New generation Mercedes CLS rolls out

LOS ANGELES: Here’s the new CLS we have been talking about earlier. The four-door coupé will go on sale in March 2018.

It pioneers the new design idiom of Mercedes-Benz, which is recognisable by clear contours and reduced lines. Its character is marked by a grille contour that widens towards the base and a forward-slanting front section with wide, low-set headlamps.

The muscular rear shoulder line blends into the flat rear end. Characteristic coupé features include the two-section tail lights, reflectors positioned in the rear bumper, location of the registration plate in the bumper and the Mercedes star at the centre of the boot lid. Depending on specification, this houses an extendable camera.

New powerplants

All CLS models are equipped with new engines: in-line six-cylinder and in-line four-cylinder units as diesel and petrol versions.

In 2003, with the CLS, Mercedes-Benz created a new vehicle segment that for the first time combined the elegance and dynamism of a coupé with the comfort and functionality of a saloon.

The new model has an arching waistline, flat side window lines and low greenhouse with high aerodynamics (cD = 0.26). Sharp edges and lines have been significantly reduced. It blends seamlessly into the current Mercedes-Benz coupé family with numerous design features.

The range of engines for the CLS is all new. Three six-cylinder models will be available on market launch: CLS 350 d 4MATIC (210 kW/286 hp, 600 Nm; combined fuel consumption 5.6 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined 148 g/km); CLS 400 d 4MATIC (250 kW/340 hp, 700 Nm; combined fuel consumption 5.6 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined 148 g/km); and CLS d 450 4MATIC (270 + 16 kW/367 hp + 22 hp; combined fuel consumption 7.5 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined 178 g/km).

The new in-line six-cylinder engine promises the performance of an eight-cylinder engine with much lower consumption.

The CLS is equipped with AIR BODY CONTROL suspension, ENERGIZING comfort controls and the latest infotainment generation, smartphone connectivity via Mercedes-Benz Link and wireless charging. The touchpad in the centre console gives haptic and acoustic feedback when operating the convenience functions and settings.

In the fully digital cockpit, the driver can configure the information content according to need and the driving situation. Three different styles can be selected depending on preference, mood or to suit the interior appointments. The Classic and Sport styles have a basic structure with two tubes, while the Progressive style comes with a structure having a central, tube-shaped instrument.

The ambience lighting is individually adjustable in 64 colours, and also includes the air vents. When the temperature setting of the air conditioning system is changed, it briefly changes colour to show whether the temperature is being made warmer (red) or cooler (blue).

The seats were designed exclusively for this model series. Depending on the interior, they feature high-quality piping or transverse seams. The outer seats in the rear have the same appearance as the front seats, creating a sporty single-seat impression, although the CLS Coupé is in fact a five-seater for the first time. When required the backrests can be folded down in a 40/20/40 ratio, expanding the 520‑litre luggage compartment.

Extensive standard kit

The standard appointments of the CLS are extensive: The highlights include LED High Performance headlamps, 18‑inch light-alloy wheels with mixed tyres, Lane Keeping Assist, Speed Limit Assist, a 12.3‑inch media display, ambience lighting including illuminated air vents, Mercedes me connect services and a communication module with LTE.

"The new CLS is a design icon as the archetype of the four-door coupé. In line with our design philosophy of sensual purity, we have reduced its DNA in an extremely puristic way and at the same time emotionally charged it with elegant beauty", says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG.

The range of driving assistance and safety systems features a modular design and as standard includes Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, ATTENTION ASSIST, Speed Limit Assist and the occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®. New and also part of the standard specification is PRE-SAFE® Sound (prepares human hearing for the anticipated accident noise when there is a risk of a collision).

The optional Driving Assistance Package consists of Active Distance Control DISTRONIC, Active Steering Assist, Active Speed Limit Assist, Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and PRE‑SAFE PLUS. Active Distance Control DISTRONIC and Active Steering Assist now provide even more comfortable support for the driver to keep a safe distance and steer.

The speed is now adjusted automatically ahead of bends or junctions. Active Lane Change Assist has also been significantly improved (country-specific differences are possible for individual functions). In addition, the Driving Assistance Plus package includes PRE-SAFE Impulse Side. This system can prepare the front occupants for a side impact by giving them a sideways impulse, reducing the risk of injury.

Thanks to improved camera and radar systems, the new CLS also has an even better view of the surrounding traffic. For the first time it also makes use of map and navigation data to calculate driving behaviour.

 Edition 1 CLS.Edition 1

Like other models, the CLS will also get an Edition 1, which will be available for around one year after the market launch.

This special version has numerous luxurious features as standard.

These include things such as the COPPER ART interior concept with seats in black pearl nappa leather with centre sections in a diamond design and copper-coloured accents, copper-coloured contrasting topstitching on the centre console, seats, armrests, dashboard and door linings, and a unique diamond grille with matt chrome pins and louvre with a copper-coloured shimmer. The Edition 1 is available with all engine variants.

The exterior is based on the AMG Line. Special features include MULTIBEAM LED headlamps as standard and 20‑inch multi-spoke AMG light alloy wheels painted in black with a high-sheen rim flange. The special model is recognisable by the "Edition 1" lettering on the front wings.


Continental Tyre Malaysia introduces 5-year warranty

                PETALING JAYA: Continental Tyre PJ Malaysia Sdn Bhd (CTM) has launched an industry-first warranty programme, namely a five-year warranty from the date of purchase.

All passenger light truck (PLT) tyres come with Continental’s global standard warranty of two years from the date of purchase by end customers.

CTM offers another three years extended warranty in Malaysia, for all Continental, Dunlop and Viking PLT tyres.

The five-year warranty is on condition the date of purchase is within five years of date of manufacture.

The extended warranty is offered in Malaysia from January 1, 2016 onwards.

“We are confident of the performance of our products against manufacturing defects, and decided to offer consumers this extended warranty,” said CTM managing director Cameron Wilson.


Subaru debuts all-new WRX

                NEW YORK: Subaru of America has announced the all-new 2022 WRX with the most advanced features, design, and performance in its nearly 20-year history.

The fifth-generation rally icon is powered by a new 2.4-litre turbocharged Subaru boxer engine that is paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or new automatic transmission.

The engine produces 271hp at 5,600 rpm, a broader torque curve with 350Nm of torque from 2,000-5,200 rpm. The increased displacement, along with a turbocharger equipped with electronically controlled wastegate and air bypass valves, improves responsiveness and acceleration.

Built at Subaru’s Yajima plant in Japan, every WRX is equipped with legendary Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and Active Torque Vectoring.

With available high-definition tablet-style 11.6-inch SUBARU STARLINK Multimedia system and latest generation EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, the 2022 WRX promises greater performance, technology, and safety than ever before.

The car rides on summer performance tyres wrapped around 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels and four-wheel ventilated disc brakes.

Also new for 2022, the WRX adds a new top-of-the-line GT trim with a new Continuously Variable Transmission, the Subaru Performance Transmission, as standard. It incorporates adaptive shift control for a much quicker shifting response.

The new WRX GT offers a first-ever for WRX, new electronically controlled dampers that can tailor the dynamic performance to the driver’s preferences with Comfort, Normal, and Sport settings. The Drive Mode Select also offers additional options to configure steering feel, damper settings, SI-Drive settings, and more, with up to 430 different customisation options.

Exclusive to GT, new Recaro seats offer the driver and front passenger increased support for performance driving. The seats are wrapped in black Ultrasuede with contrasting red stitching. The driver’s seat includes 8-way power adjustments.

For the first time, the WRX is built on the Subaru Global Platform, which offers increased safety, improved dynamics, and reductions in noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH).

The new WRX offers an available 11-Speaker Harman Kardon (HK) sound system and a HK 504-watt equivalent amplifier.

Pricing has not been revealed yet but it should be north of the 2021 WRX, which retails at up to US$34,000 (RM141,000) in the US.

It will arrive on US shores in early 2022.


Russia begins production of high-end sedan promoted by Putin

An employee works on an assembly line of the Aurus plant in the town of Yelabuga in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia today.— Reuters
MOSCOW: Russia today has begun production of the Aurus Senat luxury sedan car promoted by President Vladimir Putin.

Russia unveiled plans for the Aurus line of cars in 2013. Putin helped to promote its limousine model by driving it during his 2018 inauguration as president for a new six-year term.

Production of the sedan is unlikely to have a significant impact on Russia's car industry in the near future. Industry Minister Denis Manturov said 200-300 cars would be produced this year, the Vedomosti newspaper reported.

The car, seen as a prestige project for the Kremlin, with its most basic available features will cost 18 million roubles (RM1mil).
Russia has also been trying to reduce its dependence on imported goods and technology, a drive that gathered speed after Moscow was hit by Western sanctions in 2014.


Miami joins F1 calendar in 2022 in push for US fan share

The F1 circuit in Austin, Texas.
PARIS: The Miami Grand Prix will join the Formula One calendar from the 2022 season, organisers said on Sunday, in a 10-year deal that adds a second American race to the championship after the United States GP in Austin.

In a statement, F1 said that the race will take place at a new track round the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens north of the Florida city.

"We are thrilled to announce that Formula 1 will be racing in Miami beginning in 2022," said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.

"The US is a key growth market for us, and we are greatly encouraged by our growing reach in the US which will be further supported by this exciting second race."

He added it would be staged "in the second quarter of next year".

F1 said the track will be 5.41km long with high-speed straights which should allow top speeds of 320 km/h and "multiple overtaking opportunities".

The Hard Rock Stadium is the home of the team Miami Dolphins and also hosted the recent Miami Open tennis tournament.

Miami Dolphins chairman Tom Garfinkel, the managing partner of the Miami Grand Prix, said they had worked with specialist designers "to create a racetrack that we, Formula 1 and the FIA believe will provide great racing".

Controlled since 2017 by the American group Liberty Media, F1 was planning on having a Miami GP in 2019 but hit a roadblock with local authorities.

Initial plans to include a circuit that crossed a bridge over the city's bay were shelved after objections.

Garfinkel commented: "The first priority was to create a great race track, and with the Hard Rock site we have a blank sheet of paper to put together a race track that is demanding in a lot of ways and to put on great experiences that are uniquely reflective of the diversity of Miami.

