 Tavares with Maserati CEO Davide Grasso.


Suzuki chairman to retire, become senior adviser

Suzuki would take on advisory role after June. — Reuters
TOKYO: Suzuki Motor Corp’s 91-year old chairman, Osamu Suzuki, announced he will retire in June, stepping aside for a new leader to navigate the shift to electric cars and fight off competition from tech firms such as Tesla and Apple.

The chairman, after heading the company for more than four decades that his wife’s grandfather founded, is leaving his son Toshihiro Suzuki, already president and CEO, to hold the reins of the company.

Osamu told reporters today he decided to retire after the company welcomed its 100th anniversary last year and the approval of its new management plan.

But he said he will “remain active” as an adviser.

“I will neither run away nor hide,” the patriarch said, who has repeatedly declared in the past he will be a “lifelong non-retiree”.

The company also announced on Wednesday it will invest one trillion yen (US$9.45 billion), mostly on electrification technology, over five years.

The younger Suzuki said the company needed to respond to a global push towards lower emissions. “Carbon neutral is the focus now. Suzuki must not fall behind this global trend,” he said.

The announcement by Japan’s fourth-biggest automaker comes less than a week after rival Honda Motor appointed a new CEO, who said he would consider alliances to make bold decisions.

Carmakers, particularly smaller players such as Suzuki, are seen at a disadvantage due to the huge cost of developing EVs and technologies such as autonomous driving.

Suzuki, alongside other automakers such as Mazda and Subaru, tied up with Toyota in 2019 to slash development and manufacturing costs.

Osamu Suzuki, who joined Suzuki Motor in 1958, became president in 1978 and doubled as chairman in 2000. During his tenure, the company solidified its presence as the top maker of compact cars.

He spearheaded the company’s decision to enter its key Indian market in 1983. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, which the carmaker owns a majority stake in, is India’s top carmaker, selling every second car in the country.

In 2016, Suzuki stepped down as CEO to take responsibility for the firm’s use of incorrect testing methods to calculate vehicle mileage but he remained chairman.

Osamu, who waved and said “bye-bye” at the end of today’s news conference, will be appointed as senior adviser upon retirement.


Honda opens new 3S centre in Shah Alam

                SHAH ALAM: Honda Malaysia has opened its latest 3S (sales, service and spare parts) centre in Shah Alam, bringing the total number of facilities to 28 within the central region.

Operated by the Elmina Motors Sdn Bhd, the RM21.8mil facility sits on an 85,377 square-foot area that's located at Lot 72292, Jalan Pekan Subang, Kampung Baru Subang, Seksyen U6, 40150 Shah Alam.

The location is said to be within easy access via the Guthrie Corridor Expressway, New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), North-South Expressway (NSE) and the upcoming Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH).

For the convenience of its customers, the new facility has been built with a lounge area that comes with free Wi-Fi, a children's play area, a pantry area with free flow of food and beverages as well as a surau.

At the rear, the service area has been equipped with 20 bays consisting specifically of 12 service bays, four general repair bays, two tyre service bays, an air conditioning servicing bay and an electrical bay.

In terms of throughput, the facility is able to service up to 30 vehicles daily and is able to also provide customers with the convenience of a car wash, road tax renewal as well as insurance coverage renewal.

For more information, log on to www.honda.com.my and to make a service appointment, customers can call Elmina Motors at 1300-800-555.

"The timing is opportune as it also provides another conveniently-located Honda showroom for customers to visit and test drive any Honda model, especially the three exciting models that we launched this year, namely the All-New Accord, New Civic and New BR-V," said Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Toichi Ishiyama.

In 2019, the Honda Malaysia recorded more than 647,100 service intakes within the central region - a 5.4% increase from 2018.


McLaren Speedtail will be almost fully customisable

The 'Stratosphere' interior option, part of the 'Urbane' collection, is one of several customisable configurations available from McLaren for the upcoming Speedtail hypercar.
LONDON: Future owners of the McLaren Speedtail have been invited to customise their hyper GTs, for which the first deliveries are planned in 2020.

