Piecha tuners ramp up 'wow' factor of Mercedes-AMG GT S

STUTTGART: The tuners at Piecha Design near here have taken the Mercedes-AMG GT S and made it even more impressive. How's 612hp and 330kph for starters?

The Piecha AMG GT-RSR is even more powerful than the AMG GT-R, which delivers 585hp, 700Nm and a top speed of 318kph.

The increased output was made possible through the use of the Piecha performance module, developed with PERFORMMASTER, that allowed the AMG mill to hit 612hp and 840Nm. “Going from naught to 100kph only takes 3.7 seconds and presses you into your seat. The soundtrack is provided by the exhaust system with its four hard-chrome-plated double-wall 90mm tailpipes as thick as an arm. Piecha dumped the fashionable trapezoid shape for a sporty look.

Carbon fibre composite materials are used extensively. The production front apron got “Air-Wings“ made of carbon and lets the air chutes appear wider. The downforce “Front-Cup-Wings“ with their slanted fins pointing upwards and the central support also stand for both visual pleasure and pleasurable performance “The sides of this expressive coupé with its long bonnet are exciting and widen towards the rear without this being too playful,“ said founder Marcus Piecha.

With a subdivision with an air chute and sills, this front design has now been transferred to the rear. A highlight, literally, is the underfloor lighting through five perpendicular LED lamps in the side skirts when the car doors are opened or closed.

For the RSR rear apron, Piecha has re-interpreted the Mercedes-AMG GT’s design. The closed underfloor panelling has been replaced by a mighty ultra-light carbon diffusor with an integrated reversing light whose fins reach almost as far as the rear axle and make for a much better downforce handling. The car gets a wide and rigid carbon rear spoiler: the kicker here is that the original retractable braking spoiler stays in place.

The Piecha coilovers also required much technical input in order to keep the complex electronic production shocks fully functional. Even the UHP tyres by Yokohama, the partner that also provides production parts for many Mercedes cars, are a special version of the ADVAN Sport V105.

The Piecha AMG GT-RSR-approved version shows remarkable 275/35 ZR19 up front and 305/30 ZR20 in the rear and are geared to a top speed of 330kph.

 Piecha with the modified Mercedes-AMG supercar.


Moscow tops ranking of most congested cities in the world

                SEATTLE: Moscow has emerged the world's worst city for gridlock and congestion in a new traffic report which found that in general, the worst places to be a driver are European and Latin American cities.

In the 2018 Global Traffic Scorecard produced by traffic analytics company INRIX, Moscow emerged the world's most congested city, followed by Istanbul, Bogota, Mexico City and Sao Paulo.

Overall, the scorecard ranked congestion and mobility trends in more than 200 cities across 38 countries.

For the report, congestion is characterised as a question of supply and demand: the demand for road space exceeding supply.

For the 2018 edition, analysts considered factors like hours lost in congestion; year-over-year change; the time it takes to travel one mile into a central business district during peak hours; and the speed at which a driver can expect to travel one mile into the same area, during the same time. Other considerations included a city's population, network density and public transportation.

Overall, the report found that drivers in Europe and Latin America have it the worst, for different reasons.

Breakneck rates of urbanisation, high levels of informal settlements, "unforgiving topographies" and financial volatility are blamed for making mobility in Latin American cities particularly challenging, report authors note.

When it comes to hours lost in congestion, eight of the top 10 cities globally are European, namely because of age. Roads in cities like Rome, Paris, London and Milan can be traced back to the Roman period, the report notes. In essence, that means that cars are driving into neighbourhoods which were designed for horses and walking.

Here are the world's top 10 most congested cities in the world

1. Moscow
2. Istanbul
3. Bogota
4. Mexico City
5. Sao Paulo
6. London
7. Rio de Janeiro
8. Boston
9. Saint Petersburg (Russia)
10. Rome


March 2-8: RON97 petrol up 5 sen, rest unchanged


Govt negotiating with winning bidder to manage its fleet of cars

                KUALA LUMPUR: The government is negotiating with the winning bidder to finalise the concession to manage its fleet of vehicles, Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir said.

Eight companies had submitted their Request For Proposal (RFP) to manage the government’s fleet of vehicles and their proposals haved been vetted.

The winning bidder was a consortium led by the Naza Group and Berjaya Group.

Priority will be given to Proton cars for use by ministers and deputy ministers, and not Toyota Vellfire as claimed by certain quarters, he said in a statement today.

Previously, the tender evaluation committee consisting of senior civil servants from various agencies were involved as assessors.

The agencies involved are the Public Works Department, Economic Planning Unit (now known as the Ministry of Economic Affairs), Valuation and Property Services Department, as well as the Ministry of Finance as the leading player, had chosen the eligible bidders for consideration as a new concessionaire.

The decision of the tender evaluation committee was tabled at the Cabinet Meeting for its consideration and approval.

Since Oct 30,1993, the government’s vehicle fleet concession was managed by Spanco Sdn Bhd through a Concession Agreement between the government and the company. The agreement expired on Dec 31,2018.

The government has decided that a concessionaire to manage the government’s vehicle fleet in the future will be conducted openly via the RFP.


New Jaguar XF leaps in

                SUBANG JAYA: Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia unveiled its latest offering - the new Jaguar XF, with a lightweight aluminium-intensive chassis that comes brimming with dynamic capability, luxury and technology.

The new XF is fully-imported while sitting below the flag-ship XJ, but above the XE model-range, and comes priced on-the-road (with GST) from RM450,000 for the Prestige and from RM460,000 for the range-topping R-Sport.

Each new "leaping cat" comes with a five-year warranty with a five-year servicing, three-year roadside assist that's all packaged within an exclusive programme - Jaguar Care.

The XF uses a 2,960mm wheelbase, while coming in 4,954mm-long (+51mm), 2,091mm-wide and 1,457mm-tall with a 540-litre boot.

Both 1,590kg (kerb) XF variants get traction from its rear-tyres thanks to an eight-speed electronic automatic transmission with Jaguar Sequential Shift mated to a 2.0-litre (1,999cc) turbocharged engine, with a 74-litre (usable) fuel tank.

Output has been rated at 235bhp at 5,500rpm and 340Nm of torque from 1,750 to 4,000rpm, allowing it to get up to 100kph from standstill in 7.0 seconds before reaching a top speed of 248kph.

As standard, the new 190kg-lighter, 28%-stiffer XF arrives in solid Polaris White and gets fitted with Jaguar drive control, electric power assisted steering, torque vectoring and all surface progress control.

There are seven other metallic colours available as an optional extra, such as Ammonite Grey, Quartzite, Italian Racing Red, Rhodium Silver, Ultimate Black, Glacier White and Glacier White.

The XF uses an aluminium double wishbone design for the front suspension, (similar to the F-Type’s), while the rear gets an integral link rear suspension system to help take care of the near 50:50 weight distribution as its aerodynamic 0.26Cd (from 0.29Cd) body cuts through the air.

There's also automatic wipers, keyless-entry with push-start button, approach illumination (Automatic via Remote), Bi-function automatic levelling Xenon headlights with LED J-Blade daytime running lights, powered electrical boot lid (Open and Close) and powered exterior mirrors with memory.

Other conveniences include brake pad wear indicator, electric parking brake with drive away release, cruise control, hill start assist and speed limiter.

Inside, the cabin gets 10-way electric front seats with four-way electric lumbar adjustment, driver memory, dual-zone automatic climate controls with two rear vents and solar sensor.

There's also an eight-inch touch-screen with InControl Touch system, which comes with navigation, an 80W Jaguar Sound System with iPod integration and Bluetooth connectivity.

The cabin's rear seat space is now class-leading thanks to 15mm more legroom, 24mm more knee-room and up to 27mm more headroom than before.

In terms of safety, there's Emergency Brake Assist, dynamic stability control, traction control, power operated child locks, hazard lights under heavy braking, ISOFIX anchor points, front parking sensors, and a reverse camera.

 Jaguar XF Prestige

The more affordable Prestige variant comes with distinctive features such as 17-inch lightweight 15-spoke wheels, perforated leather seats, metal tread plates with Jaguar script and multi-function soft-grain leather steering wheel.

As for the XF R-Sport, it features a sport suspension, 18-inch Helix 10-spoke wheels and R-Sport branded bodykit, multi-function soft-grain leather steering wheel and metal tread plates.

According to , the All-new XF presented an outstanding choice to those who were in the market for a premium business sedan.

“While it (the XF) is good to look at, it is even better to drive due to its lightweight aluminium-intensive architecture and near perfect 50:50 weight balance. The All-new XF is indeed a worthy successor of its award-winning predecessor and is set to carry on the legacy,” said Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia managing director Datuk Aishah Ahmad.


Dec 21-27: RON97 petrol down 6 sen to RM2.58


Hitting the road with the MINI Clubmans

Welcome to the company of Clubmans.

On one hand, we have the Cooper S Clubman. On the other, the brawny John Cooper Works (JCW) version. Sorry, no base Cooper here.

Being fully imported, the two Clubmans are some of the priciest MINIs money can buy with the Cooper S at RM280,525, while the JCW is RM57,000 more at RM337,527.

Mind you, these are SST-exempted prices that will expire after June 30 this year.

Test units have been facelifted so you are getting the latest from Oxford.

The current F54 Clubmans introduce styling updates and a variety of equipment and connectivity enhancements.

Cooper S

As far as mid-life changes go, the Clubman sports a new enlarged grille with black surrounds as well as revised LED headlights and fog lights.

The daytime running lights now come as full rings.

The update is also noticeable from the tailights, which are now full LEDs with Union Jack graphics that convey a particular British charm.

The Cooper S is heavily accessorised with MINI Yours bits.

Check out the 18-inch MINI Yours British Spoke two-tone wheels and MINI Yours badge and proceed to get an overdose of it in the cabin.

The interior introduces MINI Yours Carbon Black lounge leather seats Other MINI Yours embellishments are seen in the ambient lighting on the dash, doors and centre console.

Plus MINI Yours floor mats as well.

Even if you were blindfolded and the car’s interior had been debadged, you would still recognised it as a MINI with its characteristic toggle switches and circular theme as evident in the centre display (now touch-enabled), meter cluster and door handle housings.

The abundance of soft touchpoints and use of premium materials add to the perception.