"America is such a big place that it always felt like we needed at least two races there to integrate with the audience," the Mercedes driver said.

"The race can bring 4,000 jobs to communities in Miami. Montreal has always been my favourite to go to but Miami I think that's going to be the favourite spot to go to."

Miami joins Austin, which has hosted Formula One Grand Prix since 2012, with this year's race in Texas scheduled for Oct 24.

Miami's arrival will give F1 a potent boost in its bid to compete with the more popular Indycar and NASCAR circuits in the United States.

F1's director of media rights Ian Holmes in February lauded the sport's growth in popularity in the United States, in part on the back of the Netflix F1 documentary series "Drive To Survive".

Miami is the 11th venue in the US to host a leg of the F1 championship after Riverside, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix, Indianapolis and Austin.


McLaren 570S Spider Design Editions are unveiled

                LONDON: Five McLaren 570S Spider Design Editions are available to order now, with each Edition carefully curated by McLaren Automotive designers, ensuring that the colours, materials and finishes complement each other.

“There is a virtually limitless number of different personalisation opportunities for the McLaren 570S Spider and who better to begin the process than the people who designed it?” commented McLaren Automotive design director Rob Melville.

“We have selected key exterior and interior colours and finishes that we believe showcase the 570S Spider in the most desirable way.”

The five new Design Editions have been created specifically for the McLaren Sports Series convertible, following the success of a Design Edition range for the 570S Coupé.

As with the Coupé, the 570S Spider Design Editions offer a financial benefit over specifying the options separately.

Customers can select additional features beyond the Design Edition content – such as carbon-fibre interior upgrades or exterior components – to further personalise their new purchase.

Each of the five Editions is based around a special body paint – Silica White, Storm Grey, Vermillion Red, Onyx Black or Vega Blue – with each matched to an interior scheme from the By McLaren Designer range; four sporting and one with a more luxury accent.

Wheel finish, brake caliper colour and branding and finish of the 570S Spider’s electrically retractable two-piece hard-top are also all selected by McLaren designers.

McLaren 570S Spider Design Edition 4, as illustrated in the accompanying images, is an Onyx Black car.

The retractable hard-top is in body colour, the 10-spoke forged alloy wheels feature a Stealth finish and the brake calipers are in McLaren Orange with black printed McLaren logos.

The interior comprises Carbon Black Alcantara, McLaren Orange nappa leather, McLaren Orange perforated nappa leather seats with contrasting stitching, colour co-ordinated steering wheel and McLaren branded leather sill finishers.

The four other Design Editions are equally striking, living up to their designer-label credentials with an aesthetic appeal that is uniquely McLaren.

All display very different personalities, but all show the 570S Spider’s athletic, shrink-wrapped body and inviting open-top cabin in the most alluring way.

The cost of the Design Edition packages adds between 8,100 and 10,700 pounds (RM43,209 and RM57,079) to the recommended retail price of the McLaren 570S Spider, which starts at 164,750 pounds (RM878,867).

The Design Edition joins the recently-announced 570S Spider Track Pack, with its emphasis on lightweight options including carbon-fibre race seats, in the Sports Series line-up.

With its sculpted teardrop body and form-follows-function ethos, the mid-engined, two-seat 570S Spider is a convertible without compromise.


Ukraine workshop turns beat-up cars into battlefield assets

The repair work can make the difference between life and death for soldiers. - All photos by AFP
KYIV: An auto garage here is giving beat-up cars a second life as battle-ready vehicles for Ukraine's military, trying to plug a supply gap as the war with Russia grinds on.

The shop formerly specialised in collision repairs, but that changed after Russia invaded in February and volunteers reached out about preparing vehicles to send to the front.

Now its mechanics spend long days working on pickup trucks and buses requested by the military for tasks including transporting weaponry and surveillance drones.

"We are not a wealthy country, and the state cannot provide all our soldiers with armoured four-wheel-drive vehicles, so pickups are a compromise," said Anton Senenko, one of the volunteers coordinating the effort.

The repair work can make the difference between life and death for soldiers operating in eastern Ukraine, where fighting is currently concentrated, he said.

"Very often, there are breakdowns with cars in peacetime. But in wartime, such a breakdown can lead to a tragedy," he said.

"The car won't start, and that's it - the soldiers can no longer escape from the enemy tank."

The vehicles are donated or bought by fundraising Ukrainian volunteers, who often import them from neighbouring countries, including Poland, Latvia and Estonia.

Harsh terrain

On a recent afternoon, the garage's jumpsuit-clad mechanics were hard at work underneath two elevated vehicles, a Nissan pickup and a Toyota van, which needed engine work.

"We don't just change lubricants and filters, we fully prepare the entire machine for the harsh conditions in which it will work on the front line," Senenko said.

That often means replacing suspensions and braking systems and can also involve combat-specific modifications like adding a turret or a mount for a Starlink internet dish.

As the fighting evolves, the military's requests have changed.

While two-wheel drives were once useful in some hotspots, the rough eastern terrain where fighting is now concentrated requires four-wheel drives, preferably with off-road tyres.

Soldiers used to request that cars be painted green to blend in with the landscape, but now they prefer grey or black to match the bleak winter conditions.

The work has provided an informal military education to garage owner Ruslan Kulagin, who previously did not have to consider such factors.

"This is our contribution to the victory," the 46-year-old said proudly.

Cars in combat

So far, nearly 50 vehicles have been sent to the eastern front - pickups, jeeps and a few buses, Senenko said.

The feedback from soldiers has been positive, said Vlad Samoilenko, who works with Senenko to coordinate the project.

"When you see that cars last in the field for months, it really warms the soul. It also inspires us," Samoilenko said.

Senenko added: "We are very pleased when the fighters themselves write to us and say that the car has already travelled 15,000km without a single breakdown."

As he spoke, two uniformed soldiers arrived at the garage to pick up a blue 2002 Toyota Hiace van they intended to use to transport a surveillance drone.

Imported from Norway, the van had required brake and engine work and smaller tune-ups like an oil change.

After inspecting the van, the soldiers posed for a picture with Senenko and Samoilenko, then drove away.

Looking on, Senenko, mock-crying, said sending the van into battle was as emotional as "sending a child off to school".


Over 3,300 lives lost to road accidents nationwide from Jan-Sept 2021, says Dr Wee

                AYER HITAM: Some 3,302 lives were lost nationwide from January to September last year due to road accidents, says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

"As of September last year, 3,302 deaths due to road accidents were recorded compared to 4,634 deaths in 2020.

"The 29% drop in such cases takes into consideration the movement control order (MCO) that was in place since Jan 13," he said in a Facebook post today.

He said this after gracing a Road Safety campaign at Dewan Muafakat Ayer Hitam here.

The Ayer Hitam MP also noted that the Ayer Hitam - Jemaluang road (F50) recorded the third highest number of fatal road accidents between 2016 and 2018.

"This includes 34 lives that were lost in 2016 and 22 each for 2017 and 2018. Hence, the issue of road safety needs to be taken seriously as it involves people's life and public safety," said Dr Wee.

"The issue of road safety is close to my heart, especially as I am the Transport Minister," he added, saying that the government has provided various programs, initiatives and measures to solve and improve the issue.

Dr Wee also said that positive attitudes need to be instilled among road users to ensure that they are continuously careful on the road.

"All layers of society, both old and young, need to work together to contribute to the effort of reducing road accidents," he said.

He also noted that on Nov 11 last year, he and Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof had officiated the ground-breaking ceremony and handing over of the acceptance letter to contractors for improvement works of the Batu Pahat - Ayer Hitam - Kluang road.

The RM219mil project is expected to be completed by Oct 25, 2024.

Also present at the event were Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) director-general Datuk Dr Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim, Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim and Yong Peng district officer Mohd Haniff Ahmad.


Millennials more likely to undertake minor car repairs than baby boomer generation, says eBay study

                LONDON: More than a quarter of millennials would undertake their own vehicle repairs to save on costs rather than paying a professional garage, an eBay study has revealed. In contrast, just 18% of baby boomers are willing to get their hands dirty – they’re more likely to opt for help from their local workshop.

Contrary to popular opinion, Gen Z is seemingly willing to get its hands dirty, with more than 23% of 17-24 year old respondents inclined to undertake minor car repairs themselves.

As the UK’s largest automotive online marketplace, eBay is selling parts from its network of traders, garages and car businesses to fuel rising appetite for DIY car repairs, especially among the younger generation and motorists holding on to their used cars for longer.

Analysis carried out by eBay has revealed it would need a warehouse the size of 11 Wembley Stadium roofs to house all the car parts and accessories listed on its marketplace in 2022.

Windscreen wipers are one of the easiest items to fix, with more than half of customers prepared to fit them at home according to eBay research. Sales for 2022 reflected this, with the online retailer selling enough wipers to stretch from Oxford to Edinburgh last year, more than 485km, if laid end to end.

Broken or smashed door mirrors could cause an MoT test failure and were among the other easy-to-fit items popular with motorists last year. A fifth of motorists would be willing to carry out a mirror replacement, according to research by eBay, potentially saving themselves up to £54.85~ for an MoT retest on a failed part. In 2022, eBay sold enough wing mirrors to cover nearly 18 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

It wasn’t just exterior items that were popular on the site, enough car seats were sold to kit out Manchester Arena – the UK’s biggest indoor arena with a capacity of 21,000 – nearly 10 times over. Buyers also purchased enough floor mats to carpet the inside of London’s Millennium Dome four times over.

Battery-related issues are the biggest cause of call-outs for breakdown patrols in the UK. Last year, eBay sold enough car batteries to power the Eiffel Tower for over 20 years, with more than 201kWh of power.

Dr Tony Tong, Head of Automotive at eBay UK, said: “As the cost of living continues to rise, motorists are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their running costs across the board.

"This trend towards DIY repairs, spurred on by interest from younger generations, is something we expect to keep rising - converting more and more motorists into enthusiast home mechanics. Doing simple jobs yourself is an easy way to upskill and save, while eBay’s intuitive MyGarage function makes it really simple to find the right part for your car."

