Hyundai and SoundHound team up on voice recognition tech

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Company took a major step towards equipping future connected vehicles with the voice recognition technology necessary to keep pace with growing, real-time data needs of drivers.

Hyundai’s “Intelligent Personal Agent,” a voice-enabled virtual assistant system, will be deployed in new models set to roll out as early as 2019.

Co-developed by Hyundai and Silicon Valley-based SoundHound Inc., the leading innovator in voice-enabled AI and conversational intelligence technologies, Intelligent Personal Agent allows drivers to use voice commands for many different operations and real-time data, which connected cars of the future demand.

The Intelligent Personal Agent is unique in that it acts as a proactive assistant system, predicting the driver’s needs and providing useful information. For instance, the system may give an early reminder of an upcoming meeting and suggest departure times that account for current traffic conditions.

These personal features combine with an array of driver conveniences, such as the ability to make phone calls, send text messages, search destinations, search music, check weather and manage schedules.

It also allows drivers to voice-control frequently used in-vehicle functions such as air-conditioning, sunroofs and door locks, while gathering various information about the vehicle.

What’s more, the Intelligent Personal Agent supports a “Car-to-Home” service, enabling the driver to control electronic devices at home with simple voice commands.

“Sophisticated voice recognition and AI integration are core to effectively providing drivers with the massive content and data that future connected vehicles have to offer,” said Paul Choo, Director of Infotainment Development Group at Hyundai Motor Company “These elements play a key role in delivering connected-car-generated information.”

The Intelligent Personal Agent sets itself apart from the competition with its “multiple-command recognition” function. When the user says, “Tell me what the weather will be like tomorrow and turn off the lights in our living room,” the system recognizes two separate commands in the same sentence and completes each task separately.

Intelligent Personal Assistant is based on SoundHound’s Houndify artificial intelligence (AI) platform, optimized for in-vehicle applications. When activated, the system reacts to the driver’s voice commands or questions by communicating with SoundHound AI server to search for the requested information or complete a task.

“We spent a decade developing Houndify, the most advanced voice AI platform, to enable partners the ability to create customized experiences for their products,” said Keyvan Mohajer, Founder & CEO of SoundHound Inc. “We are thrilled to work with Hyundai Motor to revolutionize the in-car experience.”

Hyundai Motor will unveil Intelligent Personal Agent during CES 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada in January.


Britain's INEOS to build 600,000-tonne petrochemical plant in China

An INEOS petrochemical plant in Marseille, France. — AP
BEIJING: A subsidiary of British chemical giant INEOS Group will build a plant with an annual capacity of 600,000 tonnes of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a lightweight plastic used in automobiles and electrical appliances, in China.

The plant, to be located in Ningbo city in Zhejiang province, will be one of a dozen petrochemical-plants in the region, as China is pushing to expand its petrochemical capacity to meet the increasing demand.

The construction of the project, wholly owned by the Germany-headquartered INEOS Styrolution, is scheduled to start this year and will be completed by 2023, the company said in a statement late Thursday, without providing any investment details.

“China is the biggest ABS market in the world. This new investment will give us a tremendous opportunity to provide our customers in the region with locally produced ABS grades,” Steve Harrington, president Asia-Pacific at INEOS Styrolution said.

The move aims to increase INEOS Styrolution’s manufacturing footprint and market access in China and the rest of Asia.

The decision to build the plant comes after INEOS Styrolution acquired two polystyrene plants in China from French energy firm Total SA in February last year with a combined annual production capacity of 400,000 tonnes.


Hyundai boosts EV battery recycling for home use

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Group said it has teamed up with local solar cells and modules manufacturer Hanwha Q Cells to develop energy storage system (ESS) with used electric vehicle (EV) batteries, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the two sides will cooperate to find a business solution that recycles EV batteries and makes ESS at a lower cost. They plan to develop home-use ESS products together, targeting European and North American customers.

The two companies also agreed to explore solar-related ESS projects by utilising their infrastructure and supply channels.

Hyundai Motor Group said the partnership will facilitate expansion of renewable energy use and support its efforts to establish an environmental-friendly ecosystem for the EV industry.

The South Korean automotive giant in recent years has been pushing to develop ESS in the after-market use of EV batteries.

In 2018, Hyundai signed a strategic partnership with Finnish energy giant Wartsila on developing the commercial market for ESS using recycled EV batteries. Last year, it decided to join forces with local solar energy firm OCI Co. for an ESS project.


Goodyear Aero tyre concept targets flying cars

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, its people and its laws are no way near ready for flying cars just yet even as a certain minister said a prototype is ready.

However on the global scene, there is a production flying car called Liberty Pioneer from Dutch company PAL-V that is already taking orders for delivery this year. But it costs a pretty penny at €499,000 (RM2.4mil) before taxes. Other than that, there's the added cost of getting a pilot's licence and the need for access to a small airstrip to take off and land.

PAL-V said at the ongoing Geneva Motor Show that it has so far secured 75 orders from customers in the United States, Europe and the Middle East.

While flying cars will remain a fringe idea for years to come, tyre maker Goodyear is thinking ahead with a mind-bending tyre concept it claims would work both as a tyre for driving on the road and a “propeller” for flying through the sky.

Yes, the Goodyear Aero concept is a two-in-one tyre designed for the flying cars of the future and is being showcased at the Geneva Motor Show.

While the Aero is a purely conceptual design, some of its featured technologies, such as a non-pneumatic structure and intelligent tyre capabilities, are being developed by Goodyear today, while others might become the basis for new ideas and potentially new products in the future.

“Goodyear’s concepts are meant to trigger a debate on the tyres and transport technologies for a new mobility ecosystem,” said Goodyear chief technology officer Chris Helsel.

“With mobility companies looking to the sky for the answer to the challenges of urban transport and congestion, our work on advanced tyre architectures and materials led us to imagine a wheel that could serve both as a traditional tyre on the road and as a propulsion system in the sky.”

The Aero concept includes a number of newfangled features:

> Multimodal Design: The Aero is a multimodal tilt-rotor concept. It would serve as a drive train to transfer and absorb forces to and from the road in a traditional orientation and an aircraft propulsion system to provide lift in another orientation. With capable vehicles, the Aero would give future commuters the freedom to move seamlessly from the road to the sky.

> Non-Pneumatic Structure: The concept’s spokes would provide support to carry the weight of the vehicle and act as fan blades to provide lift when the tyre is tilted. This unique airless tyre uses a non-pneumatic structure that is flexible enough to dampen shocks when driving on the road, and strong enough to rotate at the high speeds necessary for the rotors to create vertical lift.

> Magnetic Propulsion: The Aero concept would use magnetic force to provide frictionless propulsion. This would enable the high rotating speeds required to drive the vehicle on the ground and, when the wheel is tilted, lift a vehicle into the air and propel it forward.