The Cooper S is equipped with dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, passive cruise control, powered sport seats with memory function, paddle shifters, anti-dazzle rearview mirror, a high-resolution 6.5-inch touchscreen MINI Navigation System, MINI Connected Services, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and Apple Carplay.

Safety-wise, it comes with six airbags, anti-lock braking system with brake assist, cornering brake control, electronic brakeforce distribution and dynamic braking lights.

Further bolstering safety are dynamic stability control, traction control, an electronic differential lock control, pull-away assist, reverse camera, flat-tyre indicator and Attention Assist.

It’s a surprise that other important safety tech such as blind spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assist were left out as lesser cars already boast such features.

JCW

Moving on, we have the most powerful MINI ever, the JCW Clubman that shares the same engine block as the Cooper S but see major mechanical upgrades that endow it with 306hp and 450Nm, giving it a 4.9 seconds sprint time from 0-100kph. Top speed is capped at 250kph.

Contrast that to the more sedate 192hp/280Nm of torque in the Cooper S, ringing in 7.2 seconds before maxing out at 228kph.

While the Cooper S uses a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox to relay twist to the front wheels, the all-wheel drive JCW is matched with an 8-speed sports transmission that is able to cope with much higher torque, future-proofing its usage for some years to come.

As part of the added performance package, there’s launch control and the ride height is dropped 10mm with the use of JCW Sport springs.

Stoppers are upgraded with JCW sports brakes and wheels are up-sized to 19-inch.

To set itself further apart from the Cooper S, the JCW is loaded up with plenty of JCW parts that include a 95mm exhaust system, aerodynamic kit, front and rear badges, rear spoiler side scuttles and a panoramic sunroof as well as Chili Red colour for the bonnet stripes, mirror caps and the roof.

The interior is upgraded with a larger 8.8-inch touchscreen MINI navigation system, heads-up display and wireless charging, multi-function JCW leather steering wheel and a reverse camera that now show dynamic lines.

Other JCW items in the car included the dial design, sports seats and door sill strips.

Double take

While the Clubman has the same wheelbase as the Countryman, it’s a tad smaller than the SUV.

Where both Clubmans are concerned, space for front row is great and pretty decent in second row in terms of head and knee-room.

While this model is a 5-seater, it’s best to keep it to four people for comfort and wriggling room — like most passenger cars.

Driving view all around is fine except for the back where the thick middle bar of the barn doors hinder an already constricted rear view.

The low placement of rear air-conditioner vents don’t quite cool off those in the back as well as those in the front especially now when we are going through a hot spell.

At 360 litres, boot space is fair enough and the low wide opening enables easy access.

Fold the rear seats forward to get 1,250 litres.

One caveat: leave enough space to open the barn doors if you are backing it up against a wall should you want to use the boot on a grocery run. Or just park frontside in.

Rev up

Both maxi-MINIs mash practicality and driving fun.

We found the seats to be firm and supportive in both Clubmans with adjustable thigh support in front row though the JCW’s Dinamica leather seats have a much nicer feel to them.

The Cooper S doesn’t disappoint on the go.

A punchy engine works with a smooth and quickshifting DCT to bring the car quickly up to speed complemented by sound being pumped in to add some vocal excitement.

The Cooper S handles well with a fairly communicative steering that informs on what the front tyres are doing at any given moment.

The car’s low slung stance helps to evoke a planted feeling at speeds.

Suspension is not as aggressive as in the JCW but still provides the firmness to carve through corners confidently.

An effective brake pedal feedback ensures stopping quickly is fuss-free.

For the hardcore enthusiast, the JCW is the one to jump into, where driving fun is amplified.

Key to that is the upgraded 2.0-litre turbo engine that features various reinforcements and other mods to chassis and brakes to ensure the car can go like a rocket.

It can still be a daily runabout if you can live with the stiff ride.

But then that’s a trade-off for those who prioritise out-and-out performance that JCW represents.

The beefy engine reacts well to go-faster inputs abetted by a steering that offers a nice feel of the road.

The JCW driver can happily chuck the all-wheel drive car into corners at full load and it would stick to the tarmac like it was on rails.

Ramping up the speed brings on a cacophony of sounds piped into the cabin.

It’s a mix of the gruff engine roar, the pop and crackle from the exhaust, tyre noise and wind blast.

The JCW makes clear it’s not for everyone; most people can only take its riotous soundtrack in small doses.

The Green drive mode offers an escape route, toning down the maniacal behaviour and offering some respite from it all.

The eight-speeder responds to the gobs of torque in a flash and shifts are snappy and precise.
However, it was a bit laggy in the bottom rev band.

One other point. The brake pedal felt somewhat spongey and takes getting used to but does the job well once you learn to modulate it.

Verdict

In a toss-up between the duo, we would gravitate towards the Cooper S, which offers a balance of performance and usability.

There are great reasons to go for the JCW though but you will have to pay much more for the muscled-up wagon, so decide whether the upgrades are worth the extra dough.

SPECIFICATIONSMINI John Cooper Works ClubmanEngine: 1,998cc, inline 4-cylinder, TwinPower Turbo
Maximum power: 306hp from 5,000-6,250rpm
Maximum torque: 450Nm from 1,750-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic sport automatic
Acceleration (0-100kph): 4.9 seconds
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption (official): 7.7l/100km
Features: Six airbags, ABS, Attention Assist, Dynamic Stability Control, 8.8-inch Touchscreen MINI Navigation, Mechanical Differential Lock (front axle), Park Distance Control (front and rear), rear view camera with interactive track lines, launch control, JCW (brakes/exhaust/aerokit/badges/bonnet stripes/rear spoiler/seats/suspension/leather steering wheel), panoramic sunroof, stainless steel pedal caps, Active Sound Design, MINI Connected Services, auto start/stop, electronic parking brake, 12-speaker Harmon Kardon system, Apple CarPlay, wireless charging for phones
Price: RM337,527 (on-the-road without insurance, SST-exempted)

SPECIFICATIONSMINI Cooper S ClubmanEngine: 1,998cc, inline 4-cylinder, TwinPower Turbo
Maximum power: 192hp from 5,000-6,000rpm
Maximum torque: 280Nm from 1,350-4,600rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed Steptronic dual clutch sports automatic
Acceleration (0-100kph): 7.2 seconds
Top speed: 228kph
Fuel consumption (official): 6.2l/100km
Features: Six airbags, ABS, Attention Assist, Dynamic Stability Control, Electronic Differential Lock Control, Park Distance Control, rear view camera, 18-inch wheels with runflats, MINI Yours trim, keyless entry, cruise control, rear folding armrest, 40:20:40 rear seat folding, navigation, MINI Connected Services, auto start/stop, electronic parking brake, 12-speaker Harmon Kardon system, MINI Logo Projection, bi-LED headlights, Active Sound Design, Apple CarPlay
Price: RM280,525 (on-the-road without insurance, SST-exempted)


Musk's office ultimatum faces pushback in Germany

                BERLIN: Elon Musk’s demand that Tesla staff stop "phoning it in" and get back to the office got short shrift from Germany’s largest trade union.

The Tesla chief executive waded into the future of work debate by telling staff at the electric carmaker that they must return to the office for at least 40 hours a week or leave the company, according to an email seen by Reuters.

Two days after that, Musk said he is pessimistic about the economy and wants to cut about 10% of jobs at Tesla. Tesla employed around 100,000 people worldwide at the end of 2021, according to its annual SEC filing.

In response to Musk's directive, the IG Metall union in Berlin-Brandenburg-Sachsen, where Tesla's plant is located, said it would support any employee who opposed it. Tesla employs around 4,000 people in Germany and plans to expand the workforce to 12,000.

"Whoever does not agree with such one-sided demands and wants to stand against them has the power of unions behind them in Germany, as per law," Birgit Dietze, the district leader for IG Metall in Berlin-Brandenburg-Sachsen, said.

Employees at Tesla's plant in Gruenheide, Germany, elected 19 people to its first workers' council in February, setting the plant apart from others run by the carmaker in the United States and elsewhere without union representation, which Musk has fiercely resisted.

Some of the workers are part of IG Metall which represents workers across automotive companies and other industrial sectors.

In Germany there are currently no laws enshrining a right to work from home but the labour ministry is working on policies that would increase flexibility for workers.

Many large employers, including automakers, have already embraced hybrid working models in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic which forced companies to send staff home to work.

"We have a fundamentally different view on creating an attractive working environment, and stand for empowerment and personal responsibility in our teams to balance the ratio of mobile and in-person work," said Gunnar Kilian, Volkswagen board member responsible for human resources.

Luxury carmakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz echoed that view when asked about Musk's ultimatum.

"Hybrid working is the working model of the future... different forms are possible, from complete presence to predominantly remote working," a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson said.

Musk, who has helped shift the traditional car sector to an all-electric future making himself the world’s richest man in the process, had blunt words for companies that didn’t require staff to be back in the office full-time.

"There are of course companies that don't require this, but when was the last time they shipped a great new product? It's been a while," Musk wrote in the email.

In a related development, Musk got into a Twitter spat with Australia's third-richest man over the value of putting an end to the pandemic-era habit of remote working.

The co-founder of Australian project management software maker Atlassian Plc, Scott Farquhar, ridiculed the directive in a series of tweets as being "like something out of the 1950s". The US-listed company's "work from anywhere" policy was "key for our continued growth", he said.

"We're setting our sights on growing Atlassian to 25K employees by FY26," Farquhar concluded. "Any Tesla employees interested?"

Musk shot back: "The above set of tweets illustrate why recessions serve a vital economic cleansing function".

The exchange is not unusual for Musk, who frequently uses Twitter to make unapologetic pronouncements about sensitive subjects.


Daimler wants to produce own battery cells, says business news website

                BERLIN: Daimler AG wants to make its own battery cells, Business Insider news website reported today, citing company sources.

Daimler struck a deal to buy lithium-ion battery cells from Farasis Energy in 2019 and the Chinese-American supplier had intended to build a factory in East Germany to help the Mercedes-Benz maker ramp up electric vehicle production.

But the plant has not yet been built and there were issues with the initial cell samples, Business Insider reported citing company sources, prompting a change of heart from Daimler chief executive Ola Kallenius.

Business Insider said it was unclear whether Daimler wants to make the battery cells on its own or with a partner. A spokesman for Daimler declined to comment.

Last month, Daimler intensified its partnership with Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) as part of plans to speed up electrification.