The research by eBay used actual 2022 sales data, basing calculations on parts for the UK’s best-selling car in 2022, the Nissan Qashqai.


Toyo Proxes CR1 tyres launched in Malaysia

                PETALING JAYA: Toyo Tyre Sales and Marketing Malaysia Sdn Bhd launched the Proxes CR1 passenger car and SUV tyres.

Proxes CR1 passenger car tyres are available in 36 sizes, ranging from 14 to 18 inch rim diameters, while the Proxes CR1 SUV tyres are available in 9 sizes, ranging from 17 to 19 inch rim diameters.

The recommended retail prices for Proxes CR1 passenger car tyres range from RM160 to RM440, while Proxes CR1 SUV tyres range from RM380 to RM580, depending on tyre size.

It is available at Toyo Centres and Silverstone Centres throughout Malaysia.

Proxes CR1 models have noise reducing materials to lower road noise and enhances driving. It offers superior performance in both wet and dry road conditions.

The Proxes CR1 has lower rolling resistance for better fuel consumption and is designed to provide a smoother and relaxing drive utilising Toyo’s proprietary advanced technologies - T-Mode and Nano Balance.

Tan Song Chye, President/Managing Director of Toyo Tyre Sales and Marketing Malaysia Sdn Bhd, said: “The Proxes CR1 passenger car and SUV tyres are ideal for both continental and Japanese vehicles, especially between A-segment to D-segment vehicles and SUVs. The result of this well-designed tyre using advanced Japanese technology is sure to satisfy even the most discerning drivers who appreciate a superior performance tyre that consistently performs well under high speeds in both wet and dry road conditions."

Tan added that in conjunction with the launch of the Proxes CR1, consumers who purchase a set of four Proxes CR1 tyres will receive a free limited edition Proxes CR1 umbrella, while stocks last.

Toyo Tyre Sales and Marketing Malaysia Sdn Bhd is a subsidiary of Toyo Tire Corporation, Japan.


Volkswagen's other speciality – curry sausages

                WOLFSBURG: Known worldwide for its popular Beetle camper van and, of late, its engine-rigging scandal, German automaker Volkswagen also has another slightly lesser-known speciality  – the curry sausage.

An icon of popular food culture in Germany, the pork sausage smothered in spiced ketchup and topped with curry powder has been a workman's favourite for decades, sold at greasy spoons and railway stations – and at VW's headquarters in Wolfsburg.

In the vast auto plant's kitchens, Francesco Lo Presti is cutting up pieces of pork, to be minced and stuffed into sausage casings, which are then smoked and grilled. A short distance from the car assembly lines, the master butcher in his white chef's hat has worked here for more than 15 years making Volkswagen's very own "Currywurst", based on a recipe dating back to 1973.

Under the supervision of Lo Presti, some 30 kitchen staff participate each day in the industrial-scale production of 30,000 curry sausages, which is also a favourite snack at the local football stadium of VfL Wolfsburg.

Given its employees' enthusiasm for the beloved banger, VW offers it in canteens in most of its plants worldwide, including in the United States, India and China, where it is produced under licence by a supplier.

In Germany, VW's curry sausage is often offered by company car salesmen as a treat for prospective clients, and also features on the menu at corporate marketing events.

The celebrated sausage has even made it onto the shelves of some Edeka chain supermarkets, along with a VW-branded spicy tomato sauce.

For Lo Presti, the Currywurst is a labour of love, as much as the latest car model is to the plant's designers, engineers and mechanics.

"The well-selected meat, a blend of spices that is of course secret, these are the essential ingredients," he says. "You just add ketchup... It's unbeatable."

He cannot imagine Volkswagen without the sausage, which is even listed as an official VW component with the product code 199 398 500 A.

"Without their curry sausage at 900 am, the employees would go on strike immediately," he says, only half joking.

This delectable delicacy "is an integral part of the corporate culture of Volkswagen," says Tina Berthold, curator of an exhibition dedicated to the cult sausage at the Volkswagen Museum in Wolfsburg, which is running to the end of May.

Martin Cordes, director of VW's gastronomic division, says the company's Currywurst has half the fat of most rival products and is made from the finest cuts of meat, making it "very healthy and easy on the stomach".

Since the mad cow disease crisis of the late 1990s, it no longer contains beef but only pork – a change that some fans initially found hard to swallow, says the master butcher.

The manufacturer used to slaughter its own animals on company farms but now uses pork from regional suppliers. VW also launched a vegetarian version in 2010 and a vegan Currywurst in 2015.

"Whoever tastes our Currywurst falls in love with it," insists Lo Presti.

And the numbers seem to back him up in 2015, Volkswagen sold about 7.2 million curry sausages, twice the number sold in 2008.


Clarkson's 'The Grand Tour' gets off to flying start on Amazon

                SEATTLE: The former presenters of hit British motoring show "Top Gear" Friday received glowing reviews as their new show "The Grand Tour" debuted on Amazon Prime, signalling the video streaming service's global arrival.

Lead presenter Jeremy Clarkson was dropped from the BBC show in 2015 for punching a producer, but has reunited with co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond for the high-budget "Grand Tour", with early reviews praising the lavish production.

"It is, undeniably, a brilliant beautiful spectacle," wrote the Guardian, while popular tabloid The Sun said it was "dripping with extravagance".

The series, which premiered in Britain, the United States, Germany and Japan on Thursday, opened with a thinly-veiled dig at the BBC.

It showed a morose Clarkson handing his pass in at a drab office in rainy London, before catching a plane to sunny California and picking up a Ford Mustang to lead a fleet of muscle cars, classic cars, motorbikes and jet planes into the desert.

The spectacular introduction was alone reported to have cost £2.5 million (RM13.6mil), while Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos described the whole production as "very, very, very expensive".

The show's ambition is in stark contrast to the BBC's relaunch of "Top Gear", whose poor reviews led to the departure of host Chris Evans after the first series, with co-host Matt LeBlanc to take over.

"The new series will certainly go some way towards obliterating memories of TG's terrible Chris Evans-fronted relaunch," said the Daily Telegraph.

"The BBC may wonder how Matt LeBlanc and whoever joins him next year can possibly compete."

Clarkson appeared not to have toned down his trademark politically incorrect humour, which landed him in frequent trouble with the BBC, joking that the new show's travelling format meant "we're going to be like Gypsies, only the cars we drive are going to be insured".

He later added that he could be even more outrageous "because we're on the Internet, which means I could pleasure a horse".

The show was filmed in various locations, including Nashville, Loch Ness, Johannesburg, Lapland and Dubai, and unveiled its new testing track - called the Eboladrome due to its resemblance to the Ebola virus - and test driver, dubbed "The American".

"As Clarkson, Hammond and May settled into their studio tent, things started to feel awful familiar," said the Daily Telegraph. "We could have been back in the Top Gear cowshed in Surrey."

"You can pour something into a different container, but it still tastes the same," added the Guardian. "And, like it or not, this tastes of Clarkson, Hammond and May. Fans of old Top Gear are going to be happy."

An estimated 350 million viewers around the world tuned in to "Top Gear" each week to watch the three men review cars and try them out in madcap stunts, making it the world's most popular factual television programme.

Amazon is the world's largest online retailer and Prime, an internet streaming service similar to Netflix, offers subscribers access to thousands of films and television shows, including original content.

Its video service is currently available in Austria, Britain, Germany, Japan and the United States, but is soon to expand to some 200 countries and territories, according to the Wall Street Journal.


Allianz General offers free roadside assistance for motorcycles 250cc and below

                KUALA LUMPUR: Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad is offering its motorcycle comprehensive (below 250cc) policyholders free roadside assistance.

The roadsides assistance service, provided by its Allianz Road Rangers, includes emergency towing assistance (free for up to 50km, round-trip), fuel delivery, battery, and flat tyre service.

So, any Allianz Motorcycle Plus (Comprehensive) or Allianz Motorcycle (Comprehensive) (below 250cc) customer can call the Allianz Road Rangers 24-hour helpline at 1800-22-5542, to have a technician or tow truck dispatched to their location for assistance, repair work, or to deliver towing services.

Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad (Allianz General) chief executive officer Sean Wang said motorcycles were a vastly underserved market in Malaysia.

Allianz Motorcycle Plus now offers improved protection with an Accident Cover of RM10,000 (for death or permanent disablement) and Hospital Income of up to RM6,000 (RM100, for up to 60 Days) for Comprehensive and Third Party policies at no extra charge.

Allianz Motorcycle Plus (Comprehensive) also includes coverage for losses or damages to your motorcycle due to accident, fire, and theft as well as third party death and bodily injuries; and third party property losses or damages, as well as the All Special Perils Full Sum-Insured Protection (covering flood, landslides or
any natural disasters).

Whereas Allianz Motorcycle Plus (Third Party Only) offers third party death and bodily injuries; and third party property losses or damages.

Allianz Motorcycle Plus may be bought via Allianz General intermediaries, over the counter at POS Malaysia branches nationwide, or visit allianz.com.my/motorcycle-plus.


China could field nearly half of new electric car models by 2020, says study

                DETROIT: Chinese automakers are on track to produce 49 of the 103 new electric car models that will be launched globally by 2020, as part of China’s push to accelerate the switch to battery power from oil, according to a new forecast released on Wednesday.

US consulting firm AlixPartners also said China is aiming to have nearly two-thirds of the world’s manufacturing capacity for lithium-ion batteries by 2021, and is investing to support current sales of domestic-brand electric vehicles in the world’s largest car market.

Already, Chinese automakers account for 96 percent of the electric vehicles sold in the country, AlixPartners said. Automakers sold about 350,000 electric vehicles in China in 2016 - still less than 2 percent of total vehicle sales.

By 2025, electric vehicle batteries should be close to even with internal combustion engines in terms of production costs, AlixPartners forecast. Lower battery costs could help boost consumer acceptance.

John Hoffecker, the firm’s global vice chairman, told reporters at the Automotive Press Association in Detroit on Tuesday that other factors, such as a significant reduction of the time it takes to recharge electric car batteries, will be critical to efforts to win over reluctant consumers.