> Optical Sensing: The Aero would use light-based, fibre optic sensors to monitor road conditions, tyre wear and the structural integrity of the tyre itself.


Fiat Chrysler to build electric, hybrid cars in Poland

                WARSAW: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said it’s planning to start making hybrid and electric cars at its Polish plant in the second half of 2022.

The group will expand and modernise its factory in Tychy to eventually make Jeeps, Fiats and Alfa Romeos, it said in a statement on its website on Tuesday.

It will invest 755 million zloty (RM826mil) in the project “with prospects for many times more,” Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin said on Twitter.

Fiat Chrysler’s Polish plant produces Fiat 500 and Lancia Ypsilon small cars and employs about 2,500 people.


Embattled Evergrande's EV unit vows to make cars early next year

                BEIJING: China's embattled Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group said on Monday it aimed to start producing electric vehicles (EV) next year despite facing a struggle to secure external investment.

Evergrande NEV, which is linked to troubled Chinese developer Evergrande Group, has held meeting with suppliers and local authorities in the coastal city of Tianjin where it is building a car plant.

It said on its website that management would make sure it reached mass-production next year.

Evergrande NEV warned in stock exchange filings last month that it was still looking for new investors and to make asset sales, and without either it may struggle to pay employee salaries and cover other expenses. It also scrapped plans to list shares in mainland China.


BMW Motorrad Days expected to resume only in 2022

                MUNICH: BMW Motorrad Days 2021 is not happening as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc in Europe and around the world.

This would be the second year in a row that the global customer event had to be cancelled. BMW Motorrad said it expects the event to resume in July 2022.

For many years, the BMW Motorrad Days have been one of the largest customer events of the BMW Group with a large number of guests from all over the world.

The BMW Motorrad Days organiser said in a statement that "the current circumstances and the associated enormous planning uncertainties no longer allow this highly internationally oriented event to be planned as the necessary lead times involved are very long."

"Our early cancellation will moreover make planning easier for our many overseas visitors, knowing they have longer lead times for logistics and travel arrangements."

This year's event was planned to take place in Berlin in the place where BMW motorcycles have been built for more than 50 years.

It had been held for 18 years in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a ski town in Germany's Bavaria region. The tradition-steeped event began in 2001 as the BMW Motorrad Biker Meeting in Seefeld, Austria.


Koenigsegg Agera RS races off with Bugatti's record

                COPENHAGEN: A Koenigsegg Agera RS has just managed to go from 0-400kph and back to standstill in just 36.44 seconds.

The new time, set at Vandel Airfield in Denmark with Koenigsegg test driver Niklas Lilja behind the wheel, is a full 5.52 seconds faster than the current Guinness World Record time. That was set by the Bugatti Chiron in September in the run up to the Frankfurt International Motor Show.

More impressive still is that while the Chiron has an 8-litre 16-cylinder engine, four turbochargers and 1,500hp on tap plus the weight of the entire Volkswagen Group behind it, the Agera RS only has a 5-litre twin turbo V8 under its carbon fiber shell, capable of outputting 1,360hp.

And is built in a tiny facility in Sweden by a tiny company headed up by a single man with a singular vision, Christian von Koenigsegg.

"It makes me so proud, so happy and excited to see what we have achieved as a team with the Agera RS. A result like this does not just happen," he said of the new record. "It may have only taken a few hours of driving to complete this run, but we cannot overlook all of the work that went into creating the car in the first place."

And the new record may not stand for very long. The Agera RS is by no means the fastest or most powerful car that Koenigsegg currently builds. In fact, the only reason the 0-400-0 run was attempted with the car in the first place was to appease a client.

The car used for breaking the record is about to be shipped to its owner in the US, but he wanted some independent test carried out so that he could verify the car's veracity when compared with Lamborghinis, Ferraris and, of course, Bugattis.

Indeed, when it's ready, von Koenigsegg has confirmed he and his team will be heading back out on to the track with the Regera. It does have the same 1,500hp on tap that the Chiron boasts, and early tests show that the car can accelerate from 0-400kph in under 20 seconds. During its record-breaking run, the Agera RS took 26.88 seconds to hit 400kph.

However, Bugatti isn't finished, either. It has confirmed that it will be heading out to the track early next year to set a new record for the world's fastest production car. That accolade is currently held by the Bugatti Veyron (in SS specification), the model the Chiron is replacing and a car that managed to hit 431.072kph.


Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupé: Performance without the price tag

                STUTTGART: The latest Mercedes SUV to get the AMG tuning treatment, the GLC Coupé, won't break any crossover land speed records, but it won't break the bank either.

The Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupé is propelled forward by a 3-litre twin turbo 367hp V6 engine that sends its power through a nine-speed automatic gearbox to all four wheels. This results in a less than shabby 0-100kph time of 4.9 seconds and an electronically limited 250kph top speed.

In isolation, those numbers are impressive but when this new variant of the GLC Coupé makes its official debut at the Paris motorshow in October, it will do so alongside the latest Porsche Macan. Also announced on Thursday, the Macan Turbo with performance package offers similar interior space and four-wheel drive, but its twin-turbo V6 serves up 440hp, a 0-100kph time of just 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 272kph.

But before those in the market for a sporty SUV start Googling "Porsche Dealership" the Mercedes has Porsche completely beaten in two respects.

First, it's a Mercedes and therefore at the cutting edge of luxury and of latest-generation driving tech. But secondly, though prices for the GLC have not been confirmed yet, it will cost roughly 30% less than the new €91,000 Porsche.

This means that, according to Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes AMG GmbH: "The Coupé is able to appeal to new target audiences."

In times gone by, the AMG badge meant a massive, supercharged V8 or a monstrous V12 under the hood. But regardless of cylinder count, those three letters signified the pinnacle of performance possibility.

However, in an attempt to bring AMG's engineering excellence to the Mercedes masses, since the beginning of 2016, the company has started offering two AMG variants (63 and 43) of new models with either eight or six cylinders calling the shots - think the difference between full cream and semi-skimmed - meaning that the calorie count is lower but the taste is still the same. Something that Moers highlights.

"The new GLC 43 4MATIC Coupé is characterised by a high level of agility and sporty driving dynamics," he said.

Creating two AMG variations of each new model also means that the best (from a performance perspective) is still to come in terms of the GLC Coupé range at least. And that model will be a statistical match for any Porsche Macan or BMW X4.


Uber taps into Japan with first taxi-hailing pilot

Japanese prefer to play it safe by sticking to their high-quality traditional taxi service. — AFP
TOKYO: Uber announced Tuesday it would start its first taxi-hailing pilot programme in Japan this summer, as it bids to break into a tough market in the world's third largest economy.

The US firm has found it difficult to penetrate the Japanese market, where risk averse passengers prefer to stick to their high quality traditional taxi service.

