BMW reveals new X1 details

MUNICH: The second generation BMW X1 now stands taller, all the better to improve interior spaciousness.

Rugged proportions, a powerful presence and dynamic lines lend the new X1 a commanding appearance and highlight its status as the youngest member of the X model family.  And its significantly raised seating position (+36mm at the front, +64mm at the rear) optimises the driver’s view out over the road.

The interior now offers significantly more space for passengers and luggage.

Knee room in the rear has increased by 37mm in standard specification and by up to 66mm with the optionally adjustable rear seat, while the 505-litre boot capacity is 85 litres larger than that of its predecessor.

Folding down the standard-fitted 40:20:40 rear seat backrest, which can also be specified in angle-adjustable form as an option, allows load capacity to be expanded to as much as 1,550 litres. The optional folding front passenger seat backrest and a rear seat bench which can slide 13cm fore and aft offer additional variability.

Standard equipment includes air conditioning, an audio system with USB and AUX-in sockets, and the iDrive operating system, whose 6.5-inch display is integrated into the instrument panel in freestanding monitor form.

The Advantage, Sport Line, xLine and M Sport packages available as an alternative to standard specification open the door for targeted individualisation.

Four-cylinder engines from the BMW Group’s latest generation of power units, an efficiency-optimised version of the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system and newly developed chassis technology all help to enhance sporting ability and ride comfort compared to the outgoing model – with fuel consumption and emissions reduced by up to 17 per cent, model-on-model.

Two petrol and three diesel units will be available from launch in October 2015, all of which have four cylinders and are members of the company's new engine family. Outputs range from 150hp to 231hp. The engines link up with either a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed Steptronic unit, both of which are new developments.

The xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system also takes its place in the new BMW X1 in a further developed form. The weight-saving, compact and efficient system uses an electro-hydraulically controlled multi-plate clutch to distribute drive between the front and rear axle just as required for the situation at hand.

Joining the fray in the  X1 sDrive20i and X1 sDrive18d, meanwhile, is a front-wheel-drive construction and has already proved its mettle in the 2 Series Active Tourer and 2 Series Gran Tourer.

Among the items on the options list are full-LED headlights, Dynamic Damper Control, the Head-Up Display and Driving Assistant Plus system, the last two options making their debuts in the X1.

More than 730,000 units of the X1 have been sold since its introduction in 2009.

Pricing of the latest X1 will be announced closer to launch.


Indian bike promo and riding experience at Naza Automall

Indian Scout Bobber.
PETALING JAYA: Naza Group subsidiary, Harmony Fabulous Sdn Bhd (HRSB) which is the sole distributor of the Indian motorcycle brand for both the Malaysian and Singaporean markets, will be holding a riding experience and promotion at its 3S centre here this Saturday and Sunday.

There will be privilege deals besides ‘Zero GST’ for any purchase up to Aug 31.

Indian is a 117-year old American premium motorcycle brand whose highlights are motorcycles with classic styling and large V-twin engines.

Available at the HFSB showroom are:

 Indian Scout.

1. Indian Scout, 1133cc

2. Indian Scout Bobber, 1133cc (new model introduced by Polaris Industries in September 2017)

3. Indian Chief Dark Horse, 1811cc

4. Indian Springfield, 1811cc

5. Indian Chieftain Limited, 1811cc

The local Indian Motorcycle’s 3S centre is located in Naza Automall along Jalan 51A/221, Petaling Jaya.

For details, contact Harmony Fabulous sales manager Mazhar Rafie at hp: 016-229 3123.


EVs dominate raft of new car models for 2021

FRANKFURT: The car industry was initially slow to embrace the electric revolution, and for many years makers were accused of dragging their heels.

But that was yesterday. Now the race to produce electric cars is in full swing.

Many of the best new models lined up for 2021 have electric drive, and competition has also spawned new manufacturers.

New in town is Chinese maker Lynx & Co, which has teamed up with Swedish maker Volvo to offer what is billed as the ultimate electric SUV. Nio and Byton are limbering up to export their cars, while the Koreans are fettling their stand-alone badge Ioniq as an electric-only brand.

Even born-again nameplate MG is grabbing a slice of the electric action with its first-ever electric, the ZS.

All these makers will do battle in the hotly contested SUV sector.

Lynx & Co has lined up its pure electric 01, which uses a modular vehicle platform from Chinese giant Geely. Nio's ES6 and Byton's M-Byte are similar high-riding electrics that are designed to be equally at home on the highway or in the rough stuff. The Ioniq 5 is in the same mould.

Established carmakers have not been dozing either. German car companies in particular are coming on strong. Audi has announced the e-tron Q4, BMW will unveil the iX3 and Mercedes-Benz is fielding the EQA.

Not to be outdone, Volkswagen presents its ID4 and its offbeat sibling, the ID5. German customers will soon be able to buy the Tesla Model Y, which will eventually come off assembly lines at a giant new high-tech factory on the outskirts of the German capital, Berlin.

Toyota's Lexus brand is rolling out the UX300e, which is the first all-electric from the Japanese automotive empire. Meanwhile VW's Czech offshoot Skoda has the Enyaq, Spanish subsidiary Seat the Cupra el-Born and Ford is presenting its first-ever "proper" electric car, Mustang Mach-E. The heavy five-door SUV shares its name with the sporty Mustangs of yore in name only. Experts say it is a real departure for the blue oval, and a very capable one.

Opel is aiming to have its cake and eat it too by offering electric and combustion engined variants of the little Mokka. The move is being aped by Citroen, which offers the C4 crossover as an electro-sipper and a petrol-fuelled car.

Nissan caters for less adventurous buyers with a conventional petrol variant of the Qashqai, but the new hybrid model can drive on electric power too.

The boldly styled Ariya keeps the looks of a concept unveiled at last year's Tokyo motor show. It showcases Nissan's new brand identity, with what are being hailed as "seamless, elegant and fresh" visuals.

More of a throwback to the old world of pistons and engine oil are a few SUV debuts like the revamped Hyundai Tucson, the compact Kia Sorento and a crossover based on the Toyota Yaris. Just like the next-generation Honda HR-V, based on the Jazz and Renault's first SUV coupe, the Arkana, these are only available in petrol-hybrid guise.

The fourth-generation Toyota Higlander goes on sale next year, with a 241-horsepower petrol-electric combination and four-wheel-drive.

Toyota claims CO2 emissions of 146g/km and says the car can tow two-tonnes. Only the GV70 will be combustion-only.

Drivers who want space and flexibility but do not fancy an SUV are catered for by a growing number of family-friendly electric shuttles.

Renault's Kangoo and its Mercedes-Benz Citan lookalike are getting fresh diesel and petrol engines, but they will come as electrics too, the maker has promised. The same applies to the T-Class.

A raft of traditionally shaped cars are getting electric urge as well, among them the Opel Astra, Peugeot 308 and Citroen C5 - all of which are closely related to each other and use the same platform. Petrol versions will be available.

BMW hopes its electric i4 will woo customers away from the Tesla 3 while Toyota is staying loyal to hydrogen fuel-cell technology with a face-lifted Mirai. Many pundits believe hydrogen-driven cars will eventually oust electrics since they have a more usable range.

The three-pointed star is also poised to launch its most ambitious electric model to date, the all-electric flagship EQS based on the German maker's scalable electric vehicle architecture (EVA).

Mercedes-Benz has seen many limousine buyers opt for SUVs instead, so it will be hoping the upcoming new fifth-generation edition of the compact executive C Class can reverse the trend. The rival to BMW's 3 series gets mainly four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, with a choice of EQ Boost mild-hybrid and EQ Power plug-in hybrid functions.

Electric sports cars will not convince true petrol-heads to go green, and fortunately for them, the hotly anticipated new BMW M3/M4 performance saloons get lusty combustion engines mated to either manual or automatic gearboxes. The new Chevrolet Corvette comes to Europe too, with the burbling V8 motor that traditionalists expect.

Toyota weighs in with the new GT86, Mercedes-Benz finally gets around to re-jigging the sporty SL but some performance models like the Nissan Z and the Subaru BRZ will not be offered in Europe - it seems they are just not green enough.

In the town car sector, electrification takes a back seat. Even with tax breaks or state subsidies, these electric runabouts are just too expensive to buy.

Meanwhile, new bread-and-butter offerings like the Dacia Sandero and its more rugged sibling the Stepway feature combustion engines only. Skoda's face-lifted Fabia can also be bought as a mild hybrid, but an all-electric version is not on the cards. The diesel option has been dropped.

The times they are changing though, since Fiat is ushering in electric power for its lifestyle 500 runabout. Renault is meanwhile bringing its electric compact model, the City K-ZE, over from China and hopes to sell it for around €10,000 (RM49,189). It may well be the first truly affordable electric that so many people have been waiting for.


Tesla courts hackers to defend high-tech cars

                LAS VEGAS: Hackers swarmed a Tesla sedan in a "hacking village" at the infamous Def Con conference on Saturday as the high-tech electric car maker recruited talent to protect against cyber attacks.

It was the second year in a row the California-based company was at the world’s largest gathering of hackers in Las Vegas, and came on the heels of a massive recall of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles vehicles to patch a flaw that could let them be remotely commandeered.

“Hackers are a crowd that is really important to us,” Tesla’s Khobi Brooklyn told AFP while Def Con attendees took turns inside a black Model S sedan parked inside a casino convention area.

“It is a community that we want to be part of, and collaborate with, as well as recruit from.”

Tesla recruiters were on hand, along with members of the California-based company’s security team.

Tesla cars are highly computerised. New features as well as software updates are pushed out to vehicles over wireless Internet connections.

“They are not messing with our software,” Brooklyn said with only a hint of hesitation.

She knew of no cyber attacks aimed at Tesla cars, at Def Con or anywhere else.

Tesla has worked with Lookout Mobile Security to find and patch software vulnerabilities in sedans, according to Brooklyn.