Only 106 of these luxury sports cars will be made, and all of these have already been sold at the hefty price of £1.75 million plus tax (RM9.3mil) per unit.

McLaren Speedtail's super-rich buyers not only get to savour stepping on the gas to reach a top speed of 403kph, they will also have the pleasure of choosing between three design themes for their future cars - Urbane, Visionary and Dynamic - which have been specially developed by McLaren for this model.

Using these themes as a starting point, Speedtail customers will be able to fully customise every detail of their future cars, both inside and out.

In fact the choices are so numerous, that each buyer will be assigned a manager to help them configure their Speedtail. The service will also include access to McLaren Special Operations (MSO) which offers a wide array of colors and finishing materials.

With its 1,035hp hybrid powertrain, the Speedtail will the fastest roadcar ever built by McLaren, which has announced that the vehicle will be capable of accelerating from 0 to 300kph in 12.8 seconds.

The Speedtail will benefit from a carbon-fibre monocoque and a specially-designed interior that places the driver in a central position between its two passenger seats - directly inspired by the McLaren F1, the first GT produced by the British company in the mid-1990s.

With an ultra low-drag design that uses fender-mounted HD cameras instead of door mirrors, the road car will also be the most aerodynamic ever made by McLaren.


GM icon Bob Lutz and Henrik Fisker set up VFL Automotive

                DETROIT: Bob Lutz and Henrik Fisker have announced a new American car company called VLF Automotive. And, so far at least, it has nothing to do with beating Fisker's old rival Tesla.

Instead, the development comes as an update to an old company Lutz started in 2012 with entrepreneur and former Boeing executive Gilbert Villarreal. VL Automotive, as it was known, created some small buzz in 2013 when it developed the Destino at the Detroit Auto Show but has since displayed little life. (It merged with a company called GreenTech Automotive in 2014 on since-fizzled promises to deliver electric city cars, plug-in muscle machines and performance cars including those from the obscure brand Saleen for the Chinese market.)

In a statement released just days before the 2016 North American International Auto Show, the former GM Vice Chairman and Fisker, the designer responsible for the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9, said VLF Automotive will create a new version of the Destino. The car will use a drivetrain from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, a Corvette V8 engine, and a bespoke four-door design. Lutz said the Destino, along with Fisker's new Force 1, will debut in Detroit next week.

And it's all without an electric- or hybrid drivetrain insight. Instead, the three are positioning the company as the perfect trifecta of management and financial skills (Lutz), manufacturing expertise (Villarreal), and design innovation (Fisker) to develop abona fide American supercar.

Fisker, now a VLF shareholder and third member of the executive management team alongside Lutz and Villarreal, said in the statement that they "seek to change the future of the American auto industry.” The company says it has a manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan (near Detroit), and a design centre in Los Angeles; seven dedicated dealerships are planned to open in North America starting later this year.

Specifications released with the announcement said the 638- horsepower Destino will reach 100kph in 3.9 seconds and have a top speed of 322kph. Initial pricing will start at US$229,000. A representative for the company said it plans to sell 100 Destinos “in the next year.”

It certainly sounds nice. But Lutz has long has his hand in fantastical automotive endeavors that lean too heavily on his star power and too lightly on creating actual product. And Fisker will have a tough battle flogging a model that shared a body with his failed Karma, a car whose early hype died quickly after it proved unreliable and poorly engineered. That new red-blooded American engine and a little jolt of design testosterone likely aren't enough for a viable revitalisation.


Slovakia faces challenge of shifting gear into e-cars

The VW plant in Slovakia.
BRATISLAVA: A small country but ranked as a major automaker, Slovakia now risks paying a heavy price should it miss out on the accelerating change to electric cars, analysts say.

Slovakia re-invented its economy twice in recent decades, first after shedding the communist yoke in 1989 and then again after separation from the Czech Republic. Low corporate taxes drew foreign investors, primarily in the electronics and auto sectors.