Hailing a taxi rarely takes more than a few seconds in major Japanese cities and there has been a relatively sluggish uptake of services like Uber, where consumers order an unlicensed car via a smartphone app.

But Uber said in a statement Tuesday it would launch a pilot programme this summer to hook up tourists and residents in the western Awaji island with available taxi drivers.

Uber said it aimed to provide local residents and tourists with "reliable and safe transportation" on the small island, which is home to just over 150,000 people.

"I'm very excited that Uber's technology will contribute to further enhancing the transit environment of Awaji Island," Brooks Entwistle, Uber's Chief Business Officer, said in the statement, adding it will be "the first initiative of its kind in Japan".

Uber is far from alone in targeting the Japanese taxi market, with Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing and Japanese telecom firm SoftBank announcing a deal in early February to develop a taxi app in Japan.

SoftBank has heavily invested in the taxi market and recently took a 15 percent stake in Uber.

And Sony has said it is planning a joint venture to offer artificial intelligence technology to six taxi operators, which currently own a total of 10,000 vehicles here.

The technology would use AI to predict demand for taxis and allow companies to more efficiently mobilise their resources.

Carmaker Toyota has also announced an investment of 7.5 billion yen (RM278mil) in the JapanTaxi app, which says it is the biggest taxi-hailing app in Japan.


Lotus releases Evora 400 pricing

                LONDON: Lotus Cars says the Evora 400 is now priced at £72,000 (RM405,000) in Britain – that’s £10,000 more than the entry-level Evora that debuted in 2012.

In Malaysia, the Evora arrived costing under half-a-million ringgit; the Evora 400 is estimated to be RM60,000 upwards when it reaches local shores.

The Evora 400 is lighter, more efficient and dynamically better than its predecessor.

Lotus said its new car is able to lap its test track at Hethel in 1min 32Sec – six seconds faster than the previous Evora S, thanks to a familiar 3.5-litre supercharged V6 that’s been tuned-up to 400bhp and 410Nm of torque.

With almost 70% of the car being new and with a new aluminium chassis, the car takes 4.1sec to reach 100kph from standstill and onwards to a top speed of 300kph. To handle this level of performance, the Evora 400 comes equipped with 370mm AP Racing composite two-piece brake discs and a Limited Slip Differential as standard.

Other standard equipment includes automatic air-conditioning and an infotainment system with navigation.

On the options list, the manual transmission can be replaced for an automatic costing an additional £2,000 (RM12,000), cabin trim can be upgraded to Alcantara or leather for an extra £2,500 (RM15,000) and metallic paint for £900 (RM5,000).

A Black Pack is also available for £1,250 (RM7,000) providing new panels for the roof, sills and centre section of the three-element rear wing in gloss black and a dark headlining for the interior.

Adding to the list are lightweight forged alloy wheels for £2,000 (RM6,000), cruise control and yellow or black brake callipers, all priced at £300 (RM1,700) each.

According to Group Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales, the Evora 400 is considered affordable for a vehicle that is able to "deliver the performance of a car costing significantly more" and that it is the "fastest road-going Lotus" it has ever built.

The car was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March and will enter production for European markets in July with deliveries set for August onwards.

North American markets are due to receive the car as a 2016 model year in December, while China will first deliveries in early 2016.


Maserati to electrify entire line-up in next five years

                MILAN: All vehicles of Fiat Chrysler’s premium brand Maserati will be electrified, either hybrid or full-electric, in the next five years, the unit’s chief executive said on Thursday.

Maserati’s new SUV Grecale, to be released next year, will be initially offered both in a combustion-engine and in a hybrid version, Davide Grasso said during a fashion web event organised by Italian daily Milano Finanza.

“The new Gran Turismo and Gran Cabrio models will be electrified too, all our line-up will be electrified in the next five years,” Grasso said.

A full-electric version of the Grecale SUV is expected at a later stage, Maserati has said.


Goat has a 'baa-d' day

                KUALA PILAH: A goat trying to make a quick escape was found trapped with its head lodged in the steering wheel of a car in Kampung Gentam here on Thursday.

Kuala Pilah Civil Defence Department Head of Operations Zulkarnain Basiron said the owner of the car, a 50-year-old woman, contacted them at 3.40pm after discovering the goat.

Three officers rushed to the scene and found it in the driver's seat.

"The goat entered the car after the owner opened the door while getting ready to leave for work," Zulkarnain told Sinar Harian. "The goat's horn got hooked in the steering wheel, causing it to be trapped," he added.

Civil Defence Department officers managed to release the goat in three minutes.

An amused Zulkarnain said he would never forget the humorous incident in his time serving as a member of the Civil Defence Department.


VW gauges interest in Ducati brand as prelude to potential sale, say sources

                LONDON/FRANKFURT: Volkswagen Group is hosting preliminary talks with potential bidders for its Ducati brand to gauge potential interest in the motorcycle maker ahead of a November planning round, say three people familiar with the matter.

During the five-year planning round, VW will review the future of its Ducati brand as well as of its super sports car brands Lamborghini and Bugatti, they said.

Volkswagen is analysing the future of Lamborghini, Bugatti and Ducati as part of broader quest for more economies of scale as it shifts to mass producing electric cars and as the company tries to more than double its value to 200 billion euros.

The review could result in technology partnerships for the high-performance sports car and superbike brands, restructuring, or other options up to and including a listing or sale, the people said.

Whether Volkswagen agrees to kick off a formal sales process at that meeting is still uncertain, but for a sale to be possible early next year, investors and bankers need to gauge price expectations and potential strategic fit, said a second person

“There is some movement here,” one of these sources said, commenting on the potential kick-off of a Ducati auction. No decision has been taken yet, the source added.

Two other people close to the matter said that Volkswagen is expected to launch the sales process in early 2021 and may mandate a sellside advisor before Christmas.

Volkswagen declined to comment.

Volkswagen attempted to sell Ducati in 2017, when peer Bajaj Auto in a tie-up with KTM, as well as Polaris and private equity groups Bain, PAI and Investindustrial expressed interest in buying the Italian motorbike brand.

A sale met opposition from labour leaders and was shelved.

As part of its next strategy review, Volkswagen is also drawing up plans to carve out Lamborghini and has sounded out bankers and potential investors about listing the Italian sports car maker on the stock market, said sources.

A listing could be attempted in 2021, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

Italian supercar rival Ferrari saw its valuation more than treble since Fiat Chrysler listed it in 2016 though shares in rival Aston Martin have slumped since its IPO in 2018.


2015 LA Auto Show: Infiniti QX30 makes world debut in LA and Guangzhou

LOS ANGELES: The Infiniti QX30 crossover is making its simultaneous global debut at the 2015 Los Angeles and Guangzhou international motor shows - signalling the next phase of the company’s global growth strategy.

It boasts a purposeful appearance that makes a bold visual statement – and joins the Q30 as part of Infiniti’s new premium compact model line-up.