Ford Motor to buy first Digit robots

                LAS VEGAS: Ford Motor Company is the first customer of two Digit robots designed with arms and legs to work with humans.

Produced by Agility Robotics, two pre-production Digit prototypes will be on display at CES 2020 in Ford’s booth from January 7-10 in Las Vegas.

Since the first Digit prototype was shown in May, Agility Robotics has tested it extensively and refined the design.

“Digit represents a major milestone for Agility,” said Dr. Damion Shelton, CEO of Agility. “For the first time, a full humanoid robot - with both mobility and manipulation capabilities - will be available for customer applications in a wide variety of industries, both indoor and outdoor. We look forward to showing off our work on both logistics and non-logistics tasks in the coming months.”

Upgrades include more advanced feet that allow Digit to balance on one foot or carefully navigate obstacles, new sensors to perceive and map the world for robot navigation, and powerful onboard computer hardware.

Digit has been designed to walk upright without wasting energy, so it has no issue traversing the same types of environments most people do every day.

Digit’s unique design also allows it to tightly fold itself up for easy storage in the back of a vehicle until it’s called into action.

Once a vehicle arrives at its destination, Digit can be deployed to grab a package from the vehicle and carry out the final step in the delivery process.

If it encounters an unexpected obstacle, it can send an image back to the vehicle to leverage additional computing power.

The vehicle could even send that information into the cloud and request help from other systems to enable Digit to navigate, providing multiple levels of assistance that help keep the robot light and nimble.

Digit’s light weight also helps ensure it has a long run time, which is essential for delivery businesses that operate continuously through the business day.


2017 Bangkok Motor Show: Honda CR-V

                BANGKOK: The fifth-generation CR-V was the highlight at Honda's display area at the 2017 Bangkok Motor Show.

It is powered by a 1.6L i-DTEC Diesel Turbo engine for the first time with a Shift-by-Wire nine-speed automatic transmission, or a 2.4L DOHC i-VTEC engine with a CVT transmission.

The spacious cabin offers third-row seating with seven adjustable seats that offer various configuration options, and a Hands-free Power Tailgate.

The tailgate can be opened via a movement of your foot underneath the rear, when you stand behind the car.

Also, unlike the CR-V with the i-VTEC petrol engine which has a centrally mounted gear stick, the diesel-powered CR-V does not have a gear lever.

Instead, the diesel-powered CR-V has push buttons for P, N, R, D and S (sport mode) found on the centre console.

 The diesel-powered CR-V has push buttons for drive mode selection.

The new CR-V features LED headlights and tail lights, LED Daytime Running Lights, and new sporty-designed aluminum alloy wheels.

It has an air-conditioning system for both the 2nd and 3rd-row of seating, and piano black and wood center console trim.

Among the premium-grade features are an 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with 4-way lumbar support and an i-dual-zone automatic air conditioner.

It also has a seven-inch Advanced Touch Audio Display that is Apple CarPlay compatible, and a TFT Meter with Multi-information Display.

The 1.6L i-DTEC 4-cylinder Diesel Turbo engine delivers 160hp at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 350Nm at 2,000 rpm.

It works together with a Shift by Wire nine-speed automatic transmission designed to offer good acceleration and exceptionally high fuel efficiency of 5.6 litres per 100km or 17.9km per litre on combined cycle.

 1.7-metre occupant in the third row.

The 2.4L DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine provides 173hp at 6,200 rpm and 224Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm.

Other features include a Driver Attention Monitor that alerts the driver on the TFT Meter and with a vibration alert through the steering wheel, Agile Handling Assist, Honda LaneWatch, Electric Parking Brake, and Automatic Brake Hold.

Honda CR-V iVTEC 2.4-litre
Honda CR-V i-DTEC diesel turbo


Ferrari, Lamborghini and other supercar sales boom in Japan

                TOKYO: Ferraris, Lamborghinis and other supercars are seeing an unprecedented sales boom in Japan, fuelled by pent-up, post-Covid-lockdown demand from wealthy buyers, who also see the vehicles as good investments amid a weakening yen and soaring used-car prices.

New registrations of automobiles costing more than 20 million yen (RM638,000) rose 64% to 5,462 vehicles during January through October from the same period a year earlier, when registrations also jumped 75%, data from the Japan automobile Importers Association show.

Despite those gains, total sales of imported cars fell 11% to 193,026 units during the same period this year.

After more than two years of Covid-related restrictions, drivers are spending money on new cars, while the global shift towards electric vehicles is sparking interest in supercars and the growl of their engines, according to Yasuhiro Suyama, president of the Japan Supercar Association.

"If you don’t drive them now, then when?” Suyama said.

Supercar registration numbers also reflect some orders that were placed a while ago, said Ken Miyao, an analyst at automobile research company Carnorama.

While prices will rise due to inflation and the weaker yen, "the number of people who want to buy is definitely increasing, and demand for supercars won’t fall,” he said.

Income for the wealthy has been on the rise despite a slowdown in economic activity, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.

The number of company executives with compensation of more than ¥100 million rose 22% to 663 people during the fiscal year through March, according to the firm.

The availability of supercars will probably continue to be limited because of the ongoing chip shortage in the global auto industry, helping to support used-card prices.

"It is better to invest in ultra-luxury cars for their resale value rather than holding cash,” Miyao said.


China jails ‘Fast & Furious’ Lamborghini, Ferrari drivers

                BEIJING:  Two unemployed men who crashed a Lamborghini and Ferrari as they reportedly staged a “real-life Fast and Furious” race through Beijing were sentenced to jail Thursday for dangerous driving, the court said.

According to reports a woman passenger in Tang Weitian’s green Lamborghini was left with a broken spine in the accident. The other driver Yu Muchun, 20, drove a red Ferrari.

Tang, 21, was sentenced to five months in prison and fined 10,000 yuan (US$1,600), Beijing’s Chaoyang District People’s Court said in an online post.

Yu was jailed for four months and given an 8,000 yuan fine, it added, saying both men indicated they would not appeal.

The official news agency Xinhua described the accident last month as the result of a “real-life‘Fast and Furious’ drag race in downtown Beijing”.

Pictures of the high-performance cars’ mangled wreckage in a tunnel in the Chinese capital provoked intense public interest, especially when police announced the men were unemployed.   Later reports said that Tang was a former pool champion.

A high-speed Ferrari crash in Beijing in March 2012 killed the son of Ling Jihua, a close ally of then-president Hu Jintao. Two women passengers, one of them naked, were both injured.

The incident added to public perceptions in China of corrupt and high-living officials, and Ling has since been investigated for graft and dismissed from his post.


Toyota Corolla Touring Sports to debut in Paris, Auris axed

                BRUSSELS: Following the March unveiling of a sedan in Geneva, the French capital will provide the venue for the first showing of the new Toyota Corolla Touring Sports station wagon, which will go on display at the Paris Motor Show from Oct 4-14. In 2019, the new Corolla range will take over in showrooms from the Auris nameplate, which is being retired.

The hybrid station wagon has a low centre of gravity, a generous 2,700mm wheelbase and a sloping roofline, complemented by a raked rear windshield and full-LED rear lights. The idea put forward by the Japanese manufacturer is for a tough, elegant and comfortable wagon.

The generously proportioned interior is modern and spacious, and particularly appealing to rear passengers, who will benefit from plenty of legroom. The version that will go on display in Paris has been specifically designed with Europeans in mind.

As for the engine, the Corolla Touring Sports is available in two petrol-electric hybrid options, a 122hp version with a 1.8-litre engine and a 180hp version with a 2-litre engine. Some models will also ship with high-end adaptive variable suspension.

Toyota has already announced a list of items that will be fitted as standard on top of the range models and offered as options on others. These include a 3D driver's meter, a premium head-up display, a JBL GreenEdge Premium sound system, a wireless mobile phone charger and the Toyota Touch multimedia system.


Jaguar Land Rover names ousted Renault boss as CEO

Bollore will take over at JLR on Sept 10, replacing Ralf Speth, whose tenure ends after more than 10 years. — AFP
LONDON: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has picked ousted Renault boss Thierry Bollore as its next chief executive, with a mission to return Britain’s biggest carmaker to profit after a big hit from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bollore took over at Renault in January 2019 after the fall of Carlos Ghosn, but was always viewed a close to the French carmaker’s long-time boss and was pushed out in October when it looked for a fresh start.

Bollore will take over at JLR on Sept 10, replacing Ralf Speth, whose tenure ends after more than 10 years.

“It will be my privilege to lead this fantastic company through what continues to be the most testing time of our generation,” Bollore said in a statement on Tuesday.

JLR was hit this year first by disruption to sales in China and then by lockdowns across Europe and North America as the Covid-19 outbreak spread around the globe.

In 2019, it cut jobs to address tumbling diesel sales, which helped it return to profit. But as the pandemic struck, it slumped to a pretax loss of £422 million (RM2.3bil) for the year ended March 31, 2020.

The company has already taken steps to tackle the crisis, including agreeing a loan facility of around US$700 million (RM2.9bil) with lenders in China and further staff reductions.

It is also in talks with the British government over potential support, according to media reports.

Bollore takes over a business that built just over 500,000 cars in 2019/20. He faces a number of tasks, including how to handle the Jaguar brand, which underperforms the Land Rover marque, how quickly to electrify its lineup and a potential hit from Brexit if trade barriers are imposed.

JLR has a partnership with BMW on electrification and parent company Tata Motors recently re-committed to the company.

“Tata Group recognises and values Jaguar Land Rover’s future potential highly,” said JLR chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran earlier this month.

“That is why this company is central to our global automotive presence – a presence that we intend to develop for years to come.”


Erdogan becomes first owner of Türkiye's homegrown electric car

                ANKARA: Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan became the first owner of the country's domestically-produced electric car on Monday.

"Today (April 3), we are witnessing together the realisation of the 60-year dream of our nation," Erdogan said at a ceremony for the delivery of the Togg electric C-segment SUV in the Turkish capital of Ankara, reported Xinhua.

"Togg was born as a symbol of the technological development, economic development and global reputation of our country," Erdogan said.

Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev would be among the first owners of Togg as well, he added.

The price of the standard range model T10X will start from 953,000 Turkish liras (around RM219,000) to 1.05 million liras (RM241,000), while the long-range model was priced at nearly 1.22 million liras (RM280,000), according to information provided by the company.