Lookout co-founder and chief technology officer Kevin Mahaffey and Marc Rogers of CloudFlare online security firm took part in a Def Con presentation on Tesla software defence flaws that were discovered and then shared with the company.

They referred to Tesla sedans as data centres on wheels, and urged great care when trying to hack vehicles that could be racing along at 160km or so.

“As cars become more connected, we need to think about them a lot more like smartphones where you are constantly testing and improving products to make they as secure as you can,” Brooklyn said.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles issued a safety recall for 1.4 million US cars and trucks last month after hackers demonstrated that they could remotely control their systems while they are in operation.

The recall came after cybersecurity experts Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek remotely commandeered a Jeep Cherokee, made by Chrysler, to demonstrate the vulnerability of the vehicles’ electronic systems.

Miller and Valasek presented details of the hack at a Def Con session on Saturday.

The recall involves a broad range of Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Chrysler cars and trucks produced between 2013 and 2015 that have radios vulnerable to hacking.


Nissan and Mitsubishi produced 50K new-gen mini BEV in a year

                TOKYO: Nissan Motor Co Ltd, Mitsubishi Motors Corp and NMKV Co Ltd have announced that cumulative production of the Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi Motors eK X EV electric mini vehicles has reached 50,000 units since production started a year ago.

Both vehicles are produced at Mitsubishi Motors' Mizushima plant in Okayama prefecture, Japan.

The Sakura and eK X EV are a new generation of mini vehicles that are planned, developed, and managed by NMKV, a joint venture between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors.

Both models have won numerous awards, such as the 2022-2023 Japan Car of the Year award, RJC Car of the Year award, and Japan Automotive Hall of Fame (JAHFA) Car of the Year award.

As fully electric mini vehicles, the two models have also been highly acclaimed for their ideal form of mobility for Japan in the decarbonization era.

A statement from the companies said the two companies achieved high-quality and cost-competitive production by combining Nissan's cutting-edge EV production technologies with the EV-mini vehicle production technologies that Mitsubishi Motors developed through production of the i-MiEV, the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle, and the Minicab MiEV.


All NSE toll plazas to go cashless from April 26

Noor Azmi (second from left) and other officials topping up the Touch ‘n Go card at a mobile sales van at Gunung Semanggol R&R area.
BUKIT GANTANG: All 94 PLUS-operated toll plazas along the North-South Expressway will go cashless starting April 26.

PLUS managing director Datuk Azman Ismail said payment would be made using PLUSMiles card, Touch ‘n Go and SmartTAG.

“We will start the implementation at noon on April 26.

“They include toll plazas on the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) and the North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE),” he said during a roadshow at the Gunung Semanggol rest and service area on Friday.

“It is to lessen traffic congestion, cut down on transaction time and in line with the Government’s call to move towards a cashless society,” he added.

He said as of Jan 31, at least 88% of the transactions on the highway were cashless.

“We hope to achieve 100%,” he added.

Azman said they would be running a roadshow starting this month to create awareness.

“The roadshow starts today. The next one will be in Seremban on March 3. We will also be installing more signboards and create more cashless lanes,” he said.

He also said they would have at least one top-up lane to reload the Touch ‘n Go and PLUSMiles cards at each plaza that would run 24 hours daily following the implementation.

“We will have at least three people to man the booth daily.

“This is to ensure there’ll be no disruption to our services,” he said, adding that the Touch ‘n Go and PLUSMiles cards were sold at PLUS Customer Service centres.

To a question on whether jobs would be slashed, Azman said most of the workers manning toll booths would be retrained and redeployed to other departments.

“We still need people at the top-up lane,” he said, adding there were about 1,000 employees manning the toll booths.

Malaysia Highway Authority chairman Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said a study conducted showed that it takes an average 15 seconds to pay cash at the toll booth.

“It takes an average nine seconds with the Touch ‘n Go and three seconds with SmartTAG.

“The SmartTAG and Touch ‘n Go lanes can cater up to 1,000 and 600 toll transactions per hour respectively, compared to 180 transactions via the cash payment lane,” he said.


Malaysia signs deal with Maldives to recognise each other's driving licences

                PETALING JAYA: Malaysia and the Republic of Maldives will have a mutual recognition of domestic driving licences effective next month.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic) said mutual recognition of domestic drivers licenses between both countries would commence on Sept 12.

In a post on his official Facebook page on Aug 12, Dr Wee said this was the first bilateral Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) that Malaysia has with a foreign country.

"Through this MRA, citizens of both countries can continue to use their respective domestic Driver's Licenses and drive motor vehicles permitted in their respective regions without having to go through the process of obtaining a local driver's license or making any changes to their existing driver's license.

"This MRA will facilitate all citizens of both countries who can then ultimately contribute to the development of the social and economic sectors of both Malaysia and the Republic of Maldives," he said.

He then thanked his counterpart from the Republic of Maldives, Aishath Nahula, (Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation) for co-signing the MRA with the Malaysian Transport Ministry.

"I am pleased to welcome Aishath and her delegation together with Maldives Minister of State for Transport and Civil Aviation Ahmed Zuhair, Deputy High Commissioner of Maldives to Malaysia Mariyam Mizna Shareef.

"Following the signing, we hosted a reception for them in a restaurant in Putrajaya," he said.

Dr Wee added that he looked forward to having more collaborative arrangements in transport with the Maldives.


Musk says high production, breakeven cash flow 'true test' for Rivian

A Rivian R1T pickup is driven outside the Nasdaq Market site during the company’s IPO in Times Square in New York City on Nov 10. — Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc boss Elon Musk said on Thursday high production and breakeven cash flow would be the "true test" for Rivian Automotive Inc, a day after the electric vehicle maker's blockbuster market debut.

"There have been hundreds of automotive startups, both electric and combustion, but Tesla is (the) only American carmaker to reach high volume production & positive cash flow in past 100 years," Musk said in a tweet.

"I hope they're (Rivian) able to achieve high production and breakeven cash flow. That is the true test."

Rivian raised about US$12 billion in the world's biggest initial public offering this year and its market valuation hit more than US$100 billion as shares surged, making it the second most valuable automaker in the United States after Tesla.

Rivian, which has just started selling its vehicles, was not immediately available for comment on Musk's tweet.

Musk was responding to one of his followers pointing that Tesla had been selling its Roadster model for over two years with plans to roll out Model S when it went public over a decade ago.

Since the IPO, Tesla has ramped up production to deliver about 500,000 cars every year, with the company entering the trillion-dollar market value club last month.


Italian Highway Patrol receives Lamborghini Huracán Polizia

                ROME: A special patrol car edition of Lamborghini's Huracán super sportscar has been delivered to the Highway Patrol in Rome, intended for use in "normal police operations" as well as the "urgent transport of blood and organs."

It's the second Huracán to be delivered for use by Rome's Highway Patrol division, while Lamborghini also took the opportunity to transfer a 2009 Gallardo Polizia from the Lamborghini Museum in Sant'Agata Bolognese to the Highway Patrol Auto Museum in Rome.

The special edition Huracán Polizia is styled in the blue of the Italian Police, with a stripe along both sides of the vehicle in the colours of the Italian flag, Lamborghini said in a statement.

Its tyres are one-off editions of Pirelli's P Zero tyres with Police Medium Blue sidewalls.

A tablet device, computer, video camera and recording equipment are accessible from within the passenger compartment, and the vehicle also provides storage for police weaponry, radio equipment, traffic signage, defibrillation paddles, and refrigeration for organ transplant transfers.


Turkey raises taxes to discourage car imports amid virus slump

                ISTANBUL: Turkey increased taxes on most imported cars, a step that aims to ease the deterioration in foreign trade caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

For most cars with engine capacity of 1,600 cubic centimetres — the majority of automobiles Turkey imports — the so-called special consumption tax was raised to 80% from 60%, according to a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette on Sunday.

For electric cars with capacity of more than 2,000 cubic centimetres, the rate was raised to 130% from 100%, and high segment cars will jump to 220% from 160%.

“Turkey has once again the highest automobile taxes in the world,” according to Erol Sahin, general manager of automotive consultancy firm EBS here.

Although the hikes don’t apply to locally produced cars, domestic producers may find it difficult to benefit as they also rely on imported goods for much of their supplies, Sahin said.

The measures follow a series of tax increase that Turkey announced since the beginning of the pandemic to discourage imports while supporting domestic industries.

The global economic slump has hit Turkey’s main export destinations like the European Union, while a slowdown in tourism amplified the deterioration in the government accounts. Turkey posted its seventh straight current-account deficit in June, when year-to-date car imports totalled US$5.2 billion, up 16% from 2019.


Mercedes-Benz Alor Star Autohaus 3S centre officially opens

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) together with Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad (C&C) has officially opened the doors to the new Cycle & Carriage Alor Setar Autohaus.

The new 3S (Sales, Service and Spare parts) facility, costing RM8.3mil has been relocated to Lot PT 6471, Jalan Alor Mengkudu and has six work bays allowing them to service up to 240 vehicles per month.

“With the upgrades, Cycle & Carriage continues to ensure our presence delivers excellence to customers throughout our network across Malaysia, delivering on our promise of ‘Exceptional Journeys’,” said C&C CEO Wilfred Foo.

Manning the new facility are Star Assistants, Sales Executives, Product Experts and After-sales while surrounded by the German carmaker's new corporate identity - the Mercedes-Benz Retail Brand Presence, which extends from the welcome area, sales and service to the delivery bay.

The newly launched concept also utilises the entire showroom area exclusively for customer service orientation without permanent workstations in the showroom.

Leisure facilities for families such as the hospitality café or the lavish waiting area (with a private are) are available at the Autohaus for customers to enjoy while waiting for their cars to be serviced.

The spatial boundaries within the building have been kept to a minimum to deliberately create an open-space feeling while a largely transparent building façade creates a flowing transition between the interior and exterior areas.