Sticking with the striking and elegant design cues that guided the original QX30 concept, the car’s highly sculpted exterior, crossover stance and asymmetric cabin design exemplify Infiniti’s design-led approach to product development.

Check out world reveal using drones

It offers an elevated ride height, confidence-inspiring handling, a ‘go-anywhere’ attitude and comes available with an intelligent all-wheel drive system. As a result, the vehicle is able to take on urban, suburban and winding rural roads in all driving conditions.

Speaking in Los Angeles, Roland Krueger, President of Infiniti, commented: “The QX30 active crossover is joining our new premium compact family at the right time and will broaden our offer to new customers around the world. With our recent sales successes and record growth, the current product offensive will further strengthen Infiniti’s global market position.”

Technical details have not been revealed yet but expect the new model to be available in petrol and diesel variants. Like the Q30, there could be a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder version making 208 hp and 350Nm of torque.

The Infiniti QX30 premium active crossover will go on sale in selected markets in the middle of 2016. Rivals include Lexus NX, Audi Q3, Mercedes GLA and BMW X1

Alongside the Q30, revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015, the QX30 will play an integral role in Infiniti’s promise to offer customers a broader range of premium products.  The vehicle is also expected to contribute to the continual increase of global sales – which have already hit record levels in 2015.

In the first 10 months of 2015, Infiniti sold almost 173,000 new vehicles worldwide, representing an increase of 16% compared to the same period in 2014. The 32,200 vehicles sold in China means Infiniti has already exceeded its full-year 2014 figure in the world’s largest car market, while in the US Infiniti sold more than 106,700 vehicles, the best sales results in the country since 2005.

Global sales of 18,400 units in October represented an increase of 20% over the same month in the previous year.


Toyota shines at 4th Asean NCAP Grand Prix awards

                KUALA LUMPUR: Toyota received multiple awards for its best-in-class safety technologies as well as the ‘Excellent Award’ as the brand with the most 5-Star awards (2019 – 2020).

Over the last two years, the Toyota brand has received an overall 5-star rating for seven of its vehicle models - a number that is greater than any other brand.

Due to ongoing pandemic conditions in the region, the 4th Asean NCAP Grand Prix Awards announced on Feb 16 was conducted online.

The biannual event of the New Car Assessment Programme for Southeast Asian Countries (better known as Asean NCAP) has the aim at commemorating high achievers in car safety in the Asean region.

For decades, Toyota has been fully committed to continuously enhancing its vehicle safety.

Apart from the design of the vehicles, Toyota has also developed many new and advanced technologies that have not just enhanced protection but also set new standards for the auto industry.

UMW Toyota Motor deputy chairman Akio Takeyama said Toyota was committed to continuously improving its vehicle safety technologies and performance, as part of its entire efforts toward road and traffic safety, with focus on three essential elements-vehicle (advancing safety technology), people (educating drivers, passengers and pedestrians towards traffic safety) and traffic environment (supporting safer traffic infrastructure).

Of the 12 categories relating to automotive manufacturers and vehicles, Toyota won in five of the categories.

Popular models such as the Corolla Altis, Hilux and Innova were recipients of the Excellent Awards for Continuous Safety Improvement in their respective segments, while the Majesty/Granvia were recognised with the Best Safety Performance Award for Safety Assist Systems.

UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K said the awards from Asean NCAP confirmed the approach of Toyota Synergized Mobility to bring to the forefront the technological leadership of Toyota that would be used to make ever better cars.

“Today, many of our models sold in Malaysia have Toyota Safety Sense, an Integrated Safety Management Concept where individual safety technologies and systems are designed to collaborate with each other in various vehicle operation stages, from parking to advanced safety, pre-collision safety, collision safety and rescue.”

Asean NCAP is a collaborative effort between the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) and Global NCAP.

Established in 2011, it marked a new milestone of vehicle safety for the region in response to the United Nations’ Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Over the past 10 years, Asean NCAP has focussed on popular models made and sold in the Asean region to provide consumers with information on the safety performance of the vehicles.

It conducts crash tests at its own facility in Melaka as well as facilities of affiliated safety organisations in Asia.


EU antitrust regulators say probing possible German car cartel

                BRUSSELS: EU antitrust regulators are investigating allegations of a cartel among a group of German carmakers, the European Commission said, a measure that could result in hefty fines for the companies.

The Commission and its German counterpart were tipped off about the possible cartel, the EU competition authority said.

"The European Commission and the Bundeskartellamt have received information on this matter, which is currently being assessed by the Commission. It is premature at this stage to speculate further," the EU executive said, without giving more details.

German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Friday that VW, BMW , Audi, Porsche may have colluded to fix the prices of diesel emissions treatment systems using industry committees.

Sixty industry committees made up of about 200 employees discussed vehicle development, brakes, petrol and diesel engines, clutches and transmissions as well as exhaust treatment systems, Der Spiegel reported, citing a letter sent to cartel authorities.

It said Volkswagen admitted to possible anti-competitive behavior in a letter to cartel authorities on July 4. Volkswagen and Daimler declined to comment on Friday and BMW was not available to comment.

Companies found guilty of breaching EU cartel rules face fines of as much as 10 percent of their global turnover.

The car industry has been hit with billion-euro fines on both sides of the Atlantic in recent years for cartels related to various parts such as lighting systems, engine coolers and bearings.

In another development, carmaker SEAT sees compressed-natural-gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel to diesel, the chief executive of the Spanish Volkswagen division said on Saturday.

SEAT was betting on CNG in order to compensate for falling diesel car sales, its chief executive Luca de Meo was quoted as saying in part of a report due to run in full in the July 24 issue of Automobilwoche.

"We have to offer customers a sensible solution. The debate about diesel is continuing and therefore we need other options, he said.

While SEAT, bought by Volkswagen in 1986, was less exposed to diesel dependency than premium carmakers, it still had to observe market dynamics very carefully, de Meo said.

"If the mayor of Barcelona decides to close the city centre for Euro-6-diesels, then customers will probably no longer buy diesel cars," he said.

The finance chief of sister company Porsche, Lutz Meschke, also interviewed, said that discussions about a diesel-free future were underway.

"In our segment, we have the right answers with plug-in hybrids and purely electrical drives. Why should I anxiously hold on to a diesel?" he said.


Peugeot to release 308 GTi hot hatch

                PARIS: Come Nov 5, Peugeot will introduce the 308 GTi "hot hatch".

The 308 GTi has been extensively developed by Peugeot Sport - the brand’s in-house team of motorsport engineers. The 308 GTi is the fourth road car project in three years following the critically acclaimed RCZ R, 208 GTi 30th and 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport.

The GTi offers customers a striking new interpretation of the 308’s sleek exterior design, enhanced sports-oriented interior detailing and driving pleasure.