A skilled workforce and wages that average half those in western Europe coupled with eurozone membership sweeten the deal.

But analysts say Bratislava could be missing the e-mobility boat by foot-dragging on fresh incentives to encourage global carmakers to produce electric cars at their Slovak plants. A risk accentuated this week when BMW chose neighbouring Hungary for a new billion-euro factory where it will produce both electric and conventional cars.

Of the three global automakers operating in Slovakia — Germany's Volkswagen, France's PSA and South Korean Kia — so far only VW produces electric vehicles.

But even VW's future plans for e-car production in Slovakia remain unclear, and it is the same story for PSA and Kia.

A new Jaguar Land Rover plant is also due to open in September. Plans call for 150,000 cars to roll off the assembly line annually but it is unclear whether any will be electric.

The auto sector generates some 300,000 jobs in Slovakia, making it by far the largest employer in the country of 5.4 million.

Annual production has exceeded one million cars in each of the last three years and is forecast to grow by more than a third by 2020.

Overall, the carmaking sector accounts for 44 percent of Slovakia's total industrial production and 35 percent of its exports.

'Lack of vision'?

According to International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates, worldwide electric vehicle production could explode from three million last year to 220 million by 2030.

Given such prospects, encouraging e-car production at Slovak plants should be Bratislava's number one priority, said Peter Badik, co-founder of Greenway, the largest electric vehicle charging network in Slovakia and Poland.

"The opposite is true," he said. "If we keep ignoring technological progress and we don't try to use it in our favour, it could become a huge problem for Slovakia."

He is echoed by Peter Sevce, director of the Slovak Electric Vehicle Association (SEVA), who insists that Bratislava needs to promote production of e-vehicles, battery management systems and electric engines.

"There's a lack of political will to deal with electromobility in Slovakia," he said, adding that there is also a "lack a vision about where we see the automotive sector in a couple of years."

According to VW Slovakia spokesman Michal Ambrovic, the e-up! model, the carmaker's "first-ever mass-produced electric vehicle", began rolling off the assembly line at its Bratislava plant in 2013.

But Sevce contends that VW's "other electric models will be assembled in Germany, due to fears of a fall in employment in the automotive sector."

Ambrovic declined to comment on this claim. He also refused to disclose the number of e-up! vehicles VW produces in Bratislava or any future VW plans for e-car production on Slovak soil.

Prestige, regulatory concerns

PSA Slovakia is also not forthcoming about its plans regarding e-vehicles.

Spokesman Peter Svec said the carmaker "is preparing for several projects" at its plant in Trnava, a town around 100km north-east of the capital Bratislava.

"At this time, I cannot confirm the details associated with this potential investment," he said.

Slovakia's third carmaker, the Zilina-based Kia, was unavailable for comment.

The economy ministry took one of its first small steps in June to promote domestic purchases of electric vehicles by creating a support scheme worth 3.3 million euros (RM15.7mil).

Ministry spokesman Maros Stano said measures to support the development of e-car charging stations across Slovakia are also planned.

Martin Vlachynsky, an analyst with the Bratislava-based Institute of Economic and Social Studies, warned that although lagging behind in electromobility could prove problematic, "jumping in first can be risky" too.

"Today, e-cars are more of a matter of prestige and regulatory concerns for automakers, due to emission limits," he said. "They are, and for some time will remain loss-making products," he added.

The expert also insists that decisions on scaling up e-car production should remain decentralised, at the level of car-makers.

"This will minimise the risk that the state will take a step in the wrong direction," said Vlachynsky.


Frankfurt Motor Show: What's on the hot list

                FRANKFURT: It's "raining" cars in Frankfurt.

Ahead of the opening of the 66th Frankfurt Motor Show, the world's car manufacturers are arriving in Germany with their latest designs and models in tow. Here is a review of the most promising models known to be on the program while we look forward to sole surprises.

The latest generation of the most iconic car models will be premiered in Germany. Names like the Toyota Prius, pioneer of the hybrid vehicle; the Renault Megane; the Audi A4; and the Opel Astra will all be showing up in their newest form.