The prototype of the car was unveiled by  Türkiye's Automotive Joint Venture Group (Togg) in December 2019. The company plans to make 1 million cars in five different models by 2030.

Türkiye aims to export the Togg cars in two years. - Xinhua


Buy a Toyota and win up to a million ringgit in prizes

PETALING JAYA: UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) is offering customers a chance to win up to RM1 million worth of prizes in the “Toyota RM1,000,000 Bonanza” from Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2017.The RM1,000,000 worth of prizes include three units of Toyota Camry 2.5 Hybrid as the Grand Prizes and 100 units of smartphones worth RM5,000 each. The company continues to provide its customers excellent promotions in October with special offers on a wide range of Toyota models. Rebates of up to RM7,000 are available on selected models and matched with useful Toyota accessories worth up to RM5,790. There’s also free scheduled service (including required replacement parts) for up to 3 years for selected models.Customers who buy one of the selected Toyota models will enjoy the following offers:

ModelPromo cash rebate  Vios  Up to RM3,000 Cash Rebate* + Free Accessories (worth up to RM4,100)  Hilux  RM4,000 DC 2.4G (M), DC 2.4G (A) & DC 2.8G (A)  Camry  RM7,000 Cash Rebate + 1 Year Free Service  Altis  RM5,000 Cash Rebate + Free Accessories (worth RM5,790)   Innova  RM3,000 Cash Rebate + 1 Year Free Service  Fortuner  RM3,000 Cash Rebate  Avanza  RM2,000 Cash Rebate  Sienta  RM4,000 or RM3,000 Cash Rebate  + 3 Years Free Service(All offers are for selected variants and subject to Terms and Conditions, while stocks last).Customers who require a financing plan can also check out Toyota Capital services offers like the Toyota 2-Tier Plan which offers lower monthly instalments for graduates and Toyota Drive financing plan, the first of its kind, where customers can save more. Come and join us at our showroom weekender on Oct 6 and 7 Oct in Kelantan and Terengganu outlets and Oct 7 and 8 at all other Toyota outlets nationwide. All Toyota models sold by UMW Toyota Motor come with a 5-years warranty and unlimited mileage (except for the Toyota Hilux with maximum mileage of 150,000kms) for peace of mind ownership. The warranty is transferable to the next owner if still in effect.For further information of these offerings and financing packages, visit www.toyota.com.my


Porsche 911 Speedster gets production nod

                STUTTGART: The concept study, presented during the 70th birthday of the sports car manufacturer, will be produced as a limited special edition:

Porsche has decided to start producing the purist Porsche 911 Speedster in the first half of 2019. Exactly 1,948 units of the open-top two-seater will be built. The number reminisces the Porsche 356 “Number 1” that received its operating license on June, 8 back in 1948.

In Paris, Porsche presented this year’s second Speedster Concept study. Its Guards Red paintwork is a reference to the 1988 911 Speedster of the G-Model generation. The new cross-spoke 21-inch wheels in cross spoke and the black leather interior create a tasteful and sporty appearance.

The driveable 911 Speedster Concept, initially presented on June 8 in 2018 in Zuffenhausen as a “Heritage” version, will go into production in 2019. The car was developed at Porsche Motorsport in Weissach in cooperation with Style Porsche and Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.

The future 911 Speedster, based on the 991 range, will be the first car to be offered with the new Heritage Design Packages. This exclusive accessory line by Porsche Exclusive allows for an even higher degree of personalisation for the 911.

In addition to the eye-catching paintwork, 21-inch center lock wheels are another visual highlight of this latest concept study presented in Paris. Their cross-spoke wheel design is similar to that of Porsche racing cars such as the 911 RSR and the GT3 R. The tinted daytime running lights were also inspired by racing.

Matching the study’s paintwork, they are kept in red. The two “Talbot”-shaped exterior mirrors as well as the fuel tank cap – centrally positioned on the bonnet – shine in black-chrome and platinum. In contrast to the previously shown “Heritage” version, the interior is using partly perforated black leather upgraded with red highlights.

All body components as well as the entire technology of both the 911 Speedster Concept cars are identical. This includes the shortened window frames with their lowered cowl top panels and the smaller side windows as well as the carbon-fibre rear bonnet with the double-bubble cover behind the seats. Both cars come with a lightweight Tonneau cover, fitted by Tenax buttons, instead of a convertible soft top.

The concept cars’ body is based on the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet. The fenders, as well as the front and rear bonnet are made from lightweight carbon fibre composite while the chassis was taken from the 911 GT3.

The GT development department provided the exhaust system with its titanium tailpipes and the drivetrain including the manually operated six-speed gearbox. The same goes for the centrepiece of the limited special edition: The Speedster Concept is powered by a naturally aspirated flat-six engine developing more than 500hp and capable of engine speeds up to 9,000 rpm.


BMW to shift UK production of electric MINI to China

                LONDON: BMW AG will stop making electric versions of MINI hatchbacks in the UK, dealing a setback to a country trying to transition its already diminished auto industry to battery-powered models.

Although the MINI factory near Oxford, England, will again start making convertibles starting in 2025, BMW has elected to make electric hatchbacks and a small sport utility vehicle in China through its partnership with Great Wall Motor Motor Co., according to a spokesman.

The automaker announced in November of last year that it would start producing electric MINIs at a new plant in the eastern province of Jiangsu beginning in 2023.

After becoming home to Europe’s first mass-produced electric car, the UK is falling behind other countries in cultivating a battery and EV manufacturing base. Bloomberg reported this week that Britishvolt Ltd., a battery-making hopeful to which the government has pledged funding, has been in talks about selling its main cell factory site.

Jaguar Land Rover, the nation’s top auto manufacturer, has discussed sourcing batteries for a range of EVs it may assemble in Slovakia, people familiar with the matter said in May.

Overall auto production has also been falling in the UK.

The Times reported earlier that BMW was ceasing production of electric MINIs at its Oxford plant.

The newspaper cited Stefanie Wurst, the new head of MINI, saying that making electric and petrol cars on the same line has been inefficient.

She told the paper that when electric MINIs are built again in Britain, it will be on an assembly-line platform developed by Great Wall, and that existing lines will be stripped out as part of a major overhaul at an unspecified future date.

A spokesman for Great Wall told the Times that the possibility of producing its own vehicles at the Oxford factory has been discussed.


New Kia Sorento next-level safety system

                LONDON: The all-new Kia Sorento, which is due to launch in Europe early in 2021, is the first car to be equipped with Kia’s innovative Multi-Collision Brake system, helping to prevent passengers from being involved in secondary collisions after an initial impact.

The system is designed to help prevent or mitigate the severity of a secondary collision, which may occur after initial impact as the vehicle continues to a stop, often out of the driver’s control.

The system is activated by the deployment of the vehicle’s airbags, which indicates a severity of accident that warrants intervention.

Once activated, the system measures vehicle speed and any changes of direction, applying the appropriate level of braking force to bring the car to a controlled stop.

The system monitors the position of the pedals to check if the driver is attempting to accelerate or brake.

If the MCB system detects little or no driver intervention, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) mechanism intervenes to apply the appropriate amount of braking for the car’s level of momentum.

The system is not active at speeds exceeding 110mph, as brake intervention at high speeds can cause other severe impacts.

The fourth-generation Sorento will be the first Kia sold in Europe to include this innovative new safety technology.

The Sorento is already one of the safest cars in its class, fitted with a wide range of collision mitigating technology, including Kia’s latest Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (FCA) technology with pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle detection.

MCB extends the Sorento’s safety remit by focussing on the situation immediately after an accident, further improving the car’s extensive safety package.

MCB will be offered as standard on all Sorento models, including the new Plug-in Hybrid model which is due to launch in Europe early in 2021.


For Porsche and Lamborghini, going off-road means big bucks

                NEW YORK: On Jan 10, Porsche announced three new decal options available for the 911 Dakar, an off-road sports car that debuted on Nov 16 in Los Angeles.

The decals wrap around the car for an effect that looks like paint but can be removed, and mimic the racing liveries of the Porsche 911s that participated in the grueling East Africa Safari Rally in 1971, 1974 and 1978.

After all, anyone who buys the off-road Porsche 911 will want to evoke Porsche’s off-road heritage of winning prestigious desert races. Prices for the Rallye decals range from US$5,260 to US$7,510-which isn’t cheap for stickers.

Porsche knows that the customer who can afford to pay US$222,000 for the 911 Dakar, and who has enough standing with their local Porsche dealer to receive an allocation for one, won’t blink at the added expense. (You get "standing” by buying lots of Porsches.)

It’s part of what makes low-volume, special production vehicles like the 911 Dakar so lucrative. A standard Porsche 911 Carrera starts at US$106,100, less than half the price of the Dakar version.

"There’s certainly potential revenue here,” says Matt Degen, a senior editor at Kelley Blue Book.

"The car piggybacks onto the overall trend of off-roading as its own very special thing-and sometimes, even a luxurious thing. Porsche have already got the technology, they've got the all-wheel drive systems, so why not make an off-road 911? It’s like that old saying: ‘They do it because they can.’”

Joining the off-road club

Safari-style, Baja-style and jacked-up versions of all sorts of cars from Volkswagen Beetles to Mercedes SLs to Ford trucks have been around since before Steve McQueen drove a Baja Boot (a modified VW Beetle) in the late 1960s.

Porsche raced "rally style” 911s with high clearance and roll cages in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Private, after-market modification products such as the Baja 911 (priced at US$700,000) offer full off-road builds, and Keen Project and its ilk have offered specialised kits that allow drivers to traverse mud, shale and snow in vehicles that would otherwise get stuck.

But it has only been recently that the brands known for making ultra-luxury land yachts and sports cars have themselves gotten in the act. In December 2021, Mercedes-Maybach announced the Project Maybach Off-Road Concept, then showed the gargantuan electric vehicle with knobby tyres and a roof rack to reporters and fans from Art Basel in Miami and for private review near Monaco.

While the brand has said it has no plans to make that exact rig, designed by the late Virgil Abloh, it will use it for further deliberation about an all-terrain Maybach in the future.

Then, in quick succession last fall, Porsche unveiled its 911 Dakar and Lamborghini welcomed its Huracán Sterrato, a rugged version of its Huracán supercar. Porsche will sell 2,500 of the 911 Dakar worldwide; Lamborghini will sell 1,499 Sterrato.