Powered by the 1.6-litre THP petrol engine with Stop&Start (S&S) technology, it is available in two power outputs – 250hp and 270hp – and limited to 250kph. The environmental credentials are said to be class-leading, with CO2 emissions at just 139g/km, while official combined cycle fuel economy is 47.0mpg.

With both models weighing in at just 1205kg this enables the 308 GTi 250 to sprint to 100kph in 6.2 seconds, with a power-to-weight ratio of just 4.82kg/hp. The 308 GTi 270 sets a new segment record for power-to-weight – at just 4.46kg/hp – and reaches 100kph in 6.0 seconds flat.

Key to the appeal of the 270 GTi is its Torsen limited-slip differential, fitted as standard. Designed to improve cornering by channeling the torque to the wheel with the greatest traction, it also makes it possible to drive faster around corners and enhance grip and handling.

The 270 GTi is also equipped with 2.3kg lighter 19” ‘Carbone’ lightweight alloy wheels shod with the latest Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres. The design showcases the 380mm ventilated front brake discs with solid red four-piston Peugeot Sport signature calipers.

The 308 GTi boasts purposeful new styling, sitting 11mm lower to the ground than its siblings. Aggressive new front and rear design elements have been added, with six distinctive exterior colours available – new Ultimate Red, Pearlescent White, Magnetic Blue, Nera Black, Cumulus Grey and Hurricane Grey. For the most eye-catching look, a ‘Coupe Franche’ two-tone design is exclusive to the 308 GTi 270, contrasting Ultimate Red with Nera Black.

The interior has been specified to complement the 308 GTi’s exterior, subtly emphasising its sporting credentials. The door sill carries the Peugeot Sport and GTi signature, while the foot pedals, foot rest and gear knob are finished in aluminum. Red stitching features on the upholstery, door panels, gear lever and premium floor mats. The GTi 270 features Peugeot Sport race-inspired seats, upholstered in leather effect and Alcantara, which provide enhanced lateral support.

The compact steering wheel – an integral part of the 308’s acclaimed PEUGEOT i-Cockpit cabin design – provides natural grip and precise direction. It features full-grain leather with a GTi logo at the base and a red centring mark at the top. The head-up display instrument panel read-outs has a chequered backdrop, and a GTi greets the driver on start-up.

A 9.7” centrally mounted touch-screen forms a seamless part of the instrument panel, with its Redline theme adding a final touch of flair to the interior. The user-friendly feel of the cockpit promotes safe, instinctive driving control – crucial for a car that packs such a punch.

Standard equipment on the 308 GTi includes a Driver Sport Pack, which allows owners to ramp up the high-octane feel. Pressing the Sport button on the centre console switches the display colour from white to red, and shows additional information on the central read-out. It also enhances engine noise growl and changes the accelerator pedal mapping.

Also standard is red ‘PEUGEOT’ lettering on the grille, sports side skirts, new twin exhaust system with black diffuser, GTi badging, full LED headlamps, front LED sequential indicators, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, PEUGEOT Open & Go (keyless entry & push button start), satellite navigation and DAB digital radio. The GTi 250 has 18-inch ‘Diamant’ alloy wheels while the GTi 270 the larger 19” ‘Carbone’ lightweight alloy wheels.


McLaren F1 star Lando Norris collects his MSO McLaren 765LT Spider

                LONDON: Formula 1 star Lando Norris has collected his own McLaren 765LT Spider, personalised by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) and originally presented to him at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, England.

The 23-year-old chose a unique specification for his car, heavily influenced by his personal branding.

The MSO Lando Norris 1 of 1 is instantly recognisable by its Gloss Blue Tint Visual Carbon Fibre exterior with contrasting Satin Visual Carbon Fibre details, which echoes the lightweight and strong material that has formed the basis of all McLaren road and race cars since the revolutionary MP4/1 Formula 1 car in 1981.

"I’ve been able to drive a lot of different McLarens, but this is the first car that I’ve designed; this is me in a car. I’m a carbon lover, the more carbon I can have, the better but I didn’t want to have my logo everywhere, I wanted something a bit more subtle and MSO has done a fantastic job to realise my vision. My first custom car has been designed by McLaren and MSO and is even more perfect than I can imagine,” said Norris.

“The 765LT has really captured the imagination of our customers and it’s been a particular privilege to realise Lando’s dream car specification, which is a very unique design and looks absolutely stunning. We’ve experienced unprecedented levels of demand for our bespoke services with this car and this is a particularly stylish example of the specialist design and craftmanship skills available to our customers.”
Mick McDonagh, director of McLaren Special Operations (MSO) & Motorsport

The distinctive exterior finish of Lando’s 765LT is complemented by Satin Black wheels and is contrasted by Lando Yellow brake calipers, the same colour used for Lando’s own four stripe Graphic – reflecting his race number – which appears above the right-side eye socket and under the active rear wing, the latter feature visible only during high-downforce deployment.

The wing also features MSO branding in Gloss Blue Tint Visual Carbon Fibre on a Satin Carbon Fibre insert on its upper surface.

Other external features include all three Carbon Fibre Exterior Upgrade Packs, which incorporates the Front Splitter, Front fenders & Rear Diffuser, Air Intakes, Side Skirts and Door Mirrors.

The roof Tonneau and Rear Aero Bridge are also finished in MSO Defined Carbon Fibre.

The exterior is finished with the MSO Defined Carbon Fibre Hood, adorned with a lightweight Dark Chrome McLaren badge.

In addition, the Stealth Pack adds a discreet finish to the Rear Wing mechanism and the Titanium Exhaust’s signature quad-exit.

The interior continues Lando’s colour scheme, which is visible from the outside when the Retractable Hard Top – featuring a glass Electrochromic Roof - is lowered.

The Carbon Fibre Racing Seats are trimmed in Navy Blue with Napier Stitching. In addition, the head rests are embroidered with Lando’s personal initial ‘LN4’ branding.

There are also Navy Blue Alcantara and Napier Stitching highlights on the door and dash trim and the door appliques have a painted white pinstripe.

There are additional hidden interior features, most noticeably the MSO Custom Dark Tint Carbon Union Flag Sill with Lando Graphic visible when opening the doors.

Below the MSO Custom Steering Wheel with Blue Tint Carbon Fade, 12 O’Clock Marker in white and Lando Yellow Lando Graphic, is the MSO Custom Floor Mat – repeated on the passenger side - with LN4 branding and Napier Stitching, placed ahead of Blue Anodised Pedals.

The distractive interior is completed with a unique MSO Dedication Plaque confirming the exclusive commission by Lando.

The personalisation is complete with the keyfob finished in Gloss Blue Tint Visual Carbon Fibre with Lando Graphic in Lando Yellow.

The McLaren 765LT is the latest car to carry the hallowed Longtail name, which was first associated with the legendary McLaren F1 GTR in 1997.