The main focus will however be given to the numerous updates on SUVs and crossovers. The trade show will set the stage for the presentation of the first SUV vehicles from car manufacturers Bentley and Jaguar the Bentayga and the F-Pace. Mercedes will present its new GLC, successor to the GLK, and BMW will reveal its new X1 while Volkswagen will showcase its latest Tiguan. Dacia will exhibit the 2016 Duster, and Nissan will present its new eagerly awaited concept car that will offer a hint of future models while Toyota may unveil a new compact crossover based on the C-HR.

 Ferrari 488 Spider.

Sport cars are also expected to steal the spotlight. Mercedes could be the highlight of this category with its C Class 63 AMG coupe. Meanwhile, Porsche will present its latest 911 model and Peugeot its 308 R Hybrid.

This year's supercar agenda remains relatively quiet. Ferrari  will introduce the 488 Spider, six  months after the 488 GTB coupe, and Lamborghini will showcase a roadster version of its Aventador SV. Bugatti's Veyron will give way to the highly anticipated new Chiron (name of the famous racing champion), though only the concept car developed for the "Gran Turismo" video game will be displayed in Frankfurt. For those craving more luxury, Rolls-Royce should hit the spot with its new Dawn convertible.

Several other concept cars will be showcased the Citroe;n Cactus M and Aircross, Peugeot's all-electric Fractal and Audi's e-tron Quattro that should give us a taste of what's in store for the brand's future sporty and electric SUVs.

Among new cars in the spotlight are:

 Alfa Romeo Giulia QuadrifoglioAlfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Built on an all-new, rear-wheel drive platform with an emphasis on light weight and agility, the sporty underpinnings of the new Giulia define its shape and strongly influence its design with Alfa Romeo stylists wrapping the mechanical components in a taut, muscular package dominated by its long bonnet, short overhangs, muscular haunches and the longest wheelbase in its class. Simple, natural lines enhance its shape and proportions, while the surface is finished with elegance and restraint, exuding the purity and style one comes to expect of Italian design.

Under the bonnet beats the heart of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, an all-aluminium, 2.9-litre turbo petrol V6 engine, inspired by Ferrari technology and expertise, which produces 510hp and 600Nm of torque, resulting in a top speed of 307kph and a 0 –100kph time of just 3.9 seconds. Despite this high levels of performance, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio also returns best in class CO2 emissions levels at just 198g/km, largely thanks to its electronically-controlled cylinder disabling system and excellent aerodynamics.

 Mazda KoeruMazda Koeru
The new crossover SUV concept, which makes its global debut, was conceived to extend a new kind of value in the fast-growing and hard-fought SUV arena.

Its determined eyes, low cabin and substantial width on 21-inch wheels create a truly formidable presence with a premium level of refinement inside and out.

 Bugatti Vision Gran TurismoBugatti Vision Gran Turismo
It turns out that the digital concept car created by Bugatti for driving simulation game "Gran Turismo" is made of more than pixels. Bugatti has confirmed that its outlandish Concept Gran Turismo is coming to the Frankfurt  show.

In terms of outward appearance, the track car was developed to pay homage to the brand's glorious racing past while simultaneously sporting the latest in terms of cutting-edge aerodynamics, racing and performance technology. However, the aforementioned Veyron, the fastest and one of the most exclusive and expensive production cars in the world, has now ceased to be.  The company's next production car could well look very similar to the Gran Turismo concept.

 Infiniti QX70 UltimateInfiniti QX70 Ultimate
The new QX70 Ultimate will meet the desires of even the most demanding potential owners when it goes on sale. The new car gets dark chrome front and rear accents, new 21-inch alloy wheels and LED running lights on the outside. Under the hood there's the choice of a petrol or diesel V6 mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox. And inside, surfaces boast a black lacquer finish and the seats soft leather with contrasting purple stitching.