Despite guffaws from some in the social media peanut gallery that such off-road oddities will never see dirt because collectors and speculators will be loath to risk the potential damage to rack up value-crushing miles, plenty of people will buy one and use it accordingly.

"When the 911 Dakar came out, I was all over it,” says Hannah Burgess, a London-based public relations executive who expects to receive hers in May.

"It will be used mostly up north in Scotland, where my partner and I, with his family, go fishing. We normally take an SUV, but this year we’ll use the Dakar.”

"It's going to be my literal town car,” says Jeff Zwart, the champion rally racer and filmmaker who makes commercials for automotive brands from Chevrolet to Porsche.

He lives up a winding nine-mile road outside of Aspen, Colorado, at an elevation of 9,300 feet-and plans to order his 911 Dakar with a roof rack to carry his canoe. "Honestly with the environment we have here, it's such a great car.”

Making big bucks

Such specially made vehicles carry price premiums of tens of thousand dollars over their standard-version counterparts.

The Huracàn EVO RWD Coupé costs US$213,597, for example; the brand hasn’t announced US pricing for the Sterrato, but European pricing is €263,000 (US$282,200).

It also offers additional revenue streams that bring in thousands of dollars via such extras as off-road tires, fire extinguisher packages, fog lights, carbon fiber trim lines, roll cages and those aforementioned decals.

Smaller production numbers bolster profit margins because automakers can charge more for a "special” version of a vehicle they already make-a benefit particularly critical for companies considering initial public offerings. (Porsche went public in September; Bloomberg analysts say they believe a Lamborghini IPO could occur within 16 months.)

"Limited editions show that (a company like Lamborghini) can match Ferrari’s business model with very lucrative sports car derivatives,” says Michael Dean, senior European automotive analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.

Ferrari excels at creating demand for its highly specialised, extremely low-production vehicles that cost a lot.

It’s also about showcasing new technology and continuing to build the brand, as well as underpinning the margin-so it’s no accident the vehicle Porsche chose to make into a modern trailfinder also carries the highest profit margins of any vehicle at Volkswagen AG.

Dean ranks the 911 as one of the world's most profitable cars, with a margin exceeding those of all of Ferrari models put together, and set to sell more than 40,000 units in 2022. (That’s versus 12,500 units for the automaker from Maranello, Italy.)

"We envisage a €2.6 billion (US$2.7 billion) profit contribution from the 911 alone next year, versus €2.4 billion for the whole of Ferrari,” says Dean.

What’s more, such elite and status-giving vehicles give super fans an excuse to buy another car from a favorite brand, even if they already own several.

"That's what really sets them apart: Think of the flex that you can do with one of these things,” Degen says.

"It's like, ‘Oh, it's not just good enough to have a Lamborghini Huracàn. I have one that does what a Lamborghini shouldn't do.’”

Porsche and Lamborghini could probably charge more-way more-for special editions than they do now, says Dean: "Only a few brands are capable of selling high-margin, US$1 million-plus-priced, limited-edition supercars, and that club includes Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche.”

So far, so good. In October, Porsche reported a 40.6% leap in operating profit to more than US$5 billion for the first nine months of 2022.

It predicted a strong 2023, thanks to its ability to raise its sales prices even higher. Over the same period, Lamborghini announced that it, too, had seen significant increases in the first nine months, with operating profit up 68.5%, to US$612 million.

The increase in profitability was driven largely by growth in average revenue per car, thanks to the product mix and increased customization, the automaker said.

Still, not every manufacturer wants in on the off-road fun. During an earnings call on Jan 9, Rolls-Royce chief executive officer Torsten Müller-Ötvös said his brand would not wade into the adventuring variants racket, even though it seemed so lucrative for others.

Rolls-Royce reported a record year on Monday, having delivered 6,021 vehicles in 2022, up 8% over 2021.

"We stick with what we have when we go into certain segments, so then it's the real stuff,” Müller-Ötvös said.

"We don't do transitional things just to maybe catch the one or the other trend. It would not be looked as truly authentic Rolls-Royce.”


Naza Quest no longer selling Chevrolets from tomorrow

                KUALA LUMPUR: Naza Quest Sdn Bhd has ceased to be the Chevrolet franchise holder but will continue to provide warranty and aftersales service for existing Chevrolet customers until a new Chevrolet distributor is appointed by General Motors (GM).

Naza Quest would stop selling Chevrolets from tomorrow.

While sales of new Chevrolet vehicles will be suspended, the majority of Chevrolet dealerships will remain open during this transition to meet the aftersales needs of customers.

GM Southeast Asia general director Vanchana Unakul said GM and Chevrolet are still committed to selling cars in Malaysia.

“Chevrolet is here to stay in Malaysia and we will be announcing our new distributor partner as soon as possible.”

Naza Corporation Holdings (Automotive Group) group CEO Datuk Samson Anand George said the group would leverage on the strengths of its remaining line-up of four and two-wheel brands and explore other business opportunities to expand market share.

The Naza group has been the Chevrolet distributor for eight years.


Ford Ranger XLT 2.2L Special Edition unveiled

                KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC) has unveiled the Ford Ranger XLT 2.2L Special Edition which is exclusive to Malaysia.

The limited edition Ranger XLT 2.2L Special Edition comes in Arctic White and Absolute Black and is fitted with fender flares, a rear view camera and a functional tonneau cover.

The in-truck infotainment system features an upgraded large nine-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that supports mobile applications such as Spotify, Waze, YouTube and Google Chrome.

Trendy geometrical decals on each side complete the truck’s sporty and rugged looks.

It is priced at RM120,888 for Peninsular Malaysia and RM126,388 for Sabah and Sarawak (on-the-road, without insurance), and comes with a warranty of three years or up to 100,000km, whichever comes first.

“With this Special Edition and its limited number of units, we aim to create more exclusivity for customers looking for a versatile vehicle that is suitable for both on-and off-road as well as a lifestyle statement,” said SDAC managing director Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz.

The Ranger XLT 2.2L Special Edition is still powered by a Duratorq 2.2L turbodiesel engine with a six-speed automatic transmission, that delivers 160ps and peak torque of 385Nm.

Features include 4X4 Shift-On-The-Fly, rain sensing wipers, the light and nimble Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS), daytime running lights and headlights for better visibility.

It also comes with two airbags, e-locking rear differential, Hill Descent Control, Hill Launch Assist, Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), ISOFIX child seat mounts, Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control, Rollover Mitigation, Trailer Sway Control and Adaptive Load Control.


Biodiesel containing Malaysian palm oil to be tested on Chinese vehicle

                BEIJING: Some 180 sanitary trucks will use biodiesel containing Malaysian palm oil in a pilot project to test its feasibility on Chinese vehicles.

The programme will be carried out by Tsinghua University in collaboration with Beijing TUS-Deqing Bioenergy and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok, who is in China to promote palm oil, witnessed the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MoA) between the three parties.Kok said the project was expected to start in the next few months.

She said for a start, 180 sanitary vehicles in Zhaoqing, southern Guangdong province, would be filled with blended biodiesel containing 5%, 10% and 20% of palm oil respectively.

“It will be conducted for 20 months, including 12 months of field trials.

“They need to study the biodiesel performance on these vehicles throughout the four seasons as palm oil is a tropical oil and the cold temperature causes it to solidify,” Kok said.

Beijing TUS-Deqing Bioenergy is a subsidiary of TUS Clean Energy, a commercial arm of Tsinghua University.

Kok said the university, a top research institution in China, also planned to invest in a project to modify an existing biodiesel plant in Malaysia using its enzymatic technology.

“Some of the biodiesel products manufactured at this plant will be exported to China,” she added.

The MoA is a follow-up to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Tsinghua University and MPOB during Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s visit to China in August last year.

The MoU paved the way for the two parties to jointly develop programmes to promote Malaysia palm biofuel in China and carry out technical research on the use of palm oil in various sectors, including feed stock and transportation.

Currently, Malaysia has implemented the B10 programme (10% palm biodiesel and 90% petrol diesel) in the transportation sector nationwide for several months.

“So far, there have been no complaints. We hope to increase the biodiesel blending to 20% soon in light of the invaluable benefits of green energy,” Kok said.


Proton continues fourth consecutive year of sales growth in 2022

                SUBANG JAYA: National automotive brand Proton ended 2022 with a fourth consecutive year of sales growth to push overall sales to their highest total of 141,432 units since 2013.

Proton also posted sales of 14,750 units in December, its fourth best monthly performance for the year.

The company also saw a growth of 23.3% compared with the results achieved in 2021, despite a tough start to 2022 when a combination of flood affected parts vendors and an acute shortage in the global chip industry depressed volumes for the first four months.

Its volume for international markets, meanwhile, increased to 5,406 units, growing by 79.1% and making Proton easily the local industry’s leading exporter for 2022.

 X70.

Overall, the company has retained its ranking of second in the automotive sales table with an estimated market share of 19.6%.

Total industry volume (TIV) for 2022 is estimated to have closed at over 720,000 units, a new industry high, on the back of a record-setting December.

Proton also said sales for five out of its six models have grown in 2022 with three models ending the year as segment leaders.

The Proton X50 continues to be the best-selling SUV in Malaysia and with 3,764 units sold in December, it ended the year with a new SUV annual sales record of 40,681 units.

 Exora.

This is an increase of 41.4% over 2021 and makes the B-segment SUV the second most voluminous model in the company’s line-up.

Meanwhile, the larger X70 model ended the year with 1,787 units sold in December and an overall sales of 18,533 units, saw an increase of 13.1% over the previous year despite facing a strong challenge from new competitors.

This also ensured the X70 retained its position as the best-selling C-segment SUV for the fourth consecutive year.

The Exora continued its solid grip on the C-segment MPV market with 4,275 units sold in 2022, up by 5.9% compared to 2021.

The model undergone a minor update last August and continues to attract buyers looking for a spacious people carrier with intelligent features, class-leading driving dynamics and exceptional value for the price.

The Saga accounted for 5,913 units were sold in December to push total volume for 2022 up to 55,878 units, an increase of 31.1% over the previous year, while the Persona saw 2,322 units sold in December to raise total volume for the year to 16,357 units and eke out a growth of 1.3%.

Persona’s sister model, the Iriz, continues to be plagued by production supply issues and suffered a sales decline of 14.9% in 2022.