AlixPartners also cautioned that many of the roughly 50 companies it counts as contestants in the race to develop self-driving cars won’t go the distance. ”It’s impossible to believe there will be 50 successful autonomous vehicle companies,” Hoffecker said.

In the United States, AlixPartners said automakers will have to contend with funding investments in new technology against deep-pocketed technology industry players such as Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc, even as sales of cars and light trucks slide into a cyclical trough.

AlixPartners is forecasting that US car and light truck sales will fall to 15.2 million vehicles in 2019, down 13 percent from the 2016 peak. Other US analysts also predict a slowdown in vehicle sales during the next two to three years.


EU-funded hybrid car prototype explodes in Italy, killing two people

The scene of the tragedy in Naples last week. Shown in inset is the car after the fire was put out. — Photos from Italy's Today Cronaca

ROME: Two people have died after a hybrid car prototype that was being developed and tested with European Union funds blew up last week in the southern Italian city of Naples.

The Life-Save project aimed to turn cars with conventional combustion engines into hybrid vehicles, running at least partly on solar energy.

One vehicle equipped with the experimental technology caught fire last Friday, seriously injuring the two people who were on board.

Maria Vittoria Prati, a researcher at Italy's National Council of Research (CNR), died of complications from third-degree burns on Monday.

The other occupant, research apprentice Fulvio Filace, died overnight, a spokesman for the Cardarelli hospital in Naples said today.

Both Prati and Filace were hospitalised "in very serious conditions" but "there was more hope of saving" Filace "given his younger age," the spokesman, Pietro Rinaldi, said.

"But it was not enough," he added.

Naples prosecutors are trying to find out what caused the explosion, but their investigation is for the moment not targeting any specific suspect, the ANSA news agency said.

Expressing "great shock and sorrow" for the deaths, the CNR said today it had started an internal audit and was cooperating with the investigations.

Earlier this week, the CNR paid tribute to Prati as "a brilliant researcher" and "an authority in the field of the study of emissions and the use of alternative fuels."

eProInn, a spin-off of the University of Salerno in southern Italy that had a lead role in the Life-Save project, was working on retro-fitting conventional cars with solar-hybrid powertrains.

Its patented idea was to equip regular production cars with additional electric motors, charged by a battery and solar panels fitted on the roof and the bonnet.

The project was financed by the European Commission's LIFE Programme, according to Life-Save's Facebook page. In the wake of Friday's accident, its website was deactivated.


UMW Toyota Motor creates short film for Malaysia Day

                SHAH ALAM: In celebration of the upcoming Malaysia Day, UMW Toyota Motor created a short film about what it means to be a true Malaysian.

The film speaks of the values of respect, tolerance and acceptance on a personal and intimate level and features Malaysian celebrities Shukri Yahaya and Shafiq Kyle.

Viewers can watch the trailer of the upcoming movie here:
www.facebook.com/ToyotaMalaysia/videos/322727065630578/

The short film invites viewers on a short journey into the lives of two close friends and live through their thoughts and emotions when the relationship is threatened as one crosses the line.

Touted as compelling and intense, the film ultimately invites viewers to reflect and realize that differences do not necessarily divide but can forge even stronger bonds - if we have compassion, respect, tolerance and acceptance of one another.


Ye olde electric revolution: A ride in the 'Tesla' of the 1920s

Electric range might seem like a problem of the 2020s, but it was also an issue for battery-powered cars in the 1920s. — dpa
HANOVER: Push the lever in one direction, hit the accelerator — the car moves forward. Pull the lever in the other direction — it reverses.

What may seem technically simple today was an ingenious solution some 100 years ago when the Hawa EM3 city delivery van, a small electric car with a range of 70km to 100km, was first produced in 1922.

It’s amazing to think that such a distance could be covered with old-fashioned and heavy lead batteries. And yet, it was actually not uncommon. And even back then, range was the magic word. Ultimately it was what caused the early electric cars to fail, and it’s something that still causes concern today when it comes to electric vehicles.

For the Hawa, the limited range was always enough. Only two examples of the electric relic still exist; the model was only built between 1921 and 1923.

One is now in the Historical Museum in the German city of Hanover, the other belongs to the electricity provider BS Energy in the city of Braunschweig — and is being refurbished by a group of old car enthusiasts, Hanomag IG, based in the town of Bockenem-Story.

Before that it served for years as a theatre prop. But even when it was first produced, some cars could go well over 100km, and during test drives even more.

 The Hawa EM3 electric van was built with old-school lead batteries. — dpa

Just imagine it: Countless cars on the road, but instead of roaring engines when they accelerate you hear hardly a thing, smelly exhaust fumes as electric engines zip around with fumes.

But this is not a vision of the future. This is how it was over 100 years ago. At least until the combustion engine prevailed.

In Bockenem-Story, at any rate, the little e-Hawa is a something of a rarity. The club there specialises in vehicles and machines that were produced by the Hanomag firm — from cars to wheel loaders. The club has been based in the same warehouse for 20 years, and it’s something of a historic space, it was built with 38,000 bricks that were moved from the former Hanomag factory here.

Club chairman Horst-Dieter Goerg bought his first Hawa from a collector in Australia. Today, the two-seater convertible is on display in the club's museum.

The small van from BS Energy, on the other hand, a 40-volt car with 1.6 horsepower and a chain drive, is still being repaired by members of the club. The space under the still missing front bonnet is narrow. Underneath there are 20 battery cells for driving and a 6-volt battery to power the lights.

The car has no gearbox, but three gears, explains Goerg. The engine accelerates via a drum switch to half, then three quarters and finally full power. It can only reach a speed of 30kph. The casing for the switch has had to be replaced, the 60-year-old economist explains.

The charging time with a modern charger is only two hours, says electrician Reinhard Koch. And it will soon be ready for its first outing – and unlike a combustion engine, the noise it makes won’t be a loud grumbling, but rather a gentle humming.

A hundred years ago, the automotive world was very different to today. In fact electric vehicles were considered superior, Stefan Bratzel, Professor at the Centre of Automotive Management in Bergisch Gladbach, explains.

It was only the possibility of driving longer distances that tipped the scales in favour of the combustion engine. They were also more convenient since they didn't require the annoying cranking. Then as now, the decisive factors were range, charging infrastructure and price.

 Koch looking at the interior of the EM3 of 1922. — dpa

For Alexander Kloss of the PS Speicher car museum in Einbeck, Lower Saxony, the heyday of early electric cars was from around 1915 to 1920, for example, when the Detroit Electric brand was available in the United States.

A PS Speicher team drove one of those cars from Einbeck to Hildesheim and back last year, a distance of about 100 kilometres. "Today, the E-Up can just about do that. Not so much has changed in terms of range," says Kloss.

But the first German electric car is even older — the so-called Flocken car from 1888. The problems back then were similar to those of today – the lack of charging facilities outside the cities.

That's why Goerg doesn’t see electric mobility as "a silver bullet." "It will fade away again," the 60-year-old believes. Instead, he is banking on fuel cells and hydrogen. Or perhaps there will be completely new inventions, he suggests.

As early as 1906 a steam car broke the 200kph mark, he says. "We have no idea what will win out in the end."


Tan Chong Motor cautiously optimistic of robust demand in Asean region

                KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd is cautiously optimistic of growth prospects in the Asean region on the back of robust demand for new vehicles and the global economic recovery powered by vaccination programmes.

In the company’s latest annual report released last Friday, president Datuk Tan Heng Chew said regional expansions had helped the group mitigate its reliance on a single market as business recovery rates varied from market to market, as shown during this pandemic.

"The group remains committed to further strengthening its regional footholds in Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand,” he said, adding that the financial position and fundamentals of the group remained strong.

Tan said the total industry volume (TIV) of the country’s automotive sector was expected to rebound in 2021, supported by the various economic stimulus packages from the government.

Earlier this year, the Malaysia Automotive Association announced that the TIV was anticipated to come in at 8% higher year-on-year at 570,000 units from 529,434 units in 2020.

This is taking into account the sales tax exemption for passenger vehicles, which has now been extended to June 30, 2021, and the low hire purchase loan interest rates which will assist to spur automobile sales.

"The management will also keep a close tab on the developments to review and adjust our plans accordingly.

"The pandemic has also catalysed the group towards accelerating digital technology adoption and changed the way of doing things - focusing more on online platforms and virtual processes,” he said.

Tan noted that the roll-out of online applications such as Drive On allowed the group to have better connectivity with customers and real-time and worry-free solutions for vehicle maintenance.

According to him, the group continues to adapt to new norms and aims to improve on its digital technology application and capability to drive business operations effectively despite disruptions caused by the pandemic.


Covid-19: VW suspends US production

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen (VW) has announced its Chattanooga plant in the US will suspend production for one week.

The German carmaker added that it plans to resume production on March 29 at 10.00pm as they take action to ensure the health and safety of their employees by conducting additional sanitation and cleaning procedures throughout the factory.

Meanwhile, they will utilise this time to assess future production plans and market developments.

Their employees will be provided with full pay during the shutdown period at the factory with those able to telework, such as office staff, will do so.

They have requested that all employees conduct self-quarantine and maintain social distancing as directed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The company will continue to monitor the situation and will ensure that it will take any and all additional steps as they become necessary as well as communicating updates once available.

In recent weeks we have taken the following precautionary steps which include implementing heightened sanitization and cleaning procedures throughout the factory as well as on their transportation shuttles.

They have also installed sanitation areas in high-traffic zones of the plant and provided all production, maintenance and production support staff with paid time off.

On March 16, the company indicated that it will plan and assess childcare needs in response to school closures before postponing all events at the Volkswagen Academy and Conference Center.

Also included was the implementation of social distancing procedures in business-critical training and postponing all non-critical training and classroom activities.

Its onsite fitness centre was closed with volunteer exercise classes postponed, kept doors opened to reduce contact, limited visitors and conducted safety screening questionnaires.

Business-related travels - both domestic and international, were prohibited and the company began sharing healthy best practices from the CDC via internal communication channels as well as provide daily updates to all employees regarding the company's activities.