The 765LT is powered by a 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine developing 765PS and 800Nm, delivering a blistering acceleration time of 0-200km/h in just seven seconds.

Astonishing levels of driver engagement, ultra-light weight and sophisticated track-developed suspension contribute to a thrilling driving experience.

With just 765 examples made – all of which have been sold - Lando’s McLaren 765LT Spider is one of the most exclusive of the production run.


Ford aims for 40 electrified vehicles by 2022

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co. will more than double spending on electrified vehicles, amplifying its investment in a segment that the auto industry sees growing from what’s now just a fraction of the market.

The carmaker will shell out US$11 billion bringing 40 electrified vehicles to market by 2022, Jim Farley, president of global markets, said during a presentation at the Detroit auto show. That’s up from the US$4.5 billion that Ford said in late 2015 it would invest through the end of the decade.

“This US$11 billion you’re seeing, that means we’re all in now,” executive chairman Bill Ford told reporters in Detroit. “The only question is will the customers be there with us and we think they will.”

After electric-vehicle darling Tesla Inc. surpassed Ford in market value last year, the second-largest US automaker replaced then-chief executive officer Mark Fields. His replacement Jim Hackett has vowed to cut costs and drop some car models from the lineup to refocus the company’s future on sport utility vehicles, trucks and electrification.

With battery costs declining rapidly and regulators around the globe cracking down on the internal combustion engine, automakers have been rushing to step up their game with regards to all-electric models. While the segment comprises less that 1 percent of annual deliveries in the US, global demand is expected to rise as governments phase out gasoline and diesel engines and batteries reach price parity with traditional powertrains.

Ford expects fuel economy and pollution standards to get tougher, “and rightfully so,” said Raj Nair, head of Ford’s North American operations.

“We believe man-made CO2 is contributing to climate change and we’ve got our part to play,” he said.

Of the 40 electrified models planned, 16 will be battery-only vehicles. The company identified just one model by name coming in 2020, called the Mach 1, that will be a performance battery-electric SUV.

“The real news for me is not just the doubling of investment, it’s where we’re playing,” Farley told reporters.

“We’re starting to telegraph where we’re going to play in electrified business around the world, and that is to electrify iconic nameplates, and it’s going to be higher transaction-price vehicles.”


MINI Malaysia starts road safety campaign

                KUALA LUMPUR: MINI Malaysia recently deployed cars to 10 of the most accident-prone highway routes in the country, in a campaign called #flashlightssavelives.

With the help of MINI Club Malaysia, the campaign saw MINI cars flashing their headlights rapidly every 5 minutes to encourage drivers in the opposite direction to slow down.

Among the accident-prone locations visited was the Cheras-Kajang Highway, the Kuala Lumpur to Rawang Highway, the Kajang to Seremban Highway, and the Penang Bridge.

The #flashlightssavelives campaign was then documented in a case study video which has now been released on MINI Malaysia’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

“The #flashlightssavelives campaign is an extension of our Safety 360° program for the BMW brand where we also speak to families to remind them of everyday in-car safety for their children," said BMW Group Malaysia managing director and CEO Han Sang Yun.

He added that the Safety 360-degree program by BMW Group Malaysia was first introduced with BMW Motorrad advocating to motorcycle riders in the country to seek technologies and riding equipment for better safety.

The programme has since been extended to the BMW and MINI brands as part of a holistic focus for BMW Group Malaysia to promote safer road behaviour, etiquette and innovation.


Daimler's new crash centre to smash 900 Mercedes-Benzes a year

                STUTTGART: Daimler has opened what is being billed as the world's most advanced crash-test centre, where engineers will destroy up to 900 Mercedes-Benzes and Smarts a year using crash-test dummies in collisions.

The huge new laboratory will enable crash tests for the German manufacturer's entire range of combustion-engine-powered cars and trucks and buses as well as electrics.

Before each new model is launched, Daimler carries out around 15,000 different crash simulations on it on computers and 150 destructive crashes using prototypes, said a spokesman.

"Even in the age of computer simulation, crash tests remain indispensable," says Thomas Merker who is charge of safety development at the Mercedes-Benz brand.

The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen, near Daimler's Stuttgart headquarters, has a test arena the size of a football field and took 10 years to complete. The facility opened in November cost a few hundred million euros to build.

At the heart of the complex is the 90-by-90-metre, entirely pillarless test arena where many different angles of impact can be staged, matching different sorts of junctions.

The area can be heated to simulate different climatic zones and is sited next to a new driving simulator and wind tunnels.

The crash centre allows for 70 different crash configurations, including offset smashes and up to four crash tests can be set up at the same time.

Pure electrics and hybrids are put through a distinct testing programme, since their underfloor battery packs deform differently in crashes.

The longest test track has a run-up distance of more than 200 metres. A sled allows the testing of individual components such as restraint systems.

New digital measuring technology in the dummies using just one data cable will take over from the previous analogue technology, said Daimler.

"The facility will enable us to carry out all crash tests on our own premises – not just more crash tests due to the growing product range, but also crash tests with future, new configurations," said Merker.

Mercedes-Benz built its first crash-testing facility in 1959.


Toyota to end expansion freeze, invest RM4.8bil in new China, Mexico plants, say sources

                TOKYO: Japan's Toyota Motor Corp will spend about 150 billion yen (RM4.8bil) to build two new car plants in Mexico and China, two people familiar with plans said, ending a three-year freeze imposed after unchecked growth lumbered the world's biggest auto maker with too many idle production lines.

Reuters reported in January that plans were in place for new plants in the two countries, awaiting a green light from top management that has now been given.

President Akio Toyoda had been cautious about expanding after Toyota was hit by a capacity glut following the global financial crisis.

The new plants will raise Toyota's annual production capacity by nearly 300,000 cars, the two people said - 200,000 in Mexico and up to 100,000 in China. They declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media, and said the expansion may be announced formally as early as this month.

The renewed expansion drive by Toyota will put more pressure on rivals such as General Motors Co and Volkswagen AG, in a global automotive industry still burdened by being able to make more cars than it can sell. The increase in global production capacity of up to 300,000 compares with sales of just over 10 million in 2014.

Immediately after the financial crisis, big carmakers were cautious about adding production capacity.

Now, with demand in the United States back at pre-crisis levels and China's auto market growing, albeit more slowly, expansion is back on the agenda.

A Toyota spokesman said nothing had been decided.

The Mexican plant is likely to be based in the central state of Guanajuato, the two people said.

It's set to build the next-generation Corolla sedan for the North American market starting in 2019, they said, confirming a Reuters report last month. It would be Toyota's first passenger car plant in Mexico, where it currently only has a small factory building less than 100,000 Tacoma pickup trucks a year.

In China, the world's biggest auto market, the new plant will be located in the city of Guangzhou. It will produce up to 100,000 Yaris subcompacts a year, starting in 2018, the people said.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia launches GLA 200 Style: RM224k

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has launched the new GLA 200 Style priced at RM223,888 on the road without insurance.