 Roslan.

Proton deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah said 2022 was a year of achievements and missed opportunities for Proton.

“The effect of the floods at the end of 2021 spilled over in to the first quarter of the year and ensured we began 2022 on the back foot as we collaborated with our vendors to restore parts supply.

“Thankfully, the volume was made up over the next three quarters, but we are confident we could have achieved more and posted even better numbers if not for the disrupted start to the year.

“Still, Proton now has sales growth for a fourth consecutive year, and we are proud of being the only automotive company in Malaysia to achieve that from 2019 to 2022.

“Looking ahead towards 2023, Proton is confident of achieving more growth as we add to our range of offerings with our new model launches this year,” said Roslan.


BMW CE 04 is priced at RM59,500

                PETALING JAYA: BMW Motorrad Malaysia today announced the official pricing for the new BMW CE 04, following the electric scooter’s initial unveiling at the BMW Group Malaysia Business Briefing 2023 in January.

The CE 04 is priced at RM59,500 (on-the-road without insurance).  The pricing was supposed to be revealed in March but was deferred to today.

The announcement was made on the eve of the May 4-7 Malaysia Autoshow 2023 at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang, Selangor.

Details about the scooter are available in a previous posting.


Hyundai announces Hydrogen Vision 2040 to promote mass usage of hydrogen fuel cell tech

                SEOUL: While many car makers have favoured the transition from internal combustion engines to battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) as the next step, Hyundai Group has announced that it will be making hydrogen fuel cell vehicles a major component of its Hydrogen Vision 2040.

In presenting Hyundai's plans to popularise hydrogen by 2040 through the introduction of new technologies and climate-friendly mobility solutions in transportation and other industrial sectors, Hyundai Group chairman Euisun Chung said:

“We want to offer practical solutions for the sustainable development of humanity and with these breakthroughs, we aim to help foster a worldwide Hydrogen Society by 2040.

“Hyundai Motor Group’s vision is to apply hydrogen energy in all areas of life and industry such as our homes, work-places and factories. The goal is to make hydrogen readily used for everyone, everything, and everywhere.

“By developing advanced technologies and innovative systems – as well as encouraging close collaboration between public and private sectors across the globe – it is possible to make this sustainable vision a reality for all,” he said.

Further underscoring its pioneering commitment to clean sustainable energy for all types of mobility, Hyundai Group's plans would see the electrification of all new commercial vehicle models – featuring fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) or battery electric powertrains - to all models by 2028.

Hyundai Group has been preparing for the future of hydrogen since the development of its first FCEV in 1998.

In 2013, the Tucson FCEV (ix35 Fuel Cell) was introduced, opening the door to the mass production of FCEVs.

In 2018, the company launched the next-generation fuel cell SUV, NEXO, and the world’s first heavy-duty fuel cell truck, XCIENT Fuel Cell, in 2020.

Hyundai Group also aims to become the first global automaker to apply its fuel cell system on all its commercial vehicle models by 2028.

 Third-generation fuel cell stack.

The group said third-generation fuel cell stack, available in 100kW and 200kW output, are more compact but more powerful than the previous generation.

The 100kW stack has been reduced in size by 30%, making it easier to be applied to different vehicle types and applications.

The 200kW version has been designed for commercial vehicle applications and is similar in size to the current NEXO system, but the power output has doubled.

For the second-generation fuel cell stack launched in 2018, the company achieved 5,000 hours and 160,000km of usage, which is similar to the warranty of an ICE vehicle.

For the third-generation fuel cell development, the goal is to improve durability by 50% to 100%.

The high durability stacks for commercial vehicles will deliver 500,000km of service drive range.

 Trailer Drone.

The group also unveiled the ‘Trailer Drone’ concept, a hydrogen-powered container transportation system capable of operating fully autonomously, with a double e-Bogie configuration.

The Fuel Cell e-Bogie sits under the container just like a rail bogie and is a fully enclosed system with fuel cell powertrain and fully independent four-wheel steering.

The Fuel Cell e-Bogie can also be configured to create a ‘Rescue Drone’ that can be operated remotely and autonomously for fire-fighting and life-saving.

 Rescue Drone.

Also unveiled is the Vision FK fuel cell high-performance sports car concept with 500kW of power and can accelerate from rest to 100kph in less than four seconds.

Combining a fuel cell energy converter with a high-power, rear wheel-drive powertrain, the Vision FK aims to achieve over 600km in range.

 Vision FK.

Other concepts unveiled are the H Moving Station which is a heavy-duty vehicle equipped with charging facilities for fuel cell vehicles in areas with limited hydrogen refueling stations, and the Rescue Hydrogen Generator Vehicle that can supply power to electric vehicles in remote, off-road areas.

In addition, the Hyundai Group will be presenting its plans for hydrogen energy and a global hydrogen society at its ‘Hydrogen Village’ (HydroVILLE) exhibition in Goyang, Korea, from Sept 8-11.


Huracan force: A Lamborghini driven

The Huracan cockpit.It started to rain heavily that Saturday afternoon at Sepang International Circuit, just hours before the Lamborghini Huracan Esperienza 2014 evening session was about to start.I was already anxious that I would be driving the Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4, which packs a naturally-aspirated 5.2L V10 engine, the successor to the highly successful Gallardo, for the first time (in fact, this was the first time I would be driving a Lamborghini).And driving on a wet track would have been a first for me too but that was not to be as the downpour slowly trickled to a stop.Another storm appeared though and these would be the handful of Huracans ripping up the tarmac at Sepang.The participants of the Esperienza consisted of about a half-dozen Lamborghini enthusiasts from Europe and three local motoring journalists, myself included.We were briefed before hitting the track about how we would be “left alone in the car” meaning there would be no instructor sitting shotgun but we would have to follow a lead car instead.The Esperienza was divided into two groups; a lead car followed by two Huracans for a three lap session.Another eye-popping fact we were told was that the Huracan, which produces about 610PS at 8,250rpm and 560Nm of torque at 6,500rpm, already engages 75% of the maximum torque at 1,000rpm!That’s 420Nm of twisting force at such a low rev.Now, there is nothing I disliked about the Huracan before I got into car and I could not find any faults after I drove it either.I liked the way it looks what with that amazingly sleek silhouette, very clean lines and the hexagonal shapes which appears almost everywhere in the car, inside and out, giving it an air of quality like finely cut gemstones. The Huacan meter cluster.Even when the car was just idling in the pit lane, the design has so much movement that it looks so fast just standing still.Then I stepped in the cabin and it felt like I was in a fighter jet cockpit and not a car.The controls are very driver-centric as everything is either within reach or it is on the steering wheel.And the main switch here is found on the bottom of the steering spoke called ANIMA (which is Italian for ‘soul’) and also stands for Adaptive Network Intelligent Management.It is basically a driver mode selector and you can choose Strada, Sport or Corsa.Depending on what mode you are in, it alters the gearbox logic, the all-wheel drive system, stability control, damper settings and even the exhaust system.I was also impressed with the large 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster which is beautifully laid out with vibrant colours and graphics.I also liked that the labels which were in Italian like benzina instead of petrol or olio (oil).The girth of the steering wheel is definitely the largest I’ve encountered bringing to life the idiom, ‘take the bull by the horns’ and yet it felt great to the touch and was comfortable to grip.As we drove onto the track, I realised that the seating position was just perfect and had an exceptional view and that’s really important when I’m speeding like a Formula 1 driver.When you’re driving a super powerful car that has a lightweight frame which is a hybrid of aluminium and carbon fibre (it has a dry weight of 1,422kg), you have to be looking ahead instead of in front of you.I found that as soon as I looked where I wanted to go and hit the clipping points and corner exits, the car just brought me there with alarming accuracy.The power delivery was simply smooth and for a Lamborghini fitted with a dual-clutch transmission (via the seven-speed ‘Lamborghini Doppia Frizione’) for the very first time ... they got it right straight-away.The carbon-ceramic brakes do not leave much room for progressive braking because they just catch and I found myself braking later into corner entry.I felt so confident with the Huracan’s precise steering.It handled everything with ease and style whether I was taking fast corners or bombing it down the straight-line.And even when I made mistakes of coming in too fast into a corner and doing things which they advice you not to do (like hard braking in a corner), the car would correct itself immediately when the rear broke loose.I even tried a ‘power over’ move (flooring it at corner exit) and the Huracan’s exhaust note roared to a crescendo and the rear gave out slightly.But this car has so much traction and stability control that I was itching to do it again.And the sound the Huracan makes is ferocious without being brutishly aggressive or shrill.It is hard to describe but it was so satisfying; just like how I felt driving it.As long as you observe the simple rules of timely braking, gear shifting, turning the steering wheel and keeping to the racing line, the car just carves out a golden path of speed and satisfaction.              I think I finally understood that the golden bull is not just a representation of a fighting bull but a mythical beast come to life. We didn't get to drive the Aventador, which served as the lead car during the Lamborghini track experience.


In-car entertainment: PHASS way to feel-good vibes

Sound, as a former teacher once put it, is part science and part black magic. One example of the latter is the phenomena known as “resonant frequencies” or – as physics textbooks put it – “a natural frequency of vibration determined by the physical parameters of the vibrating object”.

Simply put, every object has a natural frequency at which it vibrates. If you are able to stimulate this frequency, you can cause said object to vibrate. In certain cases, this vibration – mated with other external factors – can cause wine glasses to shatter or bridges to fall.

 Golf R stripped out before the audio transformation begins.

Yes, you read that right, a bridge. Specifically, a suspension bridge in Tacoma, Washington, which was brought down in 1940 by a combination of elementary forced residence, strong wind and aeroelastic flutter.

This bridge, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (the world’s third-longest suspension bridge at the time), lasted only five months before spectacularly collapsing into Puget Sound, taking a hastily-abandoned car and a very frightened dog along with it.

While not as catastrophic as a bridge collapsing, resonant frequencies are also a bad thing in sound reproduction. Such vibrations can change the timbre (or characteristics) of the sound being reproduced. This, of course, is not a good thing if you are really into high quality sounds in your car.

So, how do you get around this conundrum?

A good way around it is what three gentlemen did recently. They got themselves a pair of PHASS NT28BML resonance control customised tweeters installed as part of their in-car entertainment (ICE) systems of their cars. More on this later.