2024 Toyota Tacoma in detail

The Tacoma Trailhunter.
KONA: Redesigned from the ground up and built upon the TNGA-F global truck platform shared with Tundra and Sequoia, the all-new Tacoma was designed and engineered for the US market.

For its fourth generation, Tacoma uses a new high-strength boxed, steel-ladder frame; adds numerous features that off-road enthusiasts can play with; features an available fully redesigned multi-link coil rear suspension that improves ride and handling; and offers two powerful and efficient turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains including a top-of-the-line i-FORCE MAX hybrid producing 326hp and a massive 630Nm of torque.

Tacoma also introduced the world to Toyota’s all-new Trailhunter grade, first revealed at the 2022 SEMA show as a Trailhunter concept, that’s a purpose-built overlanding rig available right off the dealer lot.

The all-new 2024 Tacoma will go on sale later this year with i-FORCE MAX models arriving in early 2024. Manufacturer’s suggested retail pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale dates.

Design and development

Toyota’s North American-based CALTY Design Center located in Newport Beach, California and Ann Arbor, Michigan led the design efforts for the new Tacoma, as they did with the Tundra and Sequoia that launched last year.

“Our primary design goal for the all-new Tacoma was to be authentic to the way our customers use their trucks for rugged outdoor fun,” said Kevin Hunter, president, CALTY Design Research.

“We looked at our truck DNA and the Toyota Baja race trucks for inspiration to capture the extreme spirit of offroad adventure. High lift, big tires, slim body, and a powerful athletic stance define the iconic Tacoma look, referred to as ‘Tacoma-ness’.”

The CALTY team of designers focused on the theme of a “Badass Adventure Machine” when defining the essence of the new Tacoma.

This refers to Tacoma’s engineered toughness along with its athletic attitude.

The design team strives for Toyota trucks to have a family resemblance, each with unique personalities defined by each one’s purpose.

For Tacoma, its narrow body and wide upper grille are a nod to the original HiLux, with features like the aggressive skid plates expressing the extreme ruggedness of Tacoma.

Other signature design elements include the high-mount headlamps, side functional air intakes, hexagonal grille motif, as well as integrated roof and tailgate spoilers.

Engineering research and development was conducted at Toyota Technical Centers in Michigan, Arizona, and California.

The collective engineering teams embraced the “Tacoma-ness” concept and worked to develop the next-generation Tacoma as an extremely capable multipurpose vehicle that can go almost anywhere.

Improvements were made across all grades. The team enhanced Tacoma’s off-road capability, from severe rock crawling to high-speed desert racing.

As a result, Tacomas will perform in widely varied environments, on road and off. This includes everything from a luxurious night out in the Limited grade or traversing Black Bear Pass in the Tacoma TRD Off-Road that is more capable than ever.

Suspensions tuned for each grade

Tacoma now features suspensions tuned specifically to each grade. For instance, TRD Sport has red TRD sport-tuned shocks for a more responsive feel.

The TRD Off-Road grade is equipped with monotube Bilstein remote reservoir shocks for extended wheel travel and greater heat dissipation and includes an end stop control valve (ESCV) that provides increased damping force as the suspension comes closer to full bound stroke.

TRD Pro comes fitted with FOX’s new QS3 three-way adjustable internal bypass shocks with remote reservoirs for improved high speed off-road performance and FOX Internal Floating Piston (IFP) rear bump stops to improve bottom out feel.

Trailhunter includes new Old Man Emu (OME) 4×4 Suspension by ARB that is tuned for optimum levels of off-road control and load carrying capability.

Limited grade features a new Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system that constantly adjusts damping forces based on changing road conditions. The linear-solenoid-type AVS system features built-in actuators in the front and rear shock absorbers to continuously change damping force based on road conditions to give the new Tacoma a smooth and luxurious ride.

Maximum towing capacity for Tacoma is rated at 2,948kg on SR5 i-FORCE and TRD PreRunner XtraCab grades, and maximum payload increases to 775kg on TRD Off-Road.

Tacoma will offer two powertrains using a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.

For entry-level SR grades, this engine produces 228hp and 329Nm of torque.

For all other grades, output increases to 278hp and 429Nm of torque when paired with the new eight-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i).

A six-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT2) with automatic rev matching and anti-stall technology is available. Manual transmission models produce 270hp and 420Nm of torque.

Tacoma’s i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain

New to the mid-size, body-on-frame pickup segment is Tacoma’s i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain, the most powerful powertrain ever offered on Tacoma.

Available on TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and standard on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter halo models, i-FORCE MAX pairs the 2.4-litre engine with a 48-hp electric motor integrated into the eight-speed transmission feeding off a 1.87-kWh NiMH battery pack that creates a total system output of 326hp and a whopping 630Nm of torque, nearly doubling the torque output of the current-gen truck with the V-6 engine.

When equipped with i-FORCE MAX, Tacoma can ascend an 8-percent interstate grade without the need to downshift, making long road trips more pleasant than ever in a Tacoma. Fuel economy estimates for all powertrains will be announced closer to their on-sale dates.

Tacomas with rear-wheel drive feature an automatic limited-slip differential (Auto LSD), and four-wheel-drive models have an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case with high/low range along with Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) and an automatic limited-slip differential (Auto LSD).

An electronic locking rear differential is standard on TRD PreRunner, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter grades. The new and luxurious Limited grade now features a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a center locking differential on i-FORCE MAX models.

Ultimate adventure machine

Tacoma’s legendary off-road capability is taken to the next level for its new generation, making it the ultimate adventure machine. An all-new available front stabilizer bar disconnect increases flex at the push of a button.

With the front stabilizer bar disconnected, Tacoma’s articulation increases by 10 percent compared to the previous-gen truck. The electronic stabilizer bar disconnect will even be compatible with Toyota-approved lift kits.

Tacoma has up to 33.8-degree approach, 23.5-degree breakover, and 25.7-degree departure angles on TRD Pro without the tow package. Running ground clearance maxes out at 11 inches on TRD Pro.

And with tons of available cameras installed on the new Tacoma, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter drivers can view potential obstacles that are looming on the trail via the Multi-Terrain Monitor that can display crisply on the available 14-inch touchscreen.

For the sketchiest of situations, Tacoma offers standard front and optional rear recovery hooks and underbody protection.

Multi-Terrain Select, which is now functional in both 4WD-High and 4WD-Low, offers adjustable settings to help control wheel spin on a variety of terrain such as Mud, Dirt, and Sand.

Tacoma also adopts the new, significantly quieter CRAWL Control function that acts as a low-speed, off-road cruise control that allows the driver to focus on steering while the system maintains one of five selectable speeds.

When traction is extremely limited, the available electronically activated locking rear differential can help split power 50/50 to the rear wheels. Downhill Assist Control is another off-road feature available and helps the driver navigate descents by limiting the speed of the vehicle.

Manual-equipped Tacomas get a standard clutch start cancel that allows the truck to start in gear, which means the driver doesn’t have to press the clutch when facing challenging off-road driving scenes when starting.

All-new Trailhunter

Tacoma introduces the all-new Trailhunter grade to the lineup of rugged Toyota Trucks.

Toyota has long been a top choice for overlanders due to its legendary quality, durability, and reliability, and now enthusiasts can get a factory-developed overlander straight from Toyota.

To help bring Trailhunter to life, Toyota worked with renowned Australian-based ARB to co-develop Old Man Emu (OME) position sensitive 2.5-inch forged monotube shocks with rear external piggyback style remote reservoirs, a steel rear bumper, robust rear recovery points, and a bed utility bar with removeable MOLLE panels.

ARB engineering even worked on-site at Toyota alongside the project development team to co-develop Trailhunter.

With either 5- or 6-foot bed Double Cab configurations available, serious overlanders can take their Trailhunters to the next level with available light- or heavy-duty versions of a full ARB bed rack to support additional gear like rooftop tents, canopies, or a camp shower.

The OME shocks along with the 33-inch Goodyear Territory R/T tires boost up Trailhunter an additional two inches in the front and one and a half inches in the rear.

A high-clearance trail exhaust tip is also standard along with a low-profile high-mount Trailhunter Air Intake that is routed up the passenger-side A pillar to source cleaner air to the i-FORCE MAX.

Trailhunter protection includes rock rails and a multitude of hot-stamped high strength steel skid plates for serious off-the-grid-adventure capabilities straight from the factory.

Trailhunter is also equipped with a bronze-colored “TOYOTA” heritage-inspired grille with an integrated 20-inch LED light bar that’s complemented by white/yellow color switching RIGID LED fog lamps.

Lighting in the Trailhunter’s bed is triangulated to help avoid dark spots, and integrated bed side scene lights help illuminate the area surrounding the bed for setting up camp at night.

A powerful 2400W AC inverter provides juice to two locations in the cabin and the rear deck where both 12V and USBs can also be found to power other devices such as an ARB Fridge Freezer.

Trailhunter also comes pre-wired for accessories with three auxiliary toggle switches on the dashboard.

In addition to Toyota Genuine parts and accessories, additional accessories are available through the recently announced Associated Accessory Products program (AAP) for customers to customise their Tacoma Trailhunter exactly the way they want straight from Toyota’s participating dealerships.

The AAP ecosystem will continue to evolve over time and currently includes over 100 accessories such as off-road recovery gear, rack attachment brackets for storage gear, outdoor sporting equipment carriers, and more.

These products can also be conveniently rolled into customer’s monthly payments, and they aren’t exclusive to Trailhunter, either, making accessorizing Tacoma through Toyota easier than ever.

Go fast with TRD Pro

While Trailhunter is specifically developed for off-the-grid overlanding adventures, Tacoma TRD Pro elevates its proven go-fast, desert running attributes for its newest generation.

Red aluminum front TRD upper control arms optimize front geometry and reduce unsprung weight, while Fox internal bypass 2.5-inch manual modal Quick Switch 3 (QS3) shocks can be adjusted to three different settings via dials on the shock bodies to tune compression damping.

Built around the new multilink rear suspension, FOX Internal Floating Piston (IFP) bump stops can help knock the edge off some of the gnarliest terrain.