Powered by a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine with 156hp and torque of 250Nm, mated to a 7G-DCT transmission, it can acceleration from 0 -100kph in 8.1 seconds.

The Style Line exterior of the updated GLA 200 include 18-inch 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels and inserts in high-gloss chrome on the radiator trim in matt iridium silver.

The beltline trim strip and the load sill guard also feature an elegant chrome finish.

On the inside, the luxury seats finished in Artico man-made leather and Macapá fabric feature a pattern inspired by tyre tracks.

The GLA 200 Style also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a 8.0-inch media display.

Personalised vehicle settings can be chosen with the DYNAMIC SELECT switch in the upper control panel. These include characteristics of the engine, transmission, suspension and steering characteristics.

Safety features include Attention Assist - protection against drowsiness by preventing the risk of micro sleep increases especially on long journeys and when driving at night, as well as Active Brake Pre-Safe system, Active Parking Assist with Parktronic and LED High Performance headlamps.

Agility financing starts from RM3,288 and comes with a variety of packages.

Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 StyleRM223,888 on the road without insuranceTransmission & Technology

1.6-litre 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Petrol
156hp at 5,300rpm
250Nm at 1,250 – 4,000rpm
7G-DCT
Comfort suspension
DYNAMIC SELECT

Exterior Features

18-inch 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels
Electrically folding and adjustable exterior mirrors
LED headlamps
Style Line exterior

Comfort & Interior Features

4-way lumbar support
Air conditioning system
ARTICO leather/Macapa fabric
Automatically dimming mirrors
Black matrix-look trim
Cruise control with limiter
Cup holder
Driver's seat, electrically adjustable with memory function
Leather multifunction steering wheel
Seat Comfort package
Style Line interior

Safety & Assistance Package

Active Brake Assist
Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC
Adaptive brake lights
Anti-theft alarm system
ATTENTON ASSIST
KEYLESS GO starting function
Kneebag
PRE-SAFE® system
Reversing camera
TIREFIT
Tyre pressure monitoring system

Multimedia System

8-inch Media Display
Android Auto
Apple CarPlay
Audio 20 USB
Preinstallation for Mercedes-Benz Link
Smartphone integration package


Zeekr launches electric SUV, targets Europe

                CHENGDU: Chinese electric vehicle maker Zeekr on Wednesday launched a compact, all-electric sports utility vehicle, as it targeted a premium market in China that has been dominated by German automakers.

The Geely-owned brand said it also planned to offer the SUV-styled Zeekr X and its Zeekr 001 EV sedan in Europe without saying when that would be.

With a starting price of 189,800 yuan ($27,615.31) in China, the Zeekr X offers features such as the ability to unlock the car using facial recognition technology and an option for an in-vehicle refrigerator, CEO Andy An told an event in China's southwestern city of Chengdu.

The company will start delivering the Zeekr X SUV in China from June this year, he said.

Zeekr's event to launch the new model took place ahead of the Auto Shanghai show, scheduled for April 18-27, where automakers such as fellow Chinese brand Nio, and Germany's BMW are expected to show off their latest models.

An said Zeekr would provide more details on its strategy for Europe then.

EV makers such as Zeekr and Nio have taken market share from German automakers such as Mercedes Benz and BMW in China by launching EV models more quickly.

In also targeting sales in Europe, Zeekr joins a range of Chinese automakers that are selling or planning to deliver EVs for that market, including BYD, Xpeng and SAIC's MG brand.

French auto consultancy Inovev estimates Chinese brands will represent up to 20% of EVs sold in Europe by 2030.

Pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars, accounted for 44% of first-quarter sales of premium cars in China, data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers show.

While Geely founder Eric Li has ambitions for Zeekr, it lags EV peers in China.

It sold 15,234 of its two existing models - the 001 sedan and the 009 multi-purpose vehicle - in the first quarter, accounting for just 2% of China's battery electric vehicle sales.

By comparison, Nio had sold 31,041 vehicles in the same period while Tesla sold 137,429.


BMW to unveil production 8 Series on eve of 2018 Le Mans

The 8 Series development car.
MUNICH: You could be forgiven for thinking the BMW 8 Series was already available because there have been so many "spy shots" as well as teasers released by the German luxury automaker over what now feels like a very long time.

To be fair, some of the previous publicity surrounding the 8 Series has been to do with the race car version, but we now know the production model is finally going to be properly unveiled on June 15, just before the 2018 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

The road car will go on sale from November after no fewer than three concepts having been revealed to whet our appetites for the new BMW flagship coupe over previous months. First we had the 8 Series concept that previewed the standard version of the car, and then we were shown the M8 Gran Coupe concept to give an idea of what to expect from a high-performance version of the 8 Series.

We've also already seen the M8 GTE, of course, which is now racing in this year's World Endurance Championship (EWC). And as France's Le Mans is by far the most famous round of the EWC, it makes sense for BMW to use the eve of such a globally renowned event to finally reveal the eagerly anticipated new 8 Series.

Expectations for the new car are high, to say the least. Engineers have been road testing prototypes and development cars in public view for more than a year now, with both coupé and soft-top variants being caught on camera as recently as just last month. BMW's latest known outing for the car was in Aprilia, Italy, which is thought to have involved final analysis of the car's chassis and powertrain settings.

The 8 Series will be closely related to the 7 Series sedan in the same way the 4 and 3 series are related. That basically means the 8 Series will be more or less a coupe and convertible version of the 7 Series. The two ranges will share engines and naming conventions, but a hardcore performance version of the 8 Series will eventually come in M8 form, and is likely to feature an uprated version of the 592 bhp 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 already found in the M5.


Toyota to release a next-generation plug-in Prius by May

The Prius plug-in hybrid can operate for 50km on electric alone. — Dewhurst Photography/Toyota/dpa
TOKYO: The world's best-selling hybrid car will soon be available in a plug-in version once again. A year after releasing the new generation of its hugely popular Prius, Toyota is set to give drivers the choice to recharge their hybrid at their preferred power plug.

After a brief hiatus, Toyota has slated the return of the Prius plug-in variant for April or May, and while it has not set exact prices, the Japanese automaker announced that it will cost about 6,500 euros more than the conventional Prius in Europe.

Instead of the conventional Prius's 1.3-kWh nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery, the new model will feature a lithium-ion block that can store up to 8.8 kWh and can be plugged in to recharge.

Whereas the old Prius plug-in only had an electric range of about 20km, the new generation will more than double that, travelling up to 50km on a single charge.

With fuel in the tank, the 122-hp hybrid can keep going for more than 1,000km, say the Prius's developers.

The electric range isn't the only thing that has been taken up a notch. With the new plug-in edition, the electric engine can reach an improved top speed of up to 135kph, without the 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine even being activated.