"We congratulate the Cycle & Carriage team on the launch of this Autohaus and thank them for their dedication and partnership.  The reintroduction of the Mercedes-Benz Autohaus in Alor Setar reflects our continuous effort in providing an upgraded retail experience for our northern region customers while retaining the Mercedes-Benz personality," said MBM president and CEO Dr Claus Weidner.

The two companies first introduced the new Mercedes-Benz Retail Brand Presence in Malaysia with the Cycle & Carriage Mutiara Damansara Autohaus in August 2019.

Cycle & Carriage Alor Setar Autohaus is the second Autohaus in the network to embody the new concept.

Two more Cycle & Carriage Autohauses are scheduled to be transformed, namely Cycle & Carriage Johor Bahru and Ipoh, that are targeted to be completed by year-end.


Survey: US owners frustrated when linking phones to vehicles

                DETROIT: Automobile quality rose last year, but glitches in pairing smartphones with infotainment systems frustrated owners more than anything, according to a large US survey of auto owners.

For the first time, a brand from Fiat Chrysler, now Stellantis, ranked No 1 for having the fewest problems. Ram trucks finished first, followed by another company brand, Dodge, according to the annual survey by J.D. Power. Lexus, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Kia, Genesis, Hyundai, Jeep and Chevrolet rounded out the top 10 brands.

Smartphone connections, mainly linking Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to automobiles, was this year’s top problem. It beat voice recognition as the survey’s No 1 gremlin for the first time since 2011.

Automakers have been trying to link phones to cars for more than a decade, yet the problem persists, said Dave Sargent, J.D. Power’s vice-president of automotive quality. Now it’s the connection to make the Apple and Android systems show up on the vehicle screens, he said.

“People see that their phone works fine by itself, but when they come to connect it to the vehicle, go through the WiFi system, that’s where the problems exist,” Sargent said.

Consumers quickly blame their vehicle, but tech companies are part of the problem and should share some of the burden in solving it, he said. About one-third of vehicles on the market in the US have the ability to link to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the problem is pervasive with all manufacturers, Sargent said.

Auto and tech companies point the finger at each other, and the consumer is caught in the middle, Sargent said.

Operator error isn’t the problem because all the owners are doing is trying to connect, not use any of the features, he said. “I’m sure the industry will get it figured out, and in a couple years’ time, it will work better,” Sargent said.

Mass market brands such as Ram continued to outperform luxury brands in the annual survey, largely because they don’t have as much glitch-prone technology as the pricier vehicles, Sargent said.

Only pickup trucks were included in the Ram score, he said, because the brand’s other vehicles are commercial vans that largely aren’t sold to consumers. Owners reported 128 problems per 100 Ram trucks during the first 90 days of ownership, the survey found. Dodge owners reported 139 problems. The average among all 33 brands counted in the survey was 162.

Another Stellantis brand, Chrysler, ranked last, with 251 problems per 100 vehicles. It was followed by Audi, Volkswagen, Volvo, Alfa Romeo, Land Rover, Acura, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru and Mazda in the bottom 10.

For most of the survey’s 35 years, the former Fiat Chrysler brands performed poorly in the annual survey, which in the past had been dominated by Japanese brands. But some of the Stellantis brands have improved steadily during the past decade, Sargent said.

Last year Dodge tied for first, and Ram was tied for third.

Sargent said the company has worked hard to increase quality, putting controls in its factories so new models come out with few major problems. The Dodge brand also benefitted from having older vehicles in its lineup, giving the company time to go back and fix problems, he said.

The Chrysler brand, though, had trouble with the quality of its Pacifica minivan, bringing down its score.

Nissan’s Maxima full-size car got the highest score of any individual model, with just 85 problems reported per 100 vehicles.

The Initial Quality Study found that new vehicle quality improved 2% over 2020 levels, but the rate of increase is slowing. It had been 3% over the past decade.

For the second year, the survey included a score for Tesla, the world’s top electric car maker. The company had 231 problems per 100 vehicles, an improvement from last year but still poor. J.D. Power said the brand can’t be ranked against others in the survey because unlike other manufacturers, Tesla doesn’t allow J.D. Power to survey owners in 15 states where an automaker’s permission is required. The score was based on surveys from owners in 35 states.

The survey, taken from February through July, was based on 110,827 responses from people who bought or leased new 2021 vehicles, J.D. Power said.


Dynamic and stylish BMW X1

                The BMW X1 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) spurs spontaneity through the possibilities provided by its offerings in one dynamic package that combines functionality and style.

There are times when gentle reminiscing ripples of a scenic drive up to Cameron Highlands can quickly turn into a tidal wave of unconscious emotions that impels a revisit.

While the BMW X1 makes for a perfect companion in such a situation, sharing the experience with friends or family can also be equally, if not, more rewarding.

Thanks to its stylish new design elements, there’s now a fresher and more contemporary physical appeal.

The front apron features redesigned air inlets and body contour lines as a tribute to the design elements of the larger BMW X models.

Ideally sized for the urbanite, the compact BMW X1 has been packaged with a fuel-efficient engine that’s more than capable of providing a dynamic drive.

Together with the Auto Start / Stop function as standard, the eight-speed automatic transmission mated to both efficient 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines are able to provide for an accelerative performance.

This is demonstrated by the rear-wheel driven petrol-powered BMW X1 sDrive20i reaching 100kph from standstill in just 7.7sec and 8.0sec for the diesel-powered all-wheel-drive BMW X1 xDrive20d, before reaching their top speed of 205kph.

The marriage between transmission and engine for the BMW X1 clearly helps provide the urbanite with an exhilarating drive yet able to be frugal with its consumption at 6.7L (petrol) / 5.4L (diesel) per 100km on the combined cycle.

For those who enjoy the occasional indulgence of the great outdoors, the all-wheel-driven BMW X1 xDrive20d would be the necessity with 184hp and 380Nm of torque (petrol variant - 184hp and 270Nm) from its 2.0L common-rail direct injection BMW Advanced Diesel engine.

The BMW X1 xDrive20d would not only prove to be a long-distance runner with its frugal engine, but also its capability with its all-wheel-drive system, raised seat height and more ground clearance that would be ideal when tackling most rugged terrains.

On tarmac, the BMW X1 is in its element with the BMW xDrive all-wheel drive system continuously looking to maintain optimum traction between the front and rear wheels and further enhancing agility and cornering grip for that spirited drive.

While the BMW X1 has the ability to take on roads less travelled, part of the BMW X1’s characteristic styling-DNA is its elegant stance that commands admiration, while exuding modern-day styling that’s perfect for that formal occasion.

Within the cabin, the redesigned driver-centric centre console with a new sports steering wheel librates more room for the front-passenger to manoeuvre, allowing for a more comfortable enjoyment of the sophisticated yet sporty premium ambience.

Visibility from within sets the BMW X1 apart with its elevated seating position, that’s between a regular sedan and an SUV, providing that ability to peer past the long sleek hood to the road ahead.

With the BMW X1’s luggage capacity at 420 litres, folding the rear seat’s backrests down expands it to 1,350 litres - much to the rejoice of sports enthusiasts and campers who will also enjoy the generous side pockets on the inside of the doors.

Even with a compact design, the BMW X1 has made available ample legroom for passengers in order to ensure that comfort is derived from every drive.

The BMW X1 sDrive20i is priced on-the-road without insurance at RM238,800 while the BMW X1 xDrive20d costs RM30,000 more at RM268,800.

As standard, the BMW X1 comes complimentary with the BMW Service + Repair Inclusive (BS+RI) – allowing owners to forget about the cost of maintaining, servicing or repairing any wear-and-tear for three years or up to 60,000km (whichever comes first).

Seen as one of the most desirable SAV today, the BMW X1 is available for viewing and/or test-drives at all BMW Authorised Dealers or for more information, log on to www.bmw.com.my or call BMW Voice at 1 800 88 3000.

With dynamism, sophistication and performance, the BMW X1 brings a keen sense of spontaneity to the table - now take a seat and let the adventures begin.


2016 Beijing Auto Show: World premiere for Citroen C6

                BEIJING: Citroen has unveiled the C6, a new D-segment premium sedan, in a world premiere at the Beijing Auto Show 2016.

Citroen relies heavily on China, its biggest market in 2015 with sales of over 300,000 vehicles, which equates to one-quarter of the brand’s global sales.

Following the launch of the new C4 saloon in 2015, Dongfeng Citroen's new flagship model, the C6 is aimed at the upper business D segment.

This 4.96-metre long premium saloon is designed by the Styling Centre in Paris alongside the Shanghai team.

The Citroen C6 will be built in Wuhan.

It features flowing, modern lines and a luxurious cabin.


Epic world solar car race begins in Australia

Crew members of the Belgian Punch Powertrain Solar Team at the 2015 World Solar Challenge. - AFP
DARWIN: An epic 3,000-kilometre solar car race across the desert heart of Australia designed to showcase new technology that could one day help develop commercial vehicles got underway Sunday.

The World Solar Challenge, first run in 1987 and last held in 2015, began in a high-tech, futuristic flurry from Darwin's State Square.

Dutch team Nuon is aiming to defend its title but Belgium's Punch Powertrain led the 41 cars -powered by the sun and mostly developed by universities or corporations - off on the punishing journey south to Adelaide after a surprise win in Saturday's time trial.

"We knew our car was good but we never expected pole because there are a lot of competitors over here, a lot of very fast looking cars," team manager Joachin Verheyen told reporters.

The event has become one of the world's foremost innovation challenges with teams looking to demonstrate designs that could one day lead to commercially available solar-powered vehicles for passengers.

Google co-founder Larry Page and Tesla co-founder J B Straubel are past competitors who credit the event in influencing their careers.

The main action will be the streamlined Challenger class -- slick, single seat aerodynamic vehicles built for sustained endurance and total energy efficiency.