For a more menacing stance than ever before, TRD Pro sits two inches higher in the front and an inch and a half in the rear and is three inches wider than a Tacoma SR5. Black flow-formed TRD wheels are wrapped in 33-inch Goodyear Territory R/T tyres.

TRD Pro’s standard i-FORCE MAX engine breathes more efficiently courtesy of a TRD performance air intake and TRD cat-back dual tipped exhaust.

A new integrated LED light bar works in conjunction with the LED headlights to optimize beam pattern aiming for balanced light output with significant range, and a set of RIGID white LED fog lamps increase visibility during inclement weather.

TRD Pro also gets a high-clearance ARB rear metal bumper with red recovery hooks and an aluminum TRD front skid plate.

Debuting exclusively on the new TRD Pro is a segment-first IsoDynamic Performance Seat that helps provide a smooth, confidence-inspiring ride for those in the driver and front passenger seats.

The goal of this patent-pending feature is to stabilise the driver’s field of vision to improve focus, comfort, and reduce fatigue while on rugged trails.

The IsoDynamic Performance Seat uses an air-over-oil shock absorber system allowing for vertical and lateral seat movement simultaneously to dampen body movement and stabilize the head and neck to keep alignment with the spine.

This dampening effect is tunable based on body mass and occupant preference and can be bypassed, if desired, via levers on the seatbacks.

Latest tech inside

The all-new Tacoma is filled with the latest technology and information screens that bring significant updates to the cabin.

A new 8-inch or available 14-inch multimedia touchscreen displays Toyota’s latest Audio Multimedia system that debuted on the 2022 Tundra pickup and is designed and engineered by Toyota’s Texas-based Connected Technologies team.

The system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and pairs well with the available Qi wireless charging pad with enhanced power output.

A USB-C data and charging port is integrated on the right side of the display, and dual USB-C charging ports are included in the front row and available for the rear passengers. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with four different styles is standard on higher grades while a 7-inch gauge cluster is standard on lower grades.

Standard on all grades is a Smart Key System with push-button start. With an active Remote Connect trial or subscription, an available Digital Key connects with compatible smartphones to allow vehicle entry, tailgate access, and vehicle starting (4G network dependent).

The Digital Key can also be remotely shared with others to give more control over vehicle access rather than giving someone the physical key. Additionally, a Smart Card key is available, which is a credit card-sized smart key that allows the driver to carry their key easily and conveniently with them wherever they go.

Tacoma makes the most of its cabin for this newest generation.

Petrol models have three times more storage space under the rear seat compared to the current-gen truck, and the rear seatback can also fold down flat for additional loading surface.

A shelf is integrated into the instrument panel for the passenger to put a phone or other small items, and MOLLE panels on the center console and door panels allow for even more versatile storage.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0

All 2024 Tacoma models come standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, Toyota’s suite of active safety and convenience systems. New-to-Tacoma TSS enhancements are made possible by system sensors with improved detection capability. This suite of features includes:

> Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
> Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
> Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
> Lane Tracing Assist
> Road Sign Assist
> Automatic High Beams
> Proactive Driving Assist

Proactive Driving Assist is new to Toyota Safety Sense.

When system operating conditions are met, using the vehicle’s camera and radar, this system is designed to provide gentle braking into curves or gentle braking and/or steering to help support driving tasks such as distance control between a preceding vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist.

Proactive Driving Assist is not a substitute for the Pre-Collision System and operates in different circumstances.

Tacoma will be offered in numerous grades and configurations for its new generation.

Two cab styles are available with either a 5- or 6-foot bed: a four-door Double Cab and a new two-door XtraCab with clever storage features behind the front two seats.

Tacoma will offer a wide colour palette that includes Supersonic Red, Blue Crush Metallic, Underground, Wind Chill Pearl, Solar Octane, Celestial Silver Metallic, Black, Ice Cap, and Bronze Oxide.

A new TRD Pro-exclusive colour for the 2024 model year will be announced this summer.


Toyoda gets rare third term as head of Japan's auto lobby

                TOKYO: The Japanese automotive lobby said today it has chosen Toyota president Akio Toyoda to serve a rare third term as its chairman to lead the industry through a time of seismic change and zero-emission challenges.

Toyoda, a member of Toyota Motor Corp's founding family, has served as the head of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association since 2018. Most past chairpersons have served a single two-year term.

"I accepted the role after receiving views that (the industry) needs continuity ... to overcome this difficult stage," Toyoda told an online news conference.

With governments around the world tightening emissions regulations to rein in global warming, the auto industry is under pressure to transition to zero emissions but there is disagreement over how to get there.

At the UN climate conference in Glasgow last week, six major carmakers including General Motors, Ford Motor, Volvo and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz signed a declaration to phase out fossil-fuel cars by 2040.

Toyota declined to join that group, arguing that much of the world is not ready for a shift to EVs. Another notable absence was Germany's Volkswagen.

While some brands have announced plans to go all-electric in the coming years, Toyota has pushed for a mix of technologies including hydrogen and plug-in hybrids as the most practical approach.


Up close with Audi in Ingolstadt

                Located in the Free State of Bavaria, Germany and roughly 80km from Munich, Ingolstadt is a charming city that looks as though it popped out of a fairy tale.

The roads are beautifully paved with stone, the structures are very traditional and numerous church bells can be heard in the vicinity.

The city has a rich heritage, with most buildings having a story of their own.

You drive through stone arches that have been around for centuries and past sights that seem like they’re from another era.

The cars that we came across also caught our attention.

To say that there are many Audis rolling the streets of Old Town is a definite understatement – four out of every five to six cars is an Audi.

Our first stop was Audi Forum Ingolstadt, located at the heart of Audi’s headquarters (which was so huge that we were mind blown when it appeared on our GPS map, filling up a large portion of the screen).

The unapologetically high tech centre houses the main offices, Audi museum mobile and ‘Market and Customer’ building.

We were given a tour of the museum mobile (with a hilarious and friendly tour guide) and it certainly felt like travelling through time.

Housed within the circular glass walls were Audi’s heritage and classics from every era of their history, which included cars and bikes from Horch, DKW and Auto Union, in addition to later classics from Audi.

Most were in immaculate condition, with the exception of some, which were kept in their original condition for special reasons.

A notable one was the 1953 Horch 830 BL, aka “The Last Horch”.

With its rusty bodywork, split-open seat upholstery and missing headlamps, it stood out like a sore thumb in the shiny gallery.

Story goes that it was a one-off director’s car, which was later brought to the US in 1956 by a soldier.

It was later saved from the crushers by Al Wilson, a car enthusiast from Texas.

After 40 years spent parked in a Texan desert, Wilson’s sons contacted the experts at Audi Tradition and thus the long lost car was rediscovered.

To further indulge in the “Audi experience” and standards the company stands for, we were invited to their Avus restaurant (which has a clay model of its Audi Avus namesake at its entrance) for a fine dining experience with Audi Malaysia managing director, Immo Buschmann and Director Region Overseas, Martin Birkner, who both provided some insight into the company’s vision and plans.

We learned that ultimately the people at Audi truly eat, sleep and breathe Audi, and are very passionate about what they do.

Buschmann said that Audi is seeing great potential in Malaysia and hopes to create more brand awareness in our region.

When commenting on Audi’s edgier new design language, he hinted “it is just a taste of what’s to come, stay tuned”.

Located within the same area, the “Market and Customer” building was certainly an interesting place.

Here is where owners of new Audi cars come to pick up their rides.

They are able to look around the car, try it out and have any shortcomings sorted out.

Buschmann explained that picking up an Audi is such a big deal to Germans, that even customers from the other end of the country would make the trip just to drive their beloved new car home.

We then visited Audi Tradition, where Audi stores significant and rare models, many of which that aren’t fit for public viewing – the Holy Grail of Audi’s collection if you will.

It was clear that the guys who work here know the history of Audi by heart.
From saloons to race-worn track cars, seeing so many beauties in such pristine condition in the multi-storey complex was certainly a sight to behold.

Racing blood truly runs through the veins of this company, so the lovely folks at Audi decided to let us experience it first-hand – via the Audi R8 V10.

Clad in gorgeous Sepang Blue, the row of R8s awaiting our arrival saw many jaw-drops.

Despite being a first-generation, the supercar was certainly still a thing of beauty.
Upon pushing the start button and revving up the V10 engine, it was noticeable that the sound was a little softer than expected.

Neuberg’s proximity to a nearby town required them to have noise-reducing mufflers installed.

It was nevertheless still music to the ears, so despite having a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, I switched off the radio.

Harald Büttner, our fun-loving driving instructor, taught us a number of useful defensive driving manoeuvres, which were really white knuckling intense, given the car we were in.

Our cars were intentionally driven out of control, and we had to learn to counter the effects.

Surprisingly, it did not take long to get a hold of the car’s mighty handling, with the R8’s excellent weight distribution and stupendous brakes.

Büttner later led us to the circuit, where we did progressively faster laps with position changes after each round.

Despite a number of driver swaps, I was fortunate to get the beast to myself for most of the run.

The full-time quattro all-wheel drive system made its presence felt, ensuring surreal grip around each bend.

The bellowing from the V10 block (which sits directly behind you) during gear-changes, combined with the screaming rubber of the tyres was indescribable (and grin-inducing).

Although a powerful beast, the R8 was surprisingly easy to handle and was certainly a showcase of Audi’s technical prowess.

After our exciting run, Büttner asked if any of us were interested in a taxi ride.
Then he grinned, “A really FAST taxi ride”. I was not one to back down on such an opportunity, so I accepted.

What he did was to drive like Michael Schumacher around the same circuit, with me strapped on the passenger seat.

Needless to say it was a hair-raising adrenalin rush, with high-speed cornering and hard braking at hairpin turns – honestly it felt more like riding a rollercoaster on tarmac.

The final stop of our journey required us to drive to Munich via the autobahn.

Our three Ingolstadt-registered Audis – an A6 2.0, A6 Avant 2.0 and a Q5 2.0 diesel – were a joy to drive.

While the A6s were excellent (honestly, not many cars can cruise that smoothly at 160-170kph), it was the Q5 that really caught my fancy.

Driving on the autobahn makes you realise one thing – most Germans have excellent discipline on the road, something I believe many Malaysians can learn from.