 Honda Civic Tourer Active Life ConceptHonda Civic Tourer Active Life Concept
Honda's show car for this year's event is a vehicle that even the most committed cyclists could get excited about.
Developed as a way of highlighting the Civic's huge amount of cabin and trunk space, the Tourer Active Life Concept could well be the perfect car for families that love nothing better than to spend each weekend competing in a cycling event.

The car has a special mechanized rack at its rear that can hold two bikes and lift them into the trunk. It also has an adjustable arm that can be used for clamping a bicycle still during on-the fly maintenance and repairs. If that weren't enough, the car has a built-in air pump, a retractable canopy and bench, a toolkit and a water tank, plus a rear-mounted spotlight to make it easier for working in low light conditions or for the peloton to follow.

 Mercedes-AMG C 63 CoupeLimited-edition Mercedes
As well as new luxury convertibles and SUVs, Mercedes-Benz will be unveiling two new very special editions of its latest super coupe the AMG C 63. The Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe and the even more potent C 63 S Coupe are already pretty special. As well as striking looks they pack a heavyweight punch in terms of power. The C63, despite its small proportions has a 4-liter bi-turbo V8 developing 469bhp and can hit 180mph with the limiter removed. The S version takes those figures up to 503bhp and throws in a 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds for good measure.

However, for the Frankfurt motor show the company will be revealing a special version called the 'Edition 1' that takes styling cues form the latest Mercedes-AMG DTM racecar and which will help owners really stand out from the crowd. The cars go on sale in March.

 Toyota C-HR Concept (version 2)Toyota C-HR Concept (version 2)

The five-door C-HR Concept is positioned below the RAV4. The show car displayed in Frankfurt is more closely representative of the production car that will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show early next year. The earlier C-HR was first shown at the Paris Motor Show 12 months ago.

A sleek cabin contrasts with aggressively angular rear shoulders and muscular wheel arches that feature unique 21-inch wheels with "diamond-cut" machined-surface spokes.

Piano black paint conveys the impression of a "floating" roof that is detailed with patterned openings to create an animated play of light within the C-HR Concept's cabin space.

 Hyundai N 2025 Vision GT RacingHyundai N
Hyundai is showcasing its motorsport credentials in the N sub brand and  concept cars and a preview of the 2016 New Generation i20 WRC race car. The Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept shows a global audience the brand’s unique perspective on future performance characteristics. Created exclusively for PlayStation®’s Gran Turismo video game series, the concept car boasts total power of 884 PS from Hyundai Motor’s hydrogen fuel cell system and an additional super capacitor system.

In addition, the mid-engine turbo-powered 300 PS Hyundai RM15 concept with a lightweight construction represents Hyundai Motor’s passion for performance and suggests how the N sub-brand’s driver-focused technologies could come into production.

 Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 SpyderLamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder
The Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder will be making its global debut today. As the drop-top sibling to the company's existing V10 "entry level" compact supercar coupe, the Spyder is expected to offer almost identical levels of performance. So that means over 600bhp, a top speed in excess of 320kph and a 0-100kph time of around 3 seconds. However, with the roof down it will all feel a lot more dramatic and exclusive.