Dutch team Nuon crossed the finish line first two years ago, taking 33.03 hours to make the punishing trip ahead of Japan's Tokai University, the 2011 winner, in a nail-biting climax.

                                                                                ROUTE

Both teams are again in the hunt this year, with cars from the United States, Australia, Malaysia, India and South Africa among competitors up against them.

There is also a Cruiser class which aims to showcase solar technology for mainstream vehicles that are more practical for day-to-day use. Entrants come from Hong Kong, Singapore and even Iran.

"Of course, the point of this challenge is not just to go fast, or to develop technology that will never reach the mainstream," said event director Chris Selwood.

"Our founder, Hans Tholstrup, and competitors past and present, are all determined to make sustainable, energy positive, solar electric cars and renewable technology a reality."

Teams are allowed to store a small amount of energy but the majority of their power has to come from the sun and their vehicle's kinetic forces.

Crews are allowed to drive between 8am and 5pm each day and simply set up camp wherever their car pulls off the road at the end of the day. The first car to cross the line in Adelaide is the winner.

There are seven checkpoints along the route where drivers can get updates on their standings, the weather, and do basic maintenance - clearing any debris from the car and adjusting tyre pressure.


Hyundai to treat 300 enthusiasts at N Homecoming event during Nurburgring 24-hour race

                BERLIN: Hyundai Motor is inviting 300 enthusiasts from countries that sell the carmaker's performance N vehicles for a series of special events dubbed 'N Homecoming' during this year's Nürburgring 24 Hours Race.

The enthusiasts will be treated to an exclusive hospitality experience that will include a driving academy, helicopter tour and a viewing of the company's N models. The carmaker has been participating in the endurance race since 2016.

The ‘N’ badge stands for Namyang, South Korea - home to the company's R&D Center, and for the Nürburgring - home to a 3,600square meter Hyundai Motor European Test Center where Hyundai N models are developed and tested.

Visitors to this year's race can learn more about Hyundai N at its fan truck that will provide all the necessary information and facts about the brand.

Meanwhile, a promotional booth in Ring Boulevard will showcase the company's models that will include the i20 WRC rally car, i30 N TCR and the i30 Fastback N in front of a wall that explains Hyundai N’s motorsport history.

Customers will be able to purchase a range of N-branded products ranging from caps to jackets and t-shirts.

Additionally, Hyundai is offering 300 N customers a once-in-a-lifetime N hospitality experience where they will gain valuable driving skills from instructors in an exclusive driving academy.

Out of the initial group, 55 guests will be selected for the N Corso, where they will drive one lap of the circuit before the main Nürburgring 24 Hours Race event begins.

Meanwhile, special guests will also have the opportunity to embark on a guided pit box tour of the team areas, as well as a helicopter tour, which will offer a stunning birds-eye-view of the race track.

“We’re delighted to offer our customers the chance to experience ‘N Homecoming’ - which is unique once-in-a-lifetime hospitality at this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours race,” said Hyundai Motor Group executive vice president and head of product division, product operation & N sub-division Thomas Schemera.

“This event is one of the highlights of the Hyundai motorsport calendar and made all the more special by the fact that the N brand was born and honed here. This event will serve as a celebration of the Hyundai N brand.”

Hyundai Motorsport to challenge for victory at this year's 24-hour race with two TCR-cars built by the HMSG’s Customer Racing department in Alzenau, Germany - the i30 N TCR and the Veloster N TCR.

Meanwhile, Hyundai will also enter the i30 Fastback N in the VT2 class in a bid to demonstrate its race track capability.

The Nürburgring 24 Hours Race is a legendary 24-hour touring car and GT endurance racing event that takes place at the world-famous Nürburgring circuit.

During the event, cars race the 25km-long course as many times as possible in 24 hours.

Competing vehicles race around the track at top speed without pausing to rest, and they are ranked after the total driving distance has been measured.

More than 150 cars and over 600 drivers participate in the event in different classes, which are categorized based on engine displacement and other standards.

The Hyundai Motorsport recently completed its preparations for the event with a strong Qualifying Race weekend. Both cars finished in the top two positions in the TCR class.

The crews of each car will consist of four drivers for the main race, which takes place from June 20 to 23 and the carmaker will also enter its i30 Fastback N in the VT2 class to illustrate its durability and race track performance.

Hyundai has participated in the Nürburgring 24 Hours Race for the past three years.

In 2016, the team completed 91 laps of the gruelling race track with the Hyundai i30 2.0 Turbo development car, a total distance of 2,309.39km.

The team also completed the fastest lap time of 9min and 55.626 seconds, breaking the 10-minute barrier per lap.

In 2017, two close-to-production Hyundai i30 N models completed 244 laps of the Nürburgring, totalling more than 6,000km on the race track as a testament to its durability ahead of its 2017 launch.

Last year, two pairs of Hyundai i30 N TCR cars finished an impressive second and fourth in the TCR class, despite treacherously wet conditions.


Singapore to match Malaysia's revised Second Link toll rate from March 31

                SINGAPORE: Singapore will be revising toll charges at the Tuas Checkpoint from March 31, 2023, to match Malaysia's recent revision of toll charges at the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza on the Second Link highway.

"This adjustment is in line with Singapore's long-standing policy of matching Malaysia's toll rates," said the republic's Land Transport Authority (LTA) on its website on Thursday (March 16).

The agency said the revision will involve all vehicle categories except Motorcycles.

LTA noted that there are no changes to the toll charges at the Woodlands Checkpoint.

The new toll charges for cars will be S$2.10 (RM4); vans/ light goods vehicles at S$5.60 (RM18.70); heavy goods vehicles at S$11.30 (RM37.80); taxis at S$1.60 (RM5.40); and buses at S$2.50 (RM8.40).

Similar to Malaysia's revision, there will be a standard toll fare for all days as there is no peak or off-peak rate offered anymore.

On Feb 25, 2023, PLUS Malaysia Bhd announced on its website that it will reinstate the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza off-peak rate back to the original standard toll fare from March 1, 2023.

"With this standardisation, all vehicles passing through the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza will be charged as per the present peak hour rates," the expressway operator said.

PLUS said the off-peak hour toll rates were introduced in 2018 at the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza as part of a move to encourage the public to utilise the toll plaza to exit and enter Singapore.

However, the operator said after more than five years of its implementation, the move received lukewarm response from highway users.

It added that based on data, the number of daily vehicles at the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza remained identical to the traffic volume recorded before the off-peak hour toll rates were offered.

"There has been no significant increase in traffic during off-peak hours at the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza till today," it said.

PLUS noted that traffic statistics also indicate that more than 50% of the vehicles during off-peak hours at the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza are Singapore-registered vehicles.

The new toll charges for cars are RM6.14, vans/light goods vehicles (RM17.10), heavy goods vehicles (RM34.30), taxis (RM4.67) and buses (RM7.45). – Bernama


2016 Paris Motor Show: Porsche Macan Turbo just got a little meaner

                PARIS: Porsche's Macan Turbo, the sportscar of the compact sport utility vehicle segment, has just been slapped with more power, a new set of brakes and an even more sportier chassis.

The sportscar maker from Stuttgart, Germany, has endowed the Macan Turbo with an additional 40hp and 50Nm, bringing the 3.6-litre twin-turbo V6 engine's output to 440hp and 600Nm (from 1,500 to 4,500rpm) - while fuel economy is currently rated between 9.4 and 9.7 litres per 100km.

With its 0-100kph acceleration now taking 4.4 seconds (-0.4 seconds) before reaching a higher top speed of 272kph (+6kph), the Macan Turbo's has received a newly developed brake system as well as a lowered and controlled sports chassis, Sport Chrono Package and sports exhaust system as standard.

At the front, the red six-piston brake callipers have been paired with the 390mm (+30mm) grooved brake discs for the Macan Turbo without the performance package.

Additionally, the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is now available at the push of a button to deliver an exceptionally sporty position on the road.

This system has also been specifically tuned for the Macan Turbo, which has been lowered by 15mm and the optional air suspension with self-levelling function and height adjustment can lower it by a further 10mm.

In “Sport Plus” mode, this package ensures the chassis, engine and transmission are tuned to sporty effect – accompanied by an even more emotional sound from the sports exhaust system.

The seven-speed PDK double-clutch transmission is now designed to deliver extremely short response times, optimum switching points and increased torque during gear changes for maximum acceleration.

To customise the Macan Turbo with the performance package, a range of tailored equipment options are available, such as the Turbo exterior package, which includes 21-inch wheels in the 911 Turbo design with lateral spokes painted in high-gloss black, LED main headlights equipped with PDLS Plus and numerous other black elements.

The Turbo interior package provides a black leather interior with Alcantara elements, colour appliqué in numerous areas and carbon elements such as the door entry guards with the model logo lit up in white.


15 new cars Malaysians will see in 2019: Perodua SUV and more

                PETALING JAYA: With some three weeks left before we begin a new year, there's already anticipation building on what new car models will make it to our shores.

We already have an idea based on overseas test drives, local previews from some car makers in the preceding months and also what have been shown in the recently concluded KL International Motor Show 2018.

The list below is not exhaustive but offers a look at a broad spectrum of new models that are set to make 2019 another exciting year for the car business.

Perodua SUV

Perodua's eagerly anticipated sport utility vehicle (SUV) is speculated to be based on the latest Toyota Rush, which sports a 1.5-litre (2NR-VE) 16-valve DOHC engine produces 105PS at 6,000rpm and 136Nm of torque at 4,200rpm that gets sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission.

With an electric power steering, a Dual VVT-i engine and Automatic Start-Stop functionality, the Rush is able to achieve up to 15.6km/litre in terms of fuel efficiency to qualify it as an Energy Efficient Vehicle.

The same should hold true for the Perodua SUV, which will definitely have sporty exterior looks from a Malaysian design team as well as Perodua signature interior features like the shopping or "teh tarik (pulled tea)" bag hooks on each front seat-back, and a anti-theft handbag hook on the side of the front passenger seat ( as seen on the Axia and new Myvi).