Despite their significantly higher speed limits, never did we ever feel unsafe. Drivers stuck to their lanes, and signal before overtaking.

The most fun was when the speed limit signs go off –technically meaning no speed limit.

Audi’s Active Lane Assist certainly did an amazing job in helping inform us if the coast was clear to switch lanes, and our Audis handled like a dream at speeds of excess 200kph.

Another feature I particularly loved was the on-board navigation system, which can be configured to display even on the dashboard, allowing the driver to focus more on the road.

On some models like the A6, it covers almost the entire dash unit!
The dynamic turn signals on our cars were also a refreshing sight and very cool to see in action.

Upon reaching Munich a surprise was revealed to us – as Audi has a partnership with popular team Bayern Munich, we were given an opportunity to experience them play live against Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Allianz Arena.

As the roads to the match were expected to be packed, we were chauffeured in the flagship Audi A8.

My unit was chauffeured by Franz Bartosch, who has 33 years of experience driving for Audi.

His car is entrusted to him alone, and he is the guy they’d call when they need to ferry the board of directors.

Being in the A8 made me feel like a president, surrounded by numerous top-notch material and amazing gizmos.

One feature in particular that got us all staring up front is the night vision assistant, which uses thermal imaging that enables the driver to practically see in the dark – a true marvel of engineering.

Seeing Audi’s seriousness in giving their all in everything they do – from making cars to racing and even football, it is very clear that this is a forward-facing company powered by passionate folks, and I believe that is precisely what they wish to bring over here to Malaysia.


Geely departs from convention with plan for new EV unit, say sources

                SHANGHAI: China’s Geely plans to set up a firm to explore new approaches to product planning, marketing and sales of electric vehicles (EV), sources said, departing from industry convention whereby EVs are marketed and sold alongside traditional cars.

The plan would be Geely’s latest push to operate differently after announcing a flurry of tie-ups last month aimed at turning the automaker into a leading EV contract manufacturer and engineering service provider, in its fight against the incursion of EV leader Tesla Inc.

The owner of Volvo Cars and 9.7% of Daimler AG will establish Lingling Technologies this year to manage models based on its open-source EV chassis base, announced in September and dubbed Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), three people said.

The unit will also take over marketing and sales of SEA-based EVs under Geely’s Lynk & Co brand - starting with the Zero model - as well as those under its mass-market Geometry marque, they said, declining to be identified as the plan was private.

Geely declined to comment.

Geely’s main listed firm, Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd, sold 1.32 million cars last year. However, it saw sales of electric vehicles, petrol-battery hybrid vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles decline as drivers turned to conventional petrol-powered cars as well as rival EVs with longer driving ranges.

Management realised the need to develop, market and sell EVs in a different way to conventional cars and so decided to set up a separate company, the people said.

The new entity has yet to be registered and its formal name yet to be decided, the people said.

It will conduct research and implement updates for SEA-related technology independent of conventional vehicle divisions, and will source market data differently to develop EV models accordingly, they said.

It will have an independent sales team and will open showrooms in city centres, some with dealers and some self-managed where it will directly control pricing and inventory, two of the people said.


Petronas and RessQ60min provide engine oil change for healthcare frontliners

                KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas Lubricants Marketing (Malaysia) has teamed up with RessQ60min Powered by MyAssist to extend support to healthcare frontliners, by setting up mobile car service workshops at selected hospitals from April 20 - 28 to provide them with convenient auto car services, including free Petronas Syntium mobile engine oil change.

This initiative is one of Petronas' efforts to ease the burden of our healthcare frontliners.

To enjoy the service, frontliners can either walk-in at the mobile service workshop at the selected hospitals or book for an appointment at selected Petronas AutoExpert outlets.

For more info, visit www.mymesra.com.my/4frontliners.

 From left: Suman Mathevan - CEO of RessQ60min, Rajiv Nair M - co-founder Ressq60min and Zulhelmi Othman - MyAssist head.


May 4-10: RON97 petrol price dips 1 sen


Renault ahead of schedule on EV partnerships, says CEO

                PARIS: Renault will control 80% of its electric vehicle value chain well ahead of its 2030 target as it develops partnerships in batteries, electric motors and power electronics, its chief executive said today.

Luca de Meo said the research and development costs were too high to go it alone and drew parallels with Apple's business model, which he described as relying on a variety of partnerships when it first ventured into smartphones.

"Our old recipes are not enough anymore. The huge investments they (the shifts to electrification) require are not sustainable," de Meo told the Auto Motor and Sport congress in Stuttgart, Germany.

"We want to co-invest, co-develop and co-create."

Renault is pushing ahead with plans to split its electric vehicle (EV) and combustion engine businesses as it seeks to catch up with rivals such as Tesla and Volkswagen in the race to cleaner driving.

It expects to unveil a detailed blueprint for the new EV entity at a capital markets day this autumn.

Three years ago, Renault controlled just 10% of the EV value chain. That figure now stood at 30% and would hit 80% well before the end of the decade, de Meo said.

Renault was forging partnerships "all along the EV value chain", he continued.

Alliance partners Nissan and Mitsubishi have not yet said whether they will take part in Renault's future EV unit.

Nissan chief executive Makoto Uchida told the Nikkei newspaper this week that discussions continued on the Japanese group's participation, whether through an investment or another form.


BMW to launch M versions of X5 and X6 in May with more than 600hp

                MUNICH: BMW is powering up its middle class of SUV with up to 625hp in new M versions of its X5 and X6 off-roaders.

On sale from May in its home market in Europe at prices starting at €128,100 (RM600,000), the high-performance X5 M and X6 M seem to be all about what's under the bonnet.

The 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine in its basic configuration almost doubles the range's horsepower figures to at least 600hp, and even manages 625hp in the so-called Competition models.

The beefed-up crossovers can manage a sprint from 0 to 100kph in 3.8 seconds before hitting a top speed of 250kph, which you can have increased to 290kph on request.

However the powerful performance comes at a price to efficiency. BMW puts standard fuel consumption in even the most frugal version at 12.5 litres (284 g/km CO2), at best average for an SUV and almost twice the figures of the most efficient crossovers.

BMW says it has also modified the four-wheel drive, putting more power in the rear. Drivers can meanwhile expect a modified design on the inside with extended equipment and sports seats.

BMW is pricing the X5 M as a Competition version for €141,400 (RM663,000), while the X6 M is only available in the more powerful version from €144,200 (RM676,000).


Carlos Ghosn pledges lengthy fight to clear his name

Ghosn speaking to a Reuters reporter in Beirut on Monday. With him is his wife, Carole.
BEIRUT: Fugitive former car executive Carlos Ghosn said on Monday he was prepared for a lengthy process to clear his name with French authorities, and vowed to challenge an Interpol warrant that is barring him from travel outside of Lebanon.

The architect of the Renault-Nissan auto alliance has been fighting multiple probes since fleeing to Lebanon from Japan in late 2019, and has said he hopes to clear his name in financial misconduct cases against him.

Ghosn was chairman of both Nissan and Mitsubishi and chief executive of Renault when he was arrested in Japan in 2018 on charges of under-reporting his salary and using company funds for personal use. He has denied wrongdoing.

The Lebanese-French executive said he had answered hundreds of questions from French investigators earlier this month in hearings centred around allegations of financial misconduct in France.

Ghosn said he had submitted voluntarily to questioning at Beirut's Palace of Justice as a witness.

"I will be awaiting their (French investigators') conclusion, which may be coming in the next months," Ghosn told Reuters in an interview to discuss a recently published book he co-authored with his wife Carole, 'Ensemble toujours'.

"But the process of defending myself in front of the French (authorities) will no doubt be very long and I will have to be patient."

Ghosn said the only questions he did not answer were those relating to the Japanese prosecution, on advice from his lawyers.

On Monday he said he was seeking to cancel an Interpol red notice - issued for fugitives wanted for prosecution - imposed on him following a request from Tokyo, which was received by Lebanon in Jan. 2020.

The notice means Ghosn risks arrest if he travels outside Lebanon, which has no extradition agreement with Japan.

Lebanese authorities have interrogated him over the notice and have asked for a transfer of his file from Tokyo but had not received anything yet, he said.

"Obviously in these cases you are fighting against governments. They have means that you don't have. It requires a lot of money, and a lot of lawyers, it requires a lot of patience," he said.

The red notice means Ghosn is staying in Beirut for the time being, where he says he is enjoying his slower-paced life after his jet-setting executive years.

"At least I can live my life with my wife. We can have breakfast together in the morning. We are not rushed to an airplane. I don't have jetlag and I sleep much better," he said.

"Fundamentally what happened to me brought me to really see what is essential in life."

Fighting mode

Ghosn said he would only go back to Japan to clear his name if the legal system, where the conviction rate is 99%, was changed.

"Clearly you have a completely different system when you are talking about Japanese responsibility and foreign responsibility, and this has to stop," he said.

Ghosn's detention and escape to Lebanon threw Japan's legal system into the international spotlight.

In November a U.N. panel of experts said Ghosn had been treated unfairly by the system, but the Japanese justice minister criticised the panel, saying its conclusions were based on factual errors.

At the time of Ghosn's escape he was awaiting trial on charges that he understated his compensation in Nissan's financial statements by 9.3 billion yen (RM350mil) over a decade, and enriched himself at his employer's expense through payments to car dealerships.

On Monday a US Army Special Forces veteran and his son pleaded guilty in Tokyo to charges they helped him flee, hidden in a box aboard a private jet. The pair, who are being held at the same jail in Tokyo where Ghosn was detained in 2018, could face up to three years in prison.

Ghosn said their guilty plea would translate into a fast-tracked trial in contrast to that of Greg Kelly, the former Nissan executive charged with aiding him to hide his earnings.

Kelly is on trial in Tokyo, where he has denied the charges against him.

"If you plead innocent you will have a very long ordeal, so there is something totally wrong," Ghosn said.

Ghosn suffered a setback in one of his legal cases last month, when a Dutch court ordered him to repay €5 million (RM25mil) in wages to Nissan and Mitsubishi in a case he had brought.

He said the verdict would be appealed.