The 66th Frankfurt International Motor Show from Sept 17-27. - Agencies

Around the show floorAlfa Romeo Giulia QuadrifoglioAlfa Romeo Giulia QuadrifoglioAlfa Romeo Giulia QuadrifoglioAlfa Romeo Giulia QuadrifoglioAlfa Romeo Giulia QuadrifoglioAlfa Romeo Giulia QuadrifoglioAlfa Romeo Giulia QuadrifoglioAlfa Romeo Giulia QuadrifoglioAlfa Romeo Giulia QuadrifoglioAlfa Romeo Giulia QuadrifoglioAlfa Romeo Giulia QuadrifoglioKia Sportage GT LineKia Sportage GT LineKia Sportage GT LineKia Sportage GT LineKia Sportage GT LineBMW M6 Coupe Competition EditionBMW M6 Coupe Competition EditionBMW M6 Coupe Competition EditionBMW M6 Coupe Competition EditionBMW M6 Coupe Competition EditionBMW M6 Coupe Competition EditionBMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3BMW M6 GT3Citroen Cactus M ConceptCitroen DS4 CrossbackKia ceed RangeHyundai N 2025 Vision GT RacingHyundai N 2025 Vision Gran TurismoHyundai N 2025 Vision Gran TurismoHyundai N 2025 Vision Gran TurismoHyundai N 2025 Vision Gran TurismoHyundai N 2025 Vision Gran TurismoHyundai N 2025 Vision Gran TurismoToyota C HR Concept version 2Kia Optima GTKia Optima GTNissan NavaraNissan NavaraNissan NavaraHyundai i20 WRCHyundai i20 WRCNissan QashqaiInfiniti Q30 Active CompactRenault Megane GTInfiniti Q30 Renault Megane GTRenault Megane GTSsangYong XAV-Adventure ConceptSsangYong XAV-Adventure ConceptToyota C-HR ConceptCitroen DS4 CrossbackCitroen DS4 CrossbackRenault Talisman estateAudi S4Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 SpyderLamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 SpyderLamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 SpyderLamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 SpyderLamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 SpyderFerrari 488 Ferrari 488 SpiderFerrari 488 SpiderFerrari 488 SpiderFerrari 488 SpiderBugatti Vision Gran TurismoBugatti Vision Gran TurismoBugatti Vision Gran TurismoBugatti Vision Gran TurismoHonda Civic Tourer Active Life ConceptHonda Civic Tourer Active Life Concept Honda Civic Tourer Active Life ConceptToyota C-HR ConceptMazda KoeruMazda KoeruMazda KoeruBentley BentaygaBentley BentaygaBentley BentaygaBentley BentaygaToyota C-HR ConceptToyota C-HR ConceptInfiniti Q30 Infiniti Q30 Infiniti Q30 Infiniti Q30 Infiniti Q30 Infiniti Q30 Infiniti Q30 Infiniti Q30 Infiniti Q30 Kia ceedKia ceedKia ceedKia ceedMercedes-AMG C 63 CoupeMercedes-AMG C 63 CoupeNissan GripzNissan GripzNissan GripzNissan GripzToyota C-HR ConceptToyota C-HR ConceptToyota C-HR Concept


2023 Lexus RX 350 Luxury SUV arrives at RM468,888

                KUALA LUMPUR: Lexus Malaysia has launched the imported 2023 RX 350 Luxury SUV (sport utility vehicle) at RM468,888 on-the-road without insurance, with a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

“Now 25 years on, and with a cumulative sales of 3.5 million units worldwide, the latest chapter for the Lexus RX begins with the fifth generation model,” said Lexus Malaysia president Datuk Ravindran K.

Exterior colours offered are Sonic Quartz, Sonic Iridium, Sonic Titanium, Graphite Black Glass Flake and Sonic Copper (signature colour).

The 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a Direct Shift-8AT 8-speed automatic transmission with shift-by-wire technology, produces 279ps at 6,000rpm and 430Nm of torque at 1,700 to 3,600rpm.

The 2023 RX 350 has a new spindle body design, and a new seamless front grille which exudes a sleek and sporty aura.

Built on an enhanced GA-K platform, the new Lexus RX sits wider (+25mm) and boasts a longer wheelbase (+60mm), and offers more interior space.

Its overall weight was lowered with thinner side members and door assemblies.

Further weight savings were achieved by changing the front wings from steel to aluminium – which also helped improve the car’s front/rear weight distribution.

Besides being 90kg lighter, its centre of gravity is also 15mm lower.

In the cabin, the HUD (Head-up Display), instrument panel and centre display are arranged in a layout that allows for smooth line of sight to help minimise driver head movement. T

The RX has a new Full HD 14-inch EMV (Electro Multi Vision) wide display which serves as the control centre for many vehicle operations as well as the infotainment system.

There's voice recognition, wired Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, and a USB port.

For entertainment, there's a Lexus Premium Sound System with 12 speakers strategically located around the cabin.