The Perodua SUV is also likely to have features already seen on the new Myvi such as LED headlamps with Follow Me Home function and manual levelling, Auto-off headlamps, LED rear combination lamps, powered adjustable wing mirrors, acoustic windshield glass, push-start ignition, and keyless entry.

There could be design elements taken from the Daihatsu DN TREC concept, which CarSifu reported in Oct 2017 at the Tokyo Motor Show.

BMW X5

The fourth generation of the BMW X5 is significantly larger than its predecessor and has a host of chassis systems making their debut in a BMW X model – such as two-axle air suspension, Integral Active Steering and the Off-Road package – thus enhancing the car’s versatility, dynamic ability and comfort levels.

The new X5 comes as standard with LED headlights, and folding down the 40 : 20 : 40 split rear seat backrest increases boot capacity from 645 litres to a maximum 1,860 litres.

Other new features designed to maximise well-being on board the BMW X5 include multifunction seats, cooled/heated cupholders, the Panorama glass roof Sky Lounge, Dynamic Interior Light, the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System, the Rear-seat entertainment Professional system with 10.2-inch touchscreen display and glass applications for selected controls.

The X5 comes as standard with Dynamic Damper Control, and it also has a two-section tailgate for ease of loading.

Folding down the 40 : 20 : 40 split rear seat backrest increases boot capacity from 645 litres to a maximum 1,860 litres.

It will be available from launch with a choice of one V8 and three six-cylinder in-line engines. All will team up with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission.

BMW 3 Series

The new BMW 3 Series Sedan is bigger than its predecessor, and also has full LED headlights as standard.

It weighs up to 55kg less than the corresponding predecessor model, and standard equipment includes Lane Departure Warning, plus Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function, the latest version of which also alerts the driver when a cyclist is detected.

The Harman Kardon surround sound system delivers exceptional listening pleasure.

The standard-fitted suspension and optional M Sport suspension both include lift-related dampers, which are making their debut in a BMW model.

They make a major contribution to the balance between sportiness and comfort – unmatched by any rival – which defines the character of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan.

Continuously variable control allows them to adjust the damper firmness progressively according to changing spring travel, which reduces body movement perceptibly when evening out vibrations caused by bumpy road surfaces and dynamic cornering.

An option is the Reversing Assistant, which can reverse the vehicle for distances of up to 50 metres by steering it along exactly the same line it has just taken when moving forward.

BMW X7

The latest and largest model in the BMW X line-up, the X7 comes as standard with LED headlights, while the optional BMW Laserlight has a high-beam range of up to 600 metres and can be easily identified by the blue x-shaped elements inside the headlights.

The car is fitted as standard with 20-inch light-alloy wheels, and there are three rows of seats (for seven people in total) in the X7.

The two passengers in the third row settle into full-size seats complete with armrests, cupholders and USB ports.

The X7 comes as standard with Vernasca leather trim, four-zone automatic climate control, a three-section panoramic glass roof, and ambient lighting including the Welcome Light Carpet and Dynamic Interior Light.

Ensuring even more dynamic handling is the M Sport differential at the rear axle, which brings electronically controlled locking.

It is fitted as standard on the BMW X7 M50d and as an option on the BMW X7 xDrive50i and BMW X7 xDrive40i.

Standard kit includes Adaptive suspension with electronically controlled dampers, and air springs at both axles.

The vehicle’s ground clearance can be varied by up to 80 millimetres to suit the situation at hand – by either pressing a button or using the BMW Display Key.

Mazda3

Unveiled at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show, the all-new Mazda3 adopts a matured Kodo Design language that makes the car more of a head-turner on the road.

In North America, the powertrain lineup includes SKYACTIV-X, a new kind of combustion engine that combines the advantages of petrol and diesel engines.

Its innovative Spark-Controlled Compression Ignition system allows the selection of gear settings that accentuate performance without sacrificing fuel economy.

Besides a more driver-oriented cockpit, the interior is made even more comfortable and upscale, especially with a clear and expressive sound system with speakers positioned to deliver sound directly to the driver’s ears.

The 8-speaker standard audio system uses a 3-way layout, with 3L woofers positioned on the sides of the front cowl, a pair of 2.5cm squawkers on the sail garnish and 8cm squawkers on the upper section of the front and rear door trim.

DS 7 Crossback

For those unfamiliar with this French marque, DS Automobiles is the premium brand of Groupe PSA which also owns Peugeot and Citroen.

Naza Euro Motors chose the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 (KLIMS'18) to preview the new DS 7 Crossback, a luxury SUV, ahead of its local debut in 2019.

The DS 7 Crossback comes loaded with premium features such as DS Active LED Vision headlamps for optimum illumination at night, a top-flight 14-speaker Focal Electra hi-fi system, and a clock by luxury watch maker BRM.

Resembling faceted jewels, the LED modules of the headlamps emit a purple light when the car is unlocked, before pivoting progressively by 180 degrees for a pleasing visual effect.

The contemporary interior features two 12-inch screens for the navigation system, multimedia interface, DS connectivity and digital instrument cluster.

A range of petrol-powered units mated to an Efficient Automatic Transmission with 8-speeds (EAT8) is available, and there's also a plug-in hybrid petrol drivetrain.

The EAT8 allows fuel savings of 4% compared with the preceding 6-speed automatic gearbox, an engine Stop and Start function activated at speeds of up to 30kph, and a Free Wheeling mode.

Citroën C3 Aircross

Naza Euro Motors also previewed the new Citroën C3 Aircross compact SUV at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 (KLIMS'18).

Powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged PureTech engine that delivers 112ps and 205Nm of torque (also found in the Peugeot 208 PureTech), the C3 Aircross can travel 900km on a single tank.

The spacious boot space is exceptional for its segment at 410 litres in capacity.

The cabin offers class-leading spaciousness (best ceiling height, generous leg room), unrivalled modularity (sliding bench in two independent parts, flat-folding front passenger seat for a load length of 2.4 meters) and exceptional 410-litre boot volume.

It has a unique design with a muscular bonnet, raised ground clearance, a high-set driving position, and large-diameter wheels.

The wing extenders and protective skid plates also contribute to the dynamic and protective SUV styling.

Lexus ES

The seventh-generation Lexus ES executive sedan has an all-new design that features an elegant, sharp and graceful outlook.

Its design accentuates the Lexus design language with the Spindle Grille.

An all-new drivetrain that matches a new 2.5-litre powerplant mated to a direct-shift 8-speed automatic transmission (yet another Lexus first) offers linear and quiet acceleration.

For the driver, there's a highly-intuitive information system providing all the driving parameters through a large 12.3-inch EMVdisplay and a 7-inch TFT full digital combination meter.

A heads-up display - the largest in its class - reduces the amount of eye movement required thereby making driving safer.

Rear passengers in the ES will be able to luxuriate in a new power reclining seat while controls for the sunshade, audio system and air-conditioning are available at the touch of a button on the panel built into the central armrest.

The ES also has the Lexus Safety System+, Lexus' state-of-the-art active safety system that combines various high-tech features that aims to prevent or minimise the severity of an accident.

Lexus UX

The Lexus UX or urban crossover is the premium marque's first entry into the compact SUV segment.

Built on a new Global Architecture - Compact (GA-C) platform, the UX is said to have the lowest centre of gravity in the segment, which provides a dynamic and sure-footed handling akin to that of a sporty coupe.

In the cabin, new materials such as the Japanese paper Washi texture features strongly on the trim while the leather seats use a Sashiko quilted upholstery, giving it better wear resistance.

It also has the largest heads-up display in its class, a new 7-inch fully digital combination meter cluster, a 10.3-inch EMV display in the centre console and a 8-speaker Lexus Premium Audio system.

Powered by a 2.0-litre engine that produces 169hp, the UX also has a Lexus-first technology for its transmission.

Its new gearbox uses a mechanical first gearbox to provide spirited acceleration from start, before the continuously variable transmission (CVT) takes over for a smoother drive and impressive fuel economy.

Safety systems include Pre-Collision system, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert and Adaptive High-beam System.

Mitsubishi Triton

The new Mitsubishi Triton pick-up truck is due to be launched in five variants by the first quarter of 2019 and will be imported as a Completely Built-up Unit (CBU) from Thailand.

Prices will range from RM100,000 to RM140,000 for Peninsular Malaysia.

The first 1,000 owners to book and register a new Triton will get a limited edition Thule all-purpose luggage bag worth RM2,000.

The latest Triton's front fascia features the latest iteration of Mitsubishi's Dynamic Shield design language with slim headlights flanking the grille and fog lamps with the indicators tucked into the corners.

It is powered by a 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel with variable valve timing and Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) to produce 181ps and 430Nm of torque.

It has a six-speed automatic transmission and also, a Super Select 4WD II with Off-road mode.

Safety features include Forward Collision Mitigation, Ultrasonic Mis-acceleration Mitigation System, Rear Cross Traafic Alert, Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist and Automatic Highbeam.

It also has seven airbags, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, active stability with traction control, hill-start assist, hill descent control, trailer stability assist and brake override system as well as rest reminder functions.

Honda HR-V RS

The new HR-V RS variant gets a new exterior featuring Honda’s Signature design, the "Solid Wing Face" concept with new LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED fog lights and rear combi LED guide lights.

This new variant comes with 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, sporty design front grille and new front and rear bumper.

New detailing such as a dark chrome outer handle, black chrome license garnish, sport black side sill and even mesh fog garnish provides a fresh feel to the RS variant.

The engine remains unchanged, with the HR-V RS powered by a 1.8L SOHC i-VTEC mill linked to a CVT.

But upping its performance is the new Variable Gear Ratio (VGR) steering system for sportier driving.

Honda claims the driver get the best of two worlds - quick and nimble steering feel in city driving condition and stable steering feel on the highway.