"We are in a fighting mode, and very disappointed by the result."


Jaguar design director Julian Thomson to leave company

                LONDON: Jaguar design director Julian Thomson will leave the company at the end of the month after less than two years in the role.

According to Autocar, Thomson's reasons for departure were not known but Jaguar had issued a statement that he would be exploring opportunities outside Jaguar Land Rover.

Thomson joined Jaguar in 2000, following 12 years at Lotus where he penned the original Elise.

He had also worked in Ford and Volkswagen.

 F-Type

Thomson also had a two-year stint as advanced design director at Land Rover where he was involved in the LRX concept which later went into production as the Evoque.

In addition, Thomson was part of the team that created the final designs for Jaguar models including the XE, XF and F-Type.

He was appointed design director in 2019 when previous head Ian Callum departed to pursue other avenues.

 XF

Thomson is said to be a disciple of Callum, where both men had worked together in Ford before getting together again in Jaguar.

Callum tweeted: "So sad and disappointed to see Julian Thomson leave Jaguar Design. Especially at a time when Jaguar needs directors of such a high calibre, leadership skills and talent. I wish Julian the very best for whatever he does next. He will be sorely missed."


PSA picks Peugeot for US return amid record profit

                PARIS: PSA Group’s Peugeot line-up will lead a return to the United States after an absence of almost three decades, as the French carmaker seeks to expand beyond Europe.

Paris-based PSA will also launch the Citroen brand in India and revive Opel sales in Russia as it pursues a 50 percent group sales increase outside its home region by 2021.

Europe now accounts for 80 percent of PSA’s global vehicle sales after its purchase of General Motors’ Opel-Vauxhall division in 2017.

The carmaker raised its medium-term profitability outlook on Tuesday after posting record sales and earnings for 2018. But the guidance and revenue disappointed some investors, sending its shares lower.

Under chief executive Carlos Tavares, PSA has begun a long-promised return to North America — after an absence of almost three decades — by deploying its car-sharing operations in Seattle and Washington D.C.

The renewed US sales push will be supplied by PSA plants in Europe and China, leaving it vulnerable to any new tariffs on imported vehicles, Tavares said. Washington is in talks with Beijing and Brussels on new trade deals and has threatened to slap duties on European cars.

“I’m going to wait for the current negotiations to give us more visibility on the tariffs,” Tavares said.

Rather than rebuilding a traditional dealer network from scratch, the group has identified a “creative and disruptive way to distribute our cars”, Tavares added, without elaborating.

Opel’s return to Russia may include some manufacturing at the PSA Kaluga plant, southwest of Moscow, the group said.

Strong sales of the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUV models and the acquisition of Opel-Vauxhall have helped to build on Paris-based PSA’s steady recovery from near-bankruptcy in 2013-14.

Sales rose 19 percent in 2018 from a year earlier to a record 74.03 billion euros but fell short of the 74.76 billion euros predicted by an Infront Data analyst poll.

The miss knocked the carmaker’s shares 3.1 percent lower by 1538 GMT, paring their 22 percent gain so far this year.

But recurring operating income beat expectations, jumping 43 percent to 5.69 billion euros for a 7.7 percent profit margin.

PSA’s record earnings and confident tone contrasted with domestic rival Renault, which reported lower 2018 sales and profit earlier this month.

After turning the French brands around, Tavares is applying the same discipline to Opel, which recorded a 4.7 percent margin on sales of 18.31 billion euros, its first full-year profit since 1999, and contributed positive cashflow of 1.35 billion euros towards the group’s 3.5 billion euros.

PSA said its 4.5 percent “all-weather” margin goal for 2019-2021 period would now include the less profitable Opel unit, effectively raising the benchmark.

Chief Financial Officer Philippe de Rovira said the conservative target covered the possible scenario in which Britain leaves the EU in a no-deal “hard Brexit”, as well as other potential market setbacks.


Car dealers are desperate: Is this a good time to buy a car online?

                LOS ANGELES: New-car showrooms are closed. Inventory is beyond bloated. Car dealers are bleeding cash and ready to negotiate.

In other words, if you're blessed with good health and you have a reasonable chance of keeping your job, now's a good time to buy a car.

You'll have to shop from home - or wherever you're sheltering in place. You'll need to be adept at online shopping and ready to negotiate price by email or phone. But negotiating power in favor of the buyer has rarely been so lopsided.

"Dealers are desperate to generate revenue," said Sheldon Sandler, who runs a car-dealer consulting service in Princeton, N.J. "You can expect extremely good deals from anyone who can deliver you a car."

How desperate? "This is a cash-flow business. Make no mistake, the economic impact (on dealers) is severe," said Brian Maas, president of the California New Car Dealers Association. "If you rely on selling 10 cars a day, and you're selling one or zero, that's US$350,000 dollars a day."

There are about 16,700 car dealers in the US. All are hurting.

AutoNation, the country's largest chain of car dealerships, recently laid off 7,000 workers and said it would delay 50 million dollars in capital spending. Penske Corp., which runs another large dealer chain, said it would furlough an unidentified number of workers and delay 150 million dollars of capital investment.

"This is shades of 2008-2009," Peter Welch, president of the National Automobile Dealers Association, told Automotive News. "Only it seems this will have a much greater impact."

Chad Kelman, general manager at Community Chevrolet in Burbank, California, summarized the situation succinctly in a phone interview: "Business is s--- right now, and the deals are smokin' good."

How good? Dealers in the US are advertising prices about 3 to 5 per cent below sticker price, based on an unscientific review of Southern California dealer websites. Manufacturers are offering rich incentives - 0 per cent financing, 84-month (seven-year) loans, and 90 days before the first payment is due - on a wide variety of vehicles.

US passenger vehicle sales had already begun to fall after a historical annual high of 17.46 million vehicles in 2016. Auto debt was also flashing a red flag: Last year, economists warned that 7 million car customers were 90 days or more behind on their auto loans. Automakers were trying to avoid widespread profit-killing incentives. Then the pandemic hit.

The biggest price breaks will go to those willing to negotiate and walk away if the dealer won't go along. Even in tough times, sales representatives will naturally try to squeeze out the highest price possible while upselling options and extras.

Although no one is willing to go on the record saying so, dealers and other industry experts told The Times that when pressed, sales reps at many dealers will sell at a loss, just to keep some cash coming in.

One reason cash flow is being squeezed: Even though motor vehicle service and repair shops are allowed to stay open under the strictest stay-at-home orders, few owners are willing to bring their cars in to get repaired - either because they fear exposure to the coronavirus or because they're just not driving the vehicles anyway. That means "you can negotiate even on the service side, if you need something serious for your car," Sandler said.

Even with online transactions, delivering the car and finalizing the paperwork involves human interaction and therefore a risk of exposure, however small. Although many car dealers and most banks can accommodate electronic signatures, or can deal with paperwork transactions via FedEx, the state of California remains an analog holdout.

"The Department of Motor Vehicles still requires a wet signature," Kelman said.

To deliver a car, Community Chevy disinfects it first then drives it to the buyer's home or place of business. The driver wears a mask and gloves; the transaction might be completed on the hood of the new car or truck.

The driver will bring a mask and gloves for the customer to use "when available," Kelman said. "But they're not always available."

The smoothness of online car buying will vary, depending on the dealer.

"For the majority of dealers, online sales were only a small percentage of total sales" before coronavirus hit, said Joern Buss, an auto industry consultant with the firm Oliver Wyman. Most "are not set up to handle" a surge in online demand.

The range in online expertise can be seen on the websites of two California dealers, Toyota of Oxnard and Toyota of Orange, which are owned by two different dealer groups.

It was difficult to figure out whether a car could be bought online at Toyota of Oxnard. The Times tried the chat function twice to see if Internet sales were supported, and both times that chat service rep - who appeared to be a human - said they didn't know. General Manager John Hautman has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Meantime, Toyota of Orange includes a dropdown option on its homepage marked "Express Store" that seamlessly takes a buyer through the entire purchase process - although at the end, the customer is told a sales rep would help complete the paperwork (with the possibility, of course, of some upselling).

"We've been experimenting with this for some time," said Allen Moznett, general manager at Toyota of Orange. But the pandemic has shoved his dealership up the learning curve. "We're trying to master online sales now."

Moznett said that post-crisis "the information gathering process will probably all be done online" before and after a visit to the showroom. But he thinks that in time most buyers will gravitate back to showrooms.

"They want to come in, look at the cars, smell the new-car smell," he said. "The colour of a car on a computer and the colours on the car are different."

How long the pandemic lasts and how long showrooms remain shut is unknown.

Sandler said dealership failures are inevitable, but "every time we've gone through a crisis, you lose undercapitalized dealers. Eventually sales will climb back to normal, but with fewer, larger dealers." — LAT/dpa


Audiobooks take to the roads

                SAN FRANCISCO: Not so many years ago, cassette tapes and CDs were the only way for bookworms to enjoy their favorite reads in audio format while at the wheel.

But, for some time now, our smartphones have taken over that role.

Audible is taking the next step by joining forces with Waze, allowing its subscribers to enjoy the platform's audio catalog directly via the popular community-driven map and GPS app.

This integration lets drivers and passengers listen to works by their favourite authors without having to switch from one application to another, and while continuing to receive driving instructions from Waze.

"Our users have already driven over 100 billion kilometres while listening to content from streaming services on our Audio Player, and we can't wait to bring this experience to even more users thanks to our collaboration with Audible," explains Adam Fried, head of global partnerships at Waze.

But is it really sensible to listen to a literary masterpiece while driving?

Opinion is divided in the scientific community. While the dangerous effects of distraction at the wheel are all too well-known, researchers from the University of Guelph found that audiobooks could help drivers stay focused during long and boring journeys.

They were also found to reduce braking time and speeding, two characteristics often found in drivers experiencing "mental underload."

The benefits of audiobooks while driving could explain why so many Americans choose this kind of content for their journeys.

According to the Audio Publishers Association (APA), 74% of American audiobook users reported listening in their car in 2019. The audiobook market continues to gain ground, despite the novel coronavirus pandemic.

In fact, a majority of the American population (55%) listened to one of these "talking books" in 2020.