Why is the PHASS NT28BML so essential when it comes to combating resonant frequencies?

According to Tehnichi Audio’s head guru, Simon Teh, having a good pair of tweeters has always been pivotal to improving the sounds being reproduced by a car’s audio system.

“Tweeters reproduce the upper frequencies in music and make the music sparkle and come alive. They are also important for sound staging and stereo separation,” he said.

According to Teh, resonance frequencies in tweeters are probably the most insidious type to challenge against.
“This is because the higher frequencies that tweeters reproduce are the ones where the human ear is most sensitive to in terms of tone colour. In short, these resonant frequencies will affect sound quality and disrupt your listening pleasure,” he added.

So, what makes the PHASS NT28BML do what it does? The design of a loudspeaker, in general, involves mounting a direct radiating cone that is given room to vibrate.

According to information from Georgia State University’s physics department, this mounting is elastic, hence, there is inherent resonance in such a set-up. As a result, this free cone frequency will distort sound by responding more closely to signals near its own natural vibration frequencies.

What the boffins at PHASS have done is to custom design and manufacture tweeters with resonance control in consideration.  The NT28BML is developed with a special customised frame technology to create a mechanical structure that helps to damp down on distortion.

On top of that, to enhance the reproduction of higher range frequencies, the NT28BML’s silk fabric and very thin diaphragm helps to increase the sensitivity and, thus, contributes to superb sound detail. Its 27.2mm neodymium magnet also ensures ultra efficient signal transfer.

So, on paper, we have tweeters that are capable of handling an insidious menace. How do they stack up in the real world? As it turns out, pretty well.

The first test car was Mr Khong’s Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan.

In what was essentially the factory standard ICE system (no amp or subwoofer) with some Tehnichi Audio tweaks, the risk assessment manager’s love for 70s and 80s music, as well as new age and jazz – a lot of them MP3 tracks, were put through the paces.

It was an enjoyable 45 minutes of going down memory lane with songs that were very much part and parcel of this writer’s childhood.

Throughout it all, the PHASS NT28BML worked seamlessly with the system at hand to create a zone of calm and happiness.

If there was anything to criticise, you could say that Mr Khong’s ICE system lacked that little something in the bottom end to provide the necessary bombast.

He did acknowledge this fact and has been mulling over the best time to get an 8-inch subwoofer installed to provide the necessary lower frequency boost.

The success of this system whetted my interest on what a resonance-combating tweeter could do with a more complete set-up.

This was achieved with the arrival of the second test car, a Hyundai Elantra with amps, a subwoofer and other Tehnichi Audio tweaks, and Simonte Black Tunes and Legato Link.

Here, the music finally got the proper high, mid and low end that it sought. A variety of genres went into the testing process and all came up Top Trumps.

The beauty of the NT28BML helped create a seamless musical experience that showed what a resonance-unhampered system could sound like.

 A PHASS NT28BMLtweeter.

However, nothing quite prepared this writer for the third test car.

A Volkswagen Golf R that had its rear seats removed so that the pre- and power amps (yes, as in more than one) and subwoofers (again, more than one) could be mated to a full PHASS speaker set-up together with the best that Simonte and Tehnichi Audio could provide.

For the longest time, this writer has sought to find the experience of a live sound venue recreated in a car. On that day, in that car, I found it.

The entire set-up, with the NT28BML leading the way, the true power was unleashed.

It was a revelation. All these years, good systems that I have encountered have been so close yet not quite there.
It was the PHASS NT28BML that unveiled the true beauty of sound recreated without resonance frequencies colouring the performance.

However, it is unlikely that this writer will be ripping out his car seats anytime soon to experience such sonic nirvana.

I wonder whether the Volkswagen’s owner rents out his car?


Singer to launch re-imagined Porsche 911 Cabriolet

                LOS ANGELES: US tuning house Singer, which has already retrofitted the Porsche 911 Turbo from the 964 series, has revealed a reimagined version of the generation's 911 Cabriolet.

Taking on a cabriolet project reflects the Stuttgart marque's history, says Singer firm boss Rob Dickinson, as the first Porsche, the 356/1, was also a convertible.

Deliveries are to start this year.

Singer, which says it is neither a manufacturer nor a seller but retrofits Porsches with a host of special features and modifications as well as the latest technology, has created a cabriolet based on a 964 Turbo that's much closer to a current 911 than the 1990 model.

Dickinson says the restored 911 convertible is not only clad in carbon bodywork and equipped with ceramic brakes, but also comes with state-of-the-art electronics, including an inductive charging cradle for smartphones.

The new cabriolet also comes with a lot more power on tab: While the factory vehicle was equipped with a 3.3-litre, 235 kW/320hp six-cylinder engine, the retrofitted version gets a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged and air-cooled flat-six engine, which pushes out at least 450hp — or more if the owner specifies it.

According to Singer, prices for restorations enabled by the Turbo Study are dependent on the specification requested by the car's owner but do not expect much change out of US$400,000 (RM1.8mil).


Dec 8-14: RON97 petrol down 10 sen

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail price of RON97 petrol will drop by 10 sen from RM3.85 to RM3.75 per litre while prices of RON95 and diesel will remain unchanged from Dec 8 to 14.

The Finance Ministry, in a statement on Wednesday, said to protect consumers from global oil price hikes, the ceiling price of RON95 and diesel would remain at RM2.05 per litre and RM2.15 per litre respectively although the real market prices of the two products have increased beyond the current ceiling prices.
It added that the government would continue to monitor global crude oil prices and take appropriate action to protect the welfare of the people.


No need to wear face mask while driving alone, says Health D-G

                PUTRAJAYA: There is no need to wear face mask when carrying out activities alone such as driving or jogging, says Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said the people are only required to wear face mask when they have symptoms or in a public environment with other people.

"The need of face mask is to break the Covid-19 chain, but if one is jogging in a place with no people, there is no need to wear. Just ensure there is a two to three metres distance from other joggers.

"Similarly when driving alone, there is no need to wear mask," he said in the daily media conference on Covid-19 development here today.

READ MORE: Face mask while driving: Excessive or sensible?


Bugatti Centodieci about to enter production – over 50,000km covered in endurance testing

                PARIS: The second modern coach built model from Bugatti pays homage to the definitive super sports car of the 1990s: the EB110.

A performance package the world had never seen before, the EB110 features a 3.5-litre V12 engine with four turbochargers producing up to 610 PS, linked to an all-wheel-drive system and a carbon-fibre monocoque.

Just 10 Bugatti Centodieci1 cars will be built, yet the French luxury car manufacturer is putting the very same energy into developing and testing them as it devotes to its "series products", such as the Bugatti Chiron.

As soon as the final assessment has been completed, the first of the highly exclusive vehicles – each with a starting price of €8 million (RM37.4mil) – enters into production.

All 10 cars are set to be delivered to their owners this year.

Coach built models are the most exclusive the brand has to offer, with limited production units and extraordinary design featuring individual dynamic setups.

Over the course of many months, Bugatti test drivers and engineers gather technical data and gain valuable experience at high-speed, on handling routes and circuits, on highways and in city traffic – all of which is shared with the technical development department at Bugatti Engineering for evaluation.

The production-based prototype of the Centodieci completed over 50,000 test kilometres in total upon its return from Nardò in the Puglia region of southern Italy, following final endurance testing.

The white prototype completes lap by lap for hour after hour.

Three drivers rotate to examine all functions of the Centodieci, registering and logging every minor anomaly.

They drive day and night on different track profiles and across every speed range, from stop-and-go pace to top speed.

“With its high-speed circuit and handling course, the Nardò test center provides the ideal conditions for intensive endurance tests,” said Steffen Leicht – the man responsible for endurance testing at Bugatti.

The 12.6-kilometre-long circular track with a diameter of four kilometers is considered the fastest automotive circuit in the world – perfect for the 380 kph Centodieci.

The 6.2 kilometre-long handling course on the inner section permits checks at the highest load levels and with longitudinal and transverse dynamics.

The over 70 hectare-large site at Nardò provides 70km of roads with different surfaces, enabling extensive testing and inspection of all vehicle components.

The Centodieci covers up to 1,200km each day, interrupted only by technical checks, refuelling, and driver changes.

Throughout the entire time, Bugatti’s engineers analyse the engine and vehicle data and make adjustments where necessary.

“We assess every element on the vehicle one last time, paying particular attention to functionality and durability before the first Centodieci cars go into production,” said Carl Heilenkötter – project manager responsible for one-off and few-off projects at Bugatti.

All components must interact perfectly with one another and be capable of withstanding any kind of overloading.

The endurance tests in Nardò represent the final act of the extensive trials.


Mercedes-Benz completes 1,000km electric drive on EQXX prototype

                BERLIN: Mercedes-Benz aims to produce electric cars consuming as little as 10 kilowatt hours of energy per 100 km, its chief technology officer (CTO) said today, a third more efficient than the current average for electric cars.

Speaking as the carmaker celebrated the successful test drive of its EQXX prototype vehicle over more than 1,000km from Sindelfingen in Germany to the Cote d'Azur on a single charge, CTO Markus Schaefer said efficient design was key to maximising an electric car's range.

"First, we optimise efficiency, and then we can see how many battery modules we put in the car," Schaefer said at a media roundtable, adding that customers should be able to decide the size of the battery they want based on their needs.

Carmakers from Mercedes-Benz to Tesla to China's Nio are in a neck-to-neck race to produce higher range cars that dispel consumer anxiety over the lack of widespread charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Mercedes unveiled its Vision EQXX prototype, boasting a 1,000km-range with a battery half the volume of its flagship EQS model, in January, promising that some of the car's components would make their way into series vehicles in 2-3 years time. read more

The car spent 8.7 kilowatt hours of energy per 100 km on its 11-and-a-half hour drive to France, Mercedes-Benz said, about twice as efficient as Mercedes models on the market and Tesla's longest-range car on offer, the Model S 60.

Mercedes' EQS has the highest range on the market as of yet, according to car comparison portal carwow, with 768km, followed by Tesla's Model S Long Range with up to 652km.

"There'll be a further increase for some time before a fall, which will happen once charging infrastructure is as available as petrol stations," Schaefer said, although he declined to state what range Mercedes was targeting in future models.


Drive Safe service campaign by Chevrolet

                KUALA LUMPUR: Naza Quest Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of the Chevrolet brand in Malaysia, is ushering in the Chinese New Year season with a Drive Safe service campaign.