The SUV also comes with paddle shifters, 8-way driver power seat, sports pedals and Honda LaneWatch - a camera system mounted on the passenger side mirror to minimise blind spots.

Safety features include six airbags, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Hill Start Assist (HSA) and a multi-angle rear-view camera.

Toyota Vios

The new Vios, available in three versions sporting the same 1.5-litre Dual VVT-i four-cylinder petrol engine as before (107ps/140Nm), is now available for pre-order from RM77,200.

It comes with a CVT and is due to appear in showrooms by March next year.

The new Vios is longer and wider than before and is derived from the current Yaris hatch for the Asean market.

There are changes to the front and rear, with the cabin updated along with a steering wheel taken from the Corolla Altis.

While the exterior of the Vios is mostly new, it is built on the previous generation model's platform.

In terms of dimensions, the new Vios is 5mm longer (4,415mm) and 30mm wider (1,730mm) than the outgoing model, while maintaining the same height (1,475mm) and wheelbase (2,550mm).

The standard kit includes seven airbags, Hill-start Assist Control and automatic air-conditioning.

Depending on variant, additional kit includes blind spot detection, panoramic camera, a dashcam, lane departure warning and paddle shifters.

Ford Mustang

Ford distributor Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) specially flew in the new Ford Mustang for the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 (KLIMS'18).

The Mustang is a cultural icon and the world’s best-selling sports car for three years straight.

The new Mustang, which will arrive in Malaysia next year, is sleeker and faster with engine and suspension enhancements.

It now features more refined aerodynamics, and has LED lighting technology.

The Mustang’s 5.0-litre Ford V8 engine now delivers 450ps and can sprint from 0-100 kph in 4.3 seconds with a new 10-speed automatic gearbox.

Also, the Mustang’s six-speed manual transmission now features rev-matching technology that delivers smoother, faster downshifts accompanied by a “blip” of the powerful engine.

Its fun-to-drive character is optimised with a new MagneRide adjustable suspension and selectable Drive Modes.

Driver assistance technologies include Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Lane Keeping Aid.

A contemporary interior features soft-touch materials and a 12-inch all-digital instrument cluster.

Hyundai Santa Fe

The latest Hyundai Santa Fe is due to arrive in Malaysian showrooms in the first quarter of 2019, and will be offered in Executive and Premium variants.

Prices are estimated at RM188,000 onwards and the SUV comes with a 300,000km or five-year (whichever is first) warranty and a 50,000km or three-year free service deal.

Powertrain options are a Theta II 2.4 MPI petrol engine with a six-speed automatic transmission or a R22 VGT turbodiesel with an eight-speed automatic.

The seven-seater comes with the new Hyundai signature cascading grille design with slim LED headlights.

Aside from creating a spacious interior, the new Santa Fe's longer wheelbase together with shorter overhangs create an elegant profile.

Inside, the Santa Fe feels upmàrket with high quality materials and improved ergonomics.

The second row seats come with one-touch folding to allow easy entry to the third row.

The new Santa Fe also has Rear Occupant Alert that prevents instances of children or pets being forgotten and left behind in the car.

Features include six airbags, vehicle stability control, hill start assist, downhill brake control, electric parking brake with automatic hold, smart power tailgate, 7-inch LCD virtual cluster, wireless phone charger, and a floating type 7-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Kia Cerato

At the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 (KLIMS'18), Naza Kia Malaysia brought in the third-generation Kia Cerato (called Forte in some markets), following its world premiere at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

The Cerato has sleek and dynamic styling cues inspired by the Kia Stinger fastback sport sedan.

Like the Stinger, Forte’s long hood and short deck lend it an overall fastback-like shape.

The new Cerato has a 428-litre boot, and is also a bigger car, as it is longer and wider, and provides more headroom.

In the United States, it has Kia’s first Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) which was designed to address the rubber-band-like feel of a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Kia Motors engineers built the IVT with adaptive style shift logic with a chain-type belt instead of push belt, a first in the compact class.

This results in smooth and linear acceleration, and a more enjoyable and sporty driving experience.

Also, steering feel is upgraded compared with its predecessor, thanks an enhanced Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS).
READ MORE:Of course, bigger car choices for 2019 beyond Malaysia


Test flight for flying vehicle not authorised, say CAAM

                PETALING JAYA: The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) clarified it did not authorise a test flight for a "flying car" or drone of model UAS E-Hang 216 (EH216) scheduled for today.

CAAM said that the location of the planned test flight at the UniKL Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology (MIAT) Hangar Subang was in an area that was under supervision by Air Traffic Control.

“The location is less than 200 metres away from commercial airline and helicopter traffic and clearly within the Subang Airport Terminal Control Zone.

“In addition to this, the EH216 was only issued a Special Flight Permit (SFP) by its State of Design (Civil Aviation Administration of China), which is limited to conduct research and development flights in Grand World Science Park in Guangzhou,” CAAM said in a statement on Wednesday.

READ MORE:
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CAAM further added that it is investigating an earlier unauthorised demonstration flight involving an EH216 on Nov 15 at the same area in Subang airport.

“As much as CAAM supports the development of the aerospace industry in Malaysia, test and demonstration flights must be carried out in accordance with the Malaysian Civil Aviation Regulation 2016 to ensure safety.

“CAAM would also like to state that we are open to consider the request for a test flight of the EH216 at an appropriate location, and with the support of the aircraft’s State of Design,” it said.

A Berita Harian report on Tuesday claimed that the flying vehicle is based on the EH216 and would be marketed as Super Dron in Malaysia.

The EH216 is technically an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle that is big enough to carry two passengers. It cannot transform itself into a road-going car like the Terrafugia, a US-made craft that was acquired by China car maker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group in 2017. Geely is also a strategic partner in Proton.


First drive of Peugeot 5008 and 3008

                It all began one early November day. With pandemic restrictions eased, the mission of the day was to drive two French SUVs from Glenmarie, Shah Alam, to Genting Highlands and back.

As it turned out, the two models were to be launched the next day.

The drive of the Peugeot 5008 and 3008 on the expressways as well as up and down the peak was revealing.

Some background first

Both SUVs are second-generation examples and have been facelifted, sharing many features in common and conform to the present brand identity.

When the current generation debuted in 2016, we had considered them stylish with premium aspirations. With the midcycle facelift, they have evolved to stay in the game with worthy rivals.

The 3008 is a five-seater, while the 5008 seats seven. With the 5008 selling at RM177,312 and the 3008 at RM161,617, there’s around RM16,000 price gap between them.

The facelifted models in Allure trim are locally assembled and are distributed by Bermaz Auto Alliance Sdn Bhd, which took over the brand from Naza Group’s Nasim Sdn Bhd.

Stellantis, of which Peugeot is part of, is fully in charge of production. It plans to sell the two models not only in Malaysia but export them to Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar and Cambodia.

 The 5008 interior.Outside and inside

While both SUVs share much in common, differences exist.

On the outside, they are differentiated by the rear body shape, rear doors, windows and rear hatch.

On the inside, the 5008 has the ability to fold and remove its third-row seats.

The second row of the 5008 also has a rear air vent blower control switch and the centre console storage volume is more.

A new frameless grille introduces a major aesthetic highlight, adding drama to the face, coupled with redesigned headlights.

You will also know this is the latest incarnation with the vertically angled LED daytime running lights that look like “fangs”, which double as signalling lights.

To make it obvious from the front, the model number is now affixed to the edge of the bonnet in line with the current Peugeot template.

The rear gets upgraded LED tail lights with a 3D-claw effect that are particularly appealing in their smoked housings. They also use sequential indicator lights unlike the front ones.

The 5008’s longish appearance makes it look more conservative when seen from the rear, while the 3008’s smaller proportions gets it the trendy vote.

On the flip side, the 5008’s advantage will always be the bigger interior space it offers especially for cargo.

Both SUVs ride on 18-inch wheels albeit of different designs.

They feature Peugeot’s digital i-Cockpit technology which comprises a 12.3-inch digital head-up cluster display, a compact steering wheel for improved driving dynamics, and a new 10-inch touchscreen colour display plus new seat stitchings.

Wireless charging and wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported.

Both SUVs arrive with a plethora of driving aids and safety features that include Active Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Speed Limit recognition, Blind Spot Monitoring, Advanced Grip Control and six airbags.

However, cruise control is not adaptive and autonomous emergency braking isn’t included.

Drive experience

Nothing has changed with the powertrain in the facelift.

The duo continue to use a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, which produces 165hp and 240Nm of torque.

It is paired with a quick-shifting, six-speed automatic and a 2WD drivetrain that sends power to the front axle.

At 1,595kg, the 5008 is 103kg heavier than the 3008.

But it felt more composed as it hit highway speeds or navigated the numerous turns on the way up Genting.

Comfort and quietness are its forte as the suspension is pliant enough to ride over rough surfaces without rattling its occupants.

The engine provides enough urge to swing the SUV up Genting and overtake slower vehicles but can get shrieky when pushed hard.

Braking in both SUVs is linear and progressive. That was amply demonstrated with the 3008 on the return leg when we had to do more intermittent braking downhill.

The 3008 is the more spirited of the duo, able to carve corners with more verve than its weightier sibling. Ride comfort and roadholding are on par with the 5008.

Wrapping up

On balance, the few hours we had with the 5008 and 3008 have left a positive impression.

The SUVs boast stylistic flair and competent driving performance, marking them as sturdy contenders in the fight for market share.

 Route briefing before the drive.

5008

3008


BMW loans i3 to LA police for a year

                LOS ANGELES: BMW i has announced that it will loan the Los Angeles Police Department an i3 electric vehicle for 12 months in the first US test of the innovative EV in an authority fleet.

The BMW i3 test vehicle, which sports the famous LAPD black and white livery, complete with rooftop light-bar, will undergo a year of rigorous testing. It will also be featured at public events throughout the loan period.