In the RX, there are 4 USB ports for the front occupants (3 Type-C and 1 Type-A), and a Qi wireless charger, and a 12V accessory socket.

Rear occupants also have 2 Type-C USB ports located behind the centre console between the front seats.

An additional 12V socket is also available in the cargo compartment.

With the rear seats up, the rear cargo volume is 612 litres and this can take up to four golf bags as before. Loading is also easier as the floor level is 30 mm lower.

Under the floorboard, there are also compartments for storing tools and small items.

In the rear, a standard tonneau cover is provided, with easy one-touch operation for storing.

As before, the RX has a powered rear hatch with quicker opening and reduced operation noise.

It has kick-to-open convenience by placing a foot under the bumper, a welcome feature when both hands are carrying bags.

There is also a Walk-away Function whereby the rear hatch will close and be locked when the driver walks off (with the smart key in the pocket or handbag).

On the road, the all-new RX features an electronically controlled full-time AWD system.

In tandem with this, the RX 350 Luxury’s Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) helps controls the damping force of the shock absorbers on all four wheels to ensure excellent ride comfort.

Active Noise Control (ANC) also helps reduce noise within the cabin.

The new generation RX features an improved version of the Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+).

It also features a digital Panoramic View Monitor with live 360-degree view of the vehicle and Rear Traffic Cross Alert, to aid drivers navigate tight confined spaces such as parking bays.

Rear Traffic Cross Alert alerts the driver if a vehicle is approaching from either side while reversing out of a parking bay.

Paired with the Blind Spot Monitor with Safe Exit Assist (SEA), the RX is able to warn the driver of impending vehicles or cyclists approaching from behind the vehicle.

Like the latest NX, the new RX is fitted with the e-Latch electronic door release, which replaces the internal door handle with a push-button switch positioned next to the armrest in the door panel.

The operation of the e-Latch system is linked to the car’s Blind Spot Monitor to provide Safe Exit Assist (SEA), preventing the door from being opened if there is a vehicle or cyclist approaching from behind.

SEA is expected to help prevent 95% of ‘dooring’ accidents. SEA first alerts the driver or passengers, and disables the e-Latch operation.

The LSS+ suite in the new RX consists of PCS - Pre-Collision System, DRCC- Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go Function, LDA & LTA- Lane Departure Alert & Lane Tracing Assist, AHS - Adaptive High-beam System with BladeScan, and RSA - Road Sign Assist.

With PCS, earlier automatic application of braking can reduce the vehicle’s speed to either avoid a collision or if that is not possible, reduce the damaging effects of the impact.
The updated PCS will be able to detect vehicles, cyclist, pedestrians and even motorcyclists.

DRCC is an intelligent form of cruise control where a desired speed can be set and the vehicle will travel at that speed while also maintaining a safe distance from a vehicle directly ahead.
The distance can be varied and for the new RX, there are 4 levels instead of 3 (previous generation RX).

With the Stop & Go function, the vehicle’s speed can be reduced to 0 if the vehicle ahead comes to a stop (when DRCC is in operation). When the vehicle ahead moves, the RX will also resume moving forward while maintain the safe gap. This feature will be useful in congested traffic conditions.
DRCC includes a Curve Speed Reduction Function for safer driving. If a curve in the road is detected, the system will reduce vehicle speed when going round the curve.

LDA and LTA help to keep the vehicle within its lane, relying on road markings for guidance. The system can also prevent the vehicle from unintentionally leaving the road. When deviations are detected, the driver will be alerted and if no action is taken, a gentle steering action will occur to guide the vehicle back into its correct position in the lane.
This feature can also reduce fatigue on long journeys as the driver will not have to constantly adjust the steering wheel to follow the lane.

AHS uses the camera located on top of the vehicle to detect light from oncoming vehicles and optimizes the headlamp light distribution so that the high beams do not directly dazzle the drivers. This is done automatically.
The light is distributed using the BladeScan optical system in each headlight unit. This technology uses 12 LEDs and rotating mirrors, and provides a wider illumination area than the conventional system (array type).