The promotion is valid from Feb 1 until March 15.

“Chevrolet vehicles are designed with passenger safety as a priority. By providing a service promotion to ensure that this exceptional level of safety is maintained, we are encouraging Chevrolet owners to check their vehicles and ensure that their vehicles are in tip-top shape,” said Naza Quest associate vice president Thoo Ai Wuen.

The Drive Safe service campaign is applicable for all Chevrolet models.

Customers can arrange to have their cars serviced at any of the 21 authorised Chevrolet service centres nationwide.The campaign includes a complimentary 40-point free inspection and diagnostic scan, free cutlery set with Dexos Oil (6 litres) change, and a Chevy Bear for vehicle service above RM200.

For details, call 1-800-2-CHEVY (24389).


Tesla raises prices for second time in days on rising costs

                BEIJING: Tesla Inc raised its prices in China and the United States for the second time in less than a week, after CEO Elon Musk said the US electric carmaker was facing significant inflationary pressure in raw materials and logistics.

The increases come as costs of raw materials are surging, exacerbated by supply chain disruptions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Prices of metals used in cars have soared, including aluminum that is used in the bodywork, palladium used in catalytic converters, and nickel and lithium that power electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

The costs have raised concerns about EV economics, as legacy automakers and startups prepare to launch new cars on the back of a long semiconductor supply crunch that is still knocking production at companies including Toyota and Volkswagen.

Tesla, which has a diversified supply chain, has bought "millions of euros worth of aluminum" from Russian aluminium giant Rusal, CNBC reported on Monday, citing internal documents.

Rusal's billionaire founder Oleg Deripaska has been sanctioned by Britain.

Tesla bought Rusal aluminum for casting parts at its new vehicle assembly plant outside of Berlin for the Tesla Model Y, among other things, CNBC said.

Tesla received a conditional go-ahead for its 5 billion euro German gigafactory earlier this month after months of delay.

Tesla and Rusal did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

"Tesla and SpaceX are seeing significant recent inflation pressure in raw materials & logistics," Musk tweeted on Monday, referring to his rocket company. "And we are not alone," he said.

Tesla raised prices on Tuesday for all its models in the United States by 5%-10%, its website showed. In China, it raised prices of some China-made Model 3 and Model Y products by about 5%.

Last week, the company increased prices of its US Model Y SUVs and Model 3 Long Range sedans and some China-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.


Volvo shows off Lounge Console for the busy business executives

                SHANGHAI: Volvo Cars has unveiled a new concept at the Shanghai Auto Show that takes executive in-car luxury to a new level.

Labelled the Lounge Console, the concept offers busy chauffeur-driven business people the ultimate executive accessory - a compact and versatile solution to expanded storage and comfort. The Lounge Console replaces the front passenger seat, providing a wealth of functions and amenities.

“We started this work by looking at the executive lifestyle. With our progressive approach to premium design and functionality we analyzed the needs and perspective of the chauffeur driven executive, designing the car around him or her in the spirit of our brand’s aim,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Car Group.

“A key element in our thinking was how to make the available interior space work for the occupants in an optimal and luxurious fashion. Removing the passenger seat enabled us to create an open space that dramatically changes the dynamics of the interior and led to a firework of ideas and new possibilities.”

Having performed ethnographic research to establish the unexpressed and unmet needs of people with a high-profile lifestyle, the designers at Volvo Cars looked at how such needs might be met in one combined offer.

“The intention with this concept is to showcase two things – firstly that Volvo Cars is aware of the needs of our executive customers and secondly, that with design innovation and modern materials we can effectively create  passenger experience that is unique in the premium car segment.” added Thomas Ingenlath.

The Lounge Console incorporates features designed to enhance the in-car experience. Volvo Cars’ designers provide a large work table which opens to reveal an illuminated vanity mirror, including a storage tray for jewelry and personal accessories or make-up. The table rotates 90 degrees and simultaneously powers forward to display a large 17” media screen for a full in-car theater experience. Below the cushioned leg rest is an additional area for shoes. For added security Volvo Cars has included a lockable storage box. The removal of the front passenger seat allows for full forward vision creating a uniquely spacious environment.

“People who are on the move and have a hectic lifestyle going from event to event or meeting to meeting need some space, some luxury time, and the opportunity to relax and refresh themselves for the next engagement. This is ultimately what the Lounge Console is designed to facilitate,” said Ingenlath.


Lotus celebrates 35th anniversary of Ayrton Senna's first F1 win

                LONDON: It was 35 years ago today, in monsoon conditions, that a determined young Brazilian raced to his first Formula 1 victory and cemented his name in motorsport folklore.

It was Sunday 21 April and the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix. Behind the wheel of a Lotus 97T was Ayrton Senna, just turned 25 years old.

With the car at the absolute limit of its grip, he delivered a masterclass in wet-weather driving for the hardy Estoril crowd and powered to the chequered flag.

Such was his dominance he lapped the entire field up to second place, finishing over a minute ahead of his nearest competitor.

In just his second race for Lotus, Senna took the first of 41 career F1 victories – six for Lotus – and a legend was born.

The performance stunned his rivals and lay down a marker that would see him go on to become a global sporting icon and a national hero in his native Brazil.

Despite his tragic death in 1994, he remains a racing legend. Sempre Senna (Senna Forever).

Today, Lotus is marking the occasion with an exclusive new podcast, a series of rarely seen classic archive images of Senna and his 97T race car from a private collection, and a new blog revealing insights into Senna the man and his time racing for Lotus.

The podcast – part of the recently launched US LOT Sessions – features an all-new and exclusive interview with Chris Dinnage, Senna’s chief mechanic in 1985 and today the Team Manager at Classic Team Lotus.

Describing the raw emotion of the weekend and the Lotus that catapulted Senna to stardom, Dinnage says: “Ayrton hadn’t tested the car in the wet – that was the first time he’d driven in those conditions.

Estoril was when he really hit the scene, because people sat up and thought ‘hang on, he’s lapped almost everybody’ and we knew we had something pretty special.”

Dinnage adds it was this which made the difference between Ayrton and other drivers, explaining: “Ayrton had the same raw pace as everyone else, but he was only using 50% of his capacity as a human to drive the car at full speed, leaving him the other 50% to be really aware of everything that was going on around him. His concentration levels were unparalleled – I’ve never met anyone else like him.”

Today, the actual Lotus 97T in which Senna won at Estoril is owned and maintained by Classic Team Lotus. Like Lotus, it is based in Hethel, Norfolk, and uses a team of expert and knowledgeable designers, engineers and mechanics – including Chris Dinnage – to preserve classic Lotus F1 cars for their owners.


Raya rush: Traffic slow moving on major highways on April 20 evening

North-bound traffic on the North-South Expressway from Slim River to Sungkai as at 9.42pm today. — twitter.com/plustrafik
KUALA LUMPUR: Traffic flow at several major highways nationwide is reported to be slow moving as of 6pm following an influx of people returning to their hometowns to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) said that, based on the current trend, traffic congestion is set to get worse from tonight, especially after the breaking of fast.

"Right now, there are traffic snarls in several areas, especially due to accidents. Among them is the 14km congestion on the North-South Expressway (PLUS) heading south from Southville City to Seremban and Putra Mahkota to Nilai.

"Traffic on PLUS from the north is also slow moving, from Slim River to Sungkai, Sungkai to the lay-by at Ladang Bikam, Bidor to Tapah, Ipoh Utara to Kuala Kangsar and Juru to Bertam,” it said when contacted by Bernama.

In addition, traffic congestion is detected at several hotspots on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, namely after the Gombak Toll Plaza to Lentang and Genting Sampah as well as after the tunnel to Bukit Tinggi.

"Traffic at Pantai Timur Highway (LPT) 1 is smooth flowing for now and the LPT 2 is a bit congested before the exit at the Kuala Terengganu Toll Plaza,” it said.

Meanwhile, a PLUS spokesman said that for northbound, an accident at KM 434 from Bukit Beruntung to Sungai Buaya had resulted in the closure of the left lane for diversion purposes.

Apart from that, traffic flow is also slow southbound following an accident at KM 307 from Universiti Putra Malaysia to Kajang.

The public can stay updated on the latest traffic situation through the Plusline toll-free line at 1800-88-0000, the Twitter page at www.twitter.com/plustrafik or the LLM line at 1800-88-7752 and the Twitter page at www.twitter.com/llminfotrafik.


VW buys Volvo's connected car unit

                BERLIN/STOCKHOLM: Volkswagen is buying a controlling stake in Volvo Group’s WirelessCar, a digital service developer specialising in connected driving, for 1.1 billion Swedish crowns (RM510mil), the companies said on Wednesday.

VW said WirelessCar technology would further its goal of developing value-added services for customers by enabling safe and stable data exchange between operating systems in its cars and a cloud platform it is developing with Microsoft.

The German carmaker will buy 75.1 percent of WirelessCar in the deal, which will allow Volvo to focus on commercial vehicles, its core business since it sold Volvo Cars in 1999.

Volkswagen has said it aims to invest more than 11 billion euros (RM53bil) in electric vehicles, digitalization, autonomous driving and mobility services by 2023, with the bulk earmarked for electric cars.

WirelessCar has its own technology platform and develops digital services like billing and safety and emergency breakdown services for customers including Jaguar Land Rover, Daimler, Nissan and Volvo Cars.

The company has more than 3 million active connected cars across the globe and is expected to report revenues of about 500 million crowns (RM232mil) in 2018, Volvo said in its statement.

Volkswagen said it targets sales of more than 1 billion euros (RM4.8bil) from 2025 through the WirelessCar platform, excluding possible vehicle sales via the digital platform, which will be accessible on mobile phones or on in-car devices in some models starting next April.

Volkswagen’s digital shop will offer services such as its parking app We park, its car trunk delivery service We deliver and its car sharing services We Share or Moia.

Customers will also be able to book functions on demand, such as map data for specific countries or auxiliary heating in winter months, VW said.

The platform for registered Volkswagen customers will also be open for third-party vendors, such as suppliers of music, movies and other infotainment.

The WirelessCar deal still has to be approved by cartel authorities and is expected to close during the first half of 2019.

Volkswagen has an option to buy the remaining share in WirelessCar, it said, adding that it was open to keeping Volvo as a shareholder.