“The decision by the Los Angeles Police Department to undertake this evaluation highlights the compelling nature of the BMW i3 as a versatile, sustainable vehicle,” said Christine Fleischer, Manager – BMW i for BMW of North America on Friday.

The LAPD will benefit from the compact size and agility, thanks to the light-weight Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic construction of the i3. The i3 also boasts a tight turning circle, useful for maneuvring easily around the streets of Los Angeles.

BMW said it has a large, conveniently located network of i Centres, making servicing of an i3 fleet convenient and cost effective.

With 170hp and 250Nm of torque hybrid-synchronous electric motor, the fully electric  i3 is electrified by a 22-kWh lithium-ion battery, good for 160km of emission-free driving.
The i3 is built in BMW's plant in Leipzig, Germany and has a base price of US$42,400 and the range-extender model starts at US$46,250, before any federal or applicable state incentives.


Mercedes joins forces with Bosch to develop 'robo-taxis'

                FRANKFURT: Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler and supplier Robert Bosch are teaming up to develop self-driving cars in an alliance aimed at accelerating the production of "robo-taxis".

The pact between the world's largest maker of premium cars and the world's largest automotive supplier forms a powerful counterweight to new auto industry players like ride-hailing firms Uber and Didi which are also working on self-driving cars.

Technology companies and carmakers are striving to adjust to a shifting landscape in the auto industry as consumers increasingly use smartphones to locate, hail and rent vehicles, rather than going out and buying cars.

The alliance not only marks an end to Daimler's efforts to develop an autonomous car largely on its own, but moves the auto industry's ambitions beyond simply developing prototype vehicles towards industrial-scale production of self-driving cars.

Financial terms were not disclosed of the deal between the two German companies, which was announced on Tuesday.

Bosch - which was founded in 1886, the same year that Mercedes founder Carl Benz patented the motorcar - will develop software and algorithms needed for autonomous driving together with the carmaker.

Bosch said Mercedes would be able to use the jointly developed system for two years before it could be offered to competitors.

The deal will help the automotive supplier make up ground in a competitive autonomous driving system sector where rivals Continental, Delphi, ZF and others have also made heavy investments.

For Daimler and its Mercedes division, teaming up with Bosch helps them throw more engineering resources at autonomous cars, allowing them to speed up the process of creating a production-ready system for autonomous cars by several years.

The autonomous system will now be ready by the beginning of next decade, Daimler said, without disclosing when it had first envisaged the commercial launch of automated taxis, or robo-taxis.

"The prime objective of the project is to achieve the production-ready development of a driving system which will allow cars to drive fully autonomously in the city," Daimler said in a statement on Tuesday.

The company will continue to build and sell vehicles that can be manually operated by individual drivers.

The market for advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous vehicles is expected to grow from about US$3 billion in 2015 to US$96 billion in 2025 and US$290 billion in 2035, Goldman Sachs said last year.

Daimler is focusing its efforts on the app-based car-sharing and ride-hailing sector dominated by China's Didi, and U.S.-based Uber and Lyft. Like autonomous cars, this market is a big global growth area and is expected to expand by 28 percent a year to 2030, according to consultancy McKinsey.

"Within a specified area of town, customers will be able to order an automated shared car via their smartphone. The vehicle will then make its way autonomously to the user," Daimler said. "The idea behind it is that the vehicle should come to the driver rather than the other way round."

The cutthroat competition to launch self-driven cars has forced carmakers to shift strategy from an evolutionary towards a revolutionary approach.

Instead of evolving driver assistance systems to achieve full autonomy, carmakers are now experimenting with radical car designs combined with software-driven development - which has led to alliances with technology companies.

Mercedes-Benz's arch rival BMW teamed up with Israeli autonomous vehicle tech company Mobileye and chip maker Intel last year to develop new technology that could put autonomous cars on the road by 2021.

Intel has since agreed to buy Mobileye for US$15.3 billion, a deal which followed Qualcomm's US$47 billion move to acquire Dutch automotive chip supplier NXP.

Before deciding to partner with Bosch, Mercedes-Benz had two engineering teams, totaling about 500 people, working on autonomous vehicles. One took an evolutionary approach, upgrading the capabilities of conventional vehicles, while the other team took a more radical approach to the car's design.

Bosch and Mercedes did not disclose how many additional engineers they would assign to the teams in Stuttgart and Silicon Valley.

"Cars which do not rely on any driver input have a different architecture and sensor setup, with more radar and cameras," Christoph von Hugo, a senior Mercedes-Benz safety manager, told Reuters at a recent event to present safety systems.

The current Mercedes E-Class can cruise without driver input on highways, keeping the distance to the car in front and staying in lane using a system which has "level 2" autonomy.

Full autonomy - known as an "eyes off, brains off" or "level 5" system - does away with even the need for a steering wheel.

"We don't want to wait until level 3 has arrived before we start with level 4/5. That will be too late," von Hugo said, adding the prospect of new revenue streams from maintaining fleets of robo-taxis was a big motivating factor for doubling up the carmaker's R&D efforts.

Autonomous vehicles came closer to road-going reality after Google unveiled a prototype car which it developed with the help of Bosch back in 2012. Mercedes-Benz responded by developing an S-class limousine that drove 103km between the German towns of Mannheim and Pforzheim a year later.

Real commercial applications for autonomous cars will start to take off between 2020 and 2025, Ola Kaellenius, Daimler board member and head of Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars development told Reuters last month.

"If you take the robo-taxi, you start perhaps in a city or several cities or areas of cities, and then you grow from there," he said. "The key is to get to something that you can commercialise, scale up."

Bosch is already one of the world's largest suppliers of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and recently announced an alliance with US tech firm Nvidia to develop a self-driving computer for production cars. Mercedes-Benz and auto supplier ZF also have separate alliances with Nvidia.

The Bosch-Daimler alliance will rely on high-definition mapping systems provided by HERE, the digital mapping firm owned by BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Intel.


All-new Perodua Axia gets 3,600 pre-launch unit bookings

                SEPANG: National car maker Perodua has secured pre-launch bookings of some 3,600 units of the all-new Axia since order-taking started eight days ago on Jan 31.

The compact five-door hatchback, which is expected to be launched next week, is available in four variants of G, X, SE and AV with estimated pricing ranging from RM38,600 and RM49,500.

At a media unveiling and test drive of the new Axia codenamed D74A, Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the new car has been optimised to deliver the best value to its buyers at reasonable pricing.

He said the new model has an improvement in space, comfort, safety and equipment compared with the previous Axia which was launched in 2014.

"We still have an outstanding delivery of 44,000 units of the older Axia which we are urging buyers to switch to the new model," he said.

The assembling of the older Axia model ended last month when the production of the new model commenced.

The company is also expecting to sell 5,700 units of the Axia a month.

Zainal also the company had received more bookings of the high-specification variants of AV and SE compared with the more budget G and X variants.

He said it could be concluded that more Perodua buyers wanted products with more features and higher value.

Perodua has previously released some information on the new model, among them Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and traction control, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Hill Start Assist and traction control for all variants.

For the SE and AV variants, they will be equipped with power mode, LED daytime running lamp (DRL), solar and security film and semi-bucket type seats with detachable headrests.

The top-of-the-line AV variant comes with exclusive features such as a 7-inch TFT (Thin-Film transistor) multi-info display, 9-inch display audio and two-tone semi-leather seats and six airbags.

At the event, we were provided with several camouflaged Axia units for a short drive around Sepang area to sample the new model's performance and ride comfort.

The new Axia has grown in size, making it wider, longer and roomier compared with the generation model that was introduced in 2008.

The front of the Axia bears a strong resemblance to Perodua's current family line-up.

The dashboard layout in the AV variant which we drove is more refined and current, featuring a dark interior with bright metallic inserts along with the large freestanding centre display and an all-electronic instrument panel.

The centre console is also slightly angled towards the driver to mimic a cockpit-like feel.

The semi-leather seats along with the leather steering wheel combination provided a nice tactile feel and a more upmarket appearance.

Perodua says the new Axia's 1.0-litre engine is now mated to a dual mode continuously variable transmission (CVT) to deliver low fuel consumption of 23.3km per litre measured under the New European Driving Cycle.

The earlier generation Axia is said to return 21.6km per litre.

As the 1.0-litre engine is tuned for efficiency, we had to work the accelerator to wring out full power as we drove with three persons on-board.

Revving the engine to 6,000rpm would raise the sound level in the cabin but Axia buyers are likely to drive at a slower pace where it would be quieter.

Once the Axia has picked up momentum, driving the little car was more enjoyable as we could easily zip around trunk roads with gentle turns.

Running on 14-inch wheels, the suspension was tuned towards comfort and the Axia's responsive steering enabled the car to deliver good handling.

Five available colours are Granite Grey, Lava Red, Glittering Silver, Ivory White and the newly introduced Coral Blue.


Pininfarina explains PF0 hypercar in new short film

Borgogno.
TURIN: This week’s Monterey Car Week and its showpiece finale, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, will host the first ever viewings of Automobili Pininfarina’s debut car, the fully electric, luxury hypercar codenamed PF0.

Automobili Pininfarina CEO Michael Perschke and design director Luca Borgogno will be joined in Monterey by Mahindra & Mahindra chairman Anand Mahindra and Paolo Pininfarina, Pininfarina SpA chairman and grandson of the famous styling house’s founder, Battista "Pinin" Farina.

“Our American dream was established in the 1920s even before the company was formed," said Pininfarina. "My grandfather, Battista, visited Ford and at the end of his tour had lunch with Henry Ford who asked him to become their chief stylist. But he had other ideas and the rest is automotive history.”

 The PF0 Concept sketch.

Automobili Pininfarina was announced in April, in Rome, as the world’s newest car brand, with an ambition to sustainably develop and produce fully-electric, ultra-luxury cars. In July, Automobili Pininfarina presented in New York initial design concepts for the company’s first car codenamed PF0, and confirmed that it will be designed and hand-crafted by legendary Italian automotive styling house Pininfarina SpA.

The Monterey Car Week now takes centre stage for Automobili Pininfarina. The first ever private viewings of PF0 will take place in Pebble Beach between Aug 23 and Aug 26 to luxury and classic car buyers showing interest in the car and brand.

A full-scale design intent model will reveal full details of how Luca Borgogno and the Pininfarina SpA team under group design director Carlo Bonzanigo have envisioned the PF0’s combination of design and technology. In addition, further interior design details and views from the cockpit will be presented to highlight the craftmanship inside the car, and the classic Pininfarina focus on both driver and passenger experience.

 Pininfarina (left) with Automobili Pininfarina CEO Michael Perschke.

Production of the PFO is limited to 150 units. They will be hand-crafted in Cambiano, Italy by the Pininfarina SpA Atelier from 2020. As the first solely-branded Pininfarina production car it will introduce a future range of luxury electric cars that deliver on a long-held Pininfarina family dream of a stand-alone Pininfarina car company.

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Monterey Car Week events are a traditional high-point in the automotive calendar for owners and investors in Pininfarina-styled landmark cars. 2016’s Pebble Beach "Best in Show" was the 1936 Lancia Asturia Pinin Farina Cabriolet. In 2017, the 1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Pinin Farina Cabriolet Speciale was announced as the "Most Elegant Sports Car" at the concours.


This is the new BMW 5 Series you have been waiting for - VIDEOS

MUNICH: BMW has just released a torrent of details on the much anticipated seventh generation 5 Series. And yes, a plug-in hybrid will be available next year in tune with BMW's determination to populate its line-up with hybrid offerings.

As expected, the new car is 100kg lighter than before as a result of the use of of more aluminium and high-strength steels.

NOTE: Don't want to read? Then watch the first video below to get the essentials on the new 5 Series.
It has a newly designed chassis, a low centre of gravity, even weight distribution and a lightweight body offering high torsional stiffness that should promise a dynamic driving experience with long-distance comfort.

There are now various chassis options such as Integral Active Steering, which can be teamed with xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive. The drag coefficient of the 4,935 millimetre-long 5 Series Sedan (Cd = 0.22 at its most efficient) sets the benchmark in its class.

Assistance systems aplenty
It is also replete with advanced assistance systems. The car is fitted as standard with a stereo camera, which teams up with optional radar and ultrasound sensors to monitor the area around the car.

New features in the 5 Series alongside the evasion aid and Crossing traffic warning are the Lane Change Assistant and Lane keeping assistant with active side collision protection.

The latter keeps an eye on the lane markings and the area around the car, and actively helps the driver to avoid looming collisions by applying corrective steering inputs.

The 5 Series also takes another step towards automated driving with extended functions for the optional Active Cruise Control (ACC) system and Steering and Lane keeping assistant.

These include adoption of speed restrictions, which the optional Intelligent Speed Assist communicates to the cruise control system (the driver can adjust this figure by +/– 15 kph).

From rest to 210 kph, the car can relieve the driver of acceleration, braking and steering duties, as desired. The Auto Start Stop function now adjusts its responses to the route and traffic conditions and therefore offers even greater driving comfort.

Cabin changes
Improvements are also seen in the cabin. The latest-generation iDrive system is more user-firendly this time. In top specification, it displays navigation, telephone and entertainment features, plus vehicle functions, on a high-resolution 10.25-inch screen.

The system can be operated using the iDrive Controller, by voice command or gestures, or by touching the display controls directly, as the driver wishes.

The large, tile-style panels can be arranged as desired and show the content of the underlying menus in constantly updated form.

The latest-generation full-colour BMW Head-Up Display has a projection surface that is 70 per cent larger than before and displays traffic signs, telephone listings, radio stations, music tracks, navigation instructions and warnings from the assistance systems.

Maximising the levels of on-board comfort are extended storage options, greater legroom for rear-seat passengers and comfort seats with massage function, not to mention innovative seat operation using touch sensors and four-zone climate control complete with ionisation and discreet air fragrancing.

Special Synergy Thermoacoustic Capsule (SYNTAK) engine encapsulation technology, the acoustic glazing for the windscreen and the acoustic headliner bring about another noticeable reduction in noise levels inside the car.

All headlight variants specified for the 5 Series Sedan come as standard with LED technology. Available as an option are Adaptive LED Headlights with variable light distribution including adaptive roundabout lights and BMW Selective Beam anti-dazzle high beam with a range of up to 500 metres.

Better connectivity is also touted. Extensive BMW ConnectedDrive features are joined by new services which lavish business travellers with extra comfort and save them time. These include the new ParkNow technology for digital parking space reservation and payment, the On-Street Parking Information intelligent parking space search function and the optional Parking Assistant, which detects empty spots and parks the vehicle automatically.

Plus, the Microsoft Exchange service now enables Microsoft Office 365 users to sync emails, calendar entries and contacts and edit them inside their car. Meanwhile, the optional Remote Parking system allows the BMW 5 Series Sedan to be manoeuvred into even the tightest parking spaces remotely using the car key.

And smartphone integration has been further improved – from Apple CarPlay (which, in a first for a carmaker, has been incorporated fully wirelessly), to inductive phone charging and the WiFi hotspot for up to 10 devices.

BMW Connected, the personal digital mobility assistant from BMW, has been available in Europe since July 2016. The next development stage of the system, complete with additional services, is set to be introduced with the new 5 Series. BMW Connected Onboard gives drivers an overview of their mobility-related information.

Relevant content such as the upcoming navigation destinations and estimated arrival time recorded in their personal mobility agenda are transferred seamlessly into the car from their smartphone and displayed on the personalised screen.

To step up the sporty looks, BMW will offer the M Sport package from launch. It includes the M aerodynamic package (front apron with larger air intakes, side skirt trim, a diffusor-style rear apron and an exhaust system with two rectangular tailpipes), lowered M Sport suspension and M light-alloy wheels in 18-inch (optional 19-inch) format.

Inside the car, M sports seats with Alcantara covers highlight its sporting focus and are joined by the new M Sport leather steering wheel, exclusive floor mats, interior trim strips and aluminium pedals.

All equipment lines and the M Sport package also offer customers the option of Sensatec covering in the colour shade Coffee for the instrument panel and shoulder area of the side door panel trim.

Remote 3D View allows drivers to call up three-dimensional views of the area around their car on their smartphone while on the move, so that they need never lose sight of their car.

What's powering the car for starters — 540i/530i/520d/530d
All the engines in the 5 Series Sedan line-up belong to the newly developed, modular BMW EfficientDynamics family of power units. They all get BMW TwinPower Turbo technology that offers performance with fuel efficiency. Two diesel engines and two petrol variants will be available from launch, working in tandem with either rear-wheel drive or xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive.

The flagship engine at launch will be the 340hp unit under the bonnet of the new BMW 540i but it will play second fiddle once the range topper M550i xDrive arrives in March with a V8 mill.
The 540i's three-litre straight-six produces torque of 450Nm. Despite its extra output and sharper dynamic edge, average fuel consumption stands at only 6.5 l/100km and CO2 emissions are kept to just 150 g/km. In xDrive guise, the 540i powers from 0 – 100kph in a mere 4.8 seconds.

The new two-litre four-cylinder in-line engine in the BMW 530i develops peak torque of 350Nm and maximum output of 252hp. Its fuel consumption in the combined cycle comes in at 5.4 litres/100km, which means CO2 emissions of 126 g/km – down more than 11 per cent on its predecessor’s figures.

The BMW 530i accelerates from 0 - 100kph in 6.2 seconds on its way to a top speed of 250kph.

The four-cylinder diesel engine powering the 520d develops 190 hp and peak torque of 400Nm. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are 4.1 l/100 km and 108 g/km with the manual gearbox specified or 4.0 l/100km and 107 g/km with the eight-speed Steptronic transmission. The sedan accelerates from 0 - 100kph in 7.6 seconds (Steptronic). Top speed is 237kph.

The new BMW 530d likewise does a nice line in dynamics and efficiency. Producing 265hp and peak torque of 620Nm, the six-cylinder in-line unit is clearly superior to the equivalent model in the outgoing range.

And yet the 530d also makes do with average fuel consumption of 4.5 l/100km and CO2 emissions of 118 g/km – an approximately 13 per cent improvement on its predecessor. The new 530d races from 0 – 100kphin just 5.7 seconds, and on to an electronically governed 250kph.

Plug-in hybrid in second wave
Not long after the launch of the new 5 Series, BMW will be adding another three engine variants to the line-up. The 190hp four-cylinder diesel engine will be presented in its most efficient form in the 520d EfficientDynamics Edition with eight-speed Steptronic. Its CO2 emissions of just 102 g/km are the lowest in the sedan’s class (average fuel consumption: 3.9 l/100 km).

Also to come in March 2017 is a plug-in hybrid version, in the form of the 530e iPerformance. The combination of the eDrive electric drive concept and a four-cylinder petrol engine produces extremely low CO2 emissions of 46 g/km. System output is 252hp.

Also in March, the M550i xDrive will take over as the sporting highlight of the new BMW 5 Series range, for the time being at least. Its V8 engine will make 462hp and 650Nm of torque along fuel efficiency of 8.9 l/100 km and CO2 emissions 204 g/km. The M550i xDrive dispatches the 0 – 100kph sprint in 4.0 seconds.

Like all previous generations of this model since 1973, the new 5 Series will be built at BMW’s Dingolfing plant in Bavaria, which will serve as the lead plant for all 5 Series production.

A longer version of the 5 Series will once again be built at the Shenyang plant in China. The standard-wheelbase car will also roll off the assembly line at Magna Steyr in Graz from spring 2017.

All these information is whetting our appetite. CarSifu will be flying to Europe in about two months' time to test-drive the G30 5 Series, so stay tuned for the first drive report.

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