With the two power sources operating together, the plug-in model can hit 180kph — the same top speed as the conventional hybrid.

To visually distinguish the plug-in variant from its conventional hybrid cousin, Toyota has reworked the Prius's design and installed prominent LED headlights as well as a distinctive wave-shaped tail light below the sloped rear window.


Nissan LEAF with 360km range expected at CES 2019

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan is among the big-name car makers making a beeline to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next month.

What we can expect to see at its stand is a longer-range LEAF called the E-Plus, which will have a larger 60 kWh battery that will allow the electric car to travel over 360km compared to the current 240km.

The Japanese car maker said in a brief statement that it will also highlight "a new technology platform to 'See the Invisible', creating a new driving experience through connected worlds.

In addition, an all-new, twin electric motor, all-wheel drive Nissan LEAF NISMO RC racing machine will make its US debut at the consumer show.

CES is an annual trade show that showcases more than 4,500 exhibiting companies, including manufacturers, developers and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, content and technology delivery systems.

CES 2019 will run from Jan 8-11.


Honda hedges with hybrids

                DETROIT: Alongside introducing an all-new MPV, Honda's president and CEO Takahiro Hachigo used his NAIAS 2017 appearance to underline a greater commitment to hybrid powertrains as a way for the company to hit its ambitious emissions targets without diluting driver involvement and fun.

"Gas prices have reduced demand for hybrid vehicles in the US. But in the long term, electrified vehicles are key to the future of carbon-free mobility," said Hachigo.

In recent years, Honda has been focused on pushing hydrogen power from the fringes and into the motoring mainstream, and in December, the first US deliveries of its Clarity fuel cell car (top pic) began.

But it hasn't been ignoring hybrid power, and now that the Clarity Fuel Cell is on sale in the US, the Clarity name will become a sub-brand denoting cleaner electrified powertrain technology. "This year, we will debut the Clarity Electric and launch the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid in all 50 states," Hachigo explained.

 The new Odyssey.

However, even with a choice of three Clarity cars, plus the hybrid Accord, Honda intends to boost energy options even further. "For the future, I set a challenging goal to make two-thirds of our global sales from electrified vehicles by around 2030," said Hachigo. "The Clarity series is part of this plan."

But it is about to be joined by an all-new hybrid car that will use a two-motor system similar to the one found in the Accord where it delivers a fuel economy of 4.7l/100km.

That engine set-up will also make its way into Honda's pickups. "We will begin to apply the two-motor hybrid system to our light truck line-up," said Hachigo. "In fact, half of the all-new models we will launch in the coming two years will be electrified vehicles. So, you can call this our "Honda Electrification Initiative"."

The extra focus on hybrids will happen alongside continued improvements in gasoline technology. Honda has recently moved to turbocharging to increase power while cutting fuel consumption, and it is now rolling out an in-house developed 10-speed automatic transmission. It makes its debut on the 2018 Honda Odyssey MPV but will soon be an option across the company's vehicle range, globally.


BAC Mono R makes dynamic debut at F1 Saudi Arabian GP

                JEDDAH: Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) is showcasing at this weekend’s F1 race in Saudi Arabia the first-ever Mono R to be tailored, created and delivered direct to a customer in the country.

By being part of the prestigious motorsport event here, which is expected to be viewed by millions of people around the world, BAC is further demonstrating the global growth and potential of its brand.

The Liverpool, UK-based company has embarked on an ambitious expansion strategy that includes a rapid scale-up in key markets, including the Middle East.

A partnership with a leading luxury automotive dealership group in Saudi Arabia is imminent. This partnership will be followed by similar announcements in other key international markets in Asia and North America and within the next quarter.

At present, BAC operates in 46 territories.

Demand for the Mono R, a lightweight and performance-defining machine created to be the standard bearer for pure driving enjoyment and pleasure, continues to soar thanks to its unique design, engineering and technology attributes.

This includes several world-firsts, such as the pioneering addition of graphene in its bodywork.

Saudi Arabia’s first Mono R has been tailored to customer details, featuring a dramatic smoked carbon fibre bodywork that was crafted by BAC’s design and engineering teams.

In addition to the smoked carbon fibre body, the Mono R at the F1 race in Saudi Arabia also incorporates subtle metallic gold highlights, a delicate design element that extends to its carbon hybrid wheels, which remain the lightest 17-inch wheels in the world.

At the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the first Saudi Arabian Mono R will take centre stage at the F1 Paddock Club.

Speaking at the event in Jeddah, BAC co-founder and director of product development, Neill Briggs, said: "We're thrilled to be part of the Formula 1 scene. The ‘sport of driving’ is one of the core guiding principles that helped us establish BAC in 2009.

"Much like the F1 cars at this very race, the Mono R is a piece of precision engineering focused on forging a three-way connection between driver, machine and the road – or in F1’s case, track – ahead," said BAC co-founder and director of product development, Neill Briggs, said here.

"Truly fulfilling driving pleasure and enjoyment is what the Mono R has been created to do and we are delighted to deliver one such example to a customer in the Middle East.”


New Renault Koleos open for booking at RM173K

KUALA LUMPUR: The new Renault Koleos is available for booking ahead of its launch in September.

The introductory price for the SUV is RM172,800 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM116,800 in Langkawi (on-the-road inclusive of GST, without insurance and for private registration).

Besides the blend of robust SUV cues, the all-new Renault Koleos also offers the refinement, comfort and premium features associated with larger flagship saloon cars.

Key exterior and interior highlights of the car include muscular exterior lines; full LED headlights with C-shaped daytime running lights and 18-inch alloy wheels. It also promises a refined and spacious interior. It comes with an instrument display with 7-inch TFT colour screen and ambient lighting, both of which are customisable with a palette of lighting hues to suit the mood of driver and his passengers. It is fitted with equipment shared with other high-end Renault models, such as the 8.7-inch R-LINK 2 infotainment system. In addition, safety features include blind spot warning and six airbags.

The Koleos uses a 2.5-litre petrol engine mated to a new X-Tronic automatic transmission, producing 169hp and peak torque of 226Nm. The engine is said to be responsive at low and mid-range speeds, with 200Nm torque available from as low as 1,800rpm.

As a global car, the Koleos has been created to be marketed on every continent, which means its equipment specification is adapted to suit the different climates and parts of the world where it will be driven.

Like all Renault vehicles, the upcoming Koleos comes with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage. The warranty is backed by Renault and is not undertaken by insurance companies, which means terms and conditions as well as parts covered are consistent from the first year of ownership to the end of the warranty period.

Go to the Renault Malaysia site to find out more about the new Koleos or register your interest.


Vietnam's Be Group in deal to become country's first ride-hailing firm to use EVs

                HANOI: Vietnam's Be Group said today it has signed an agreement with an electric vehicle leasing service that will make it the first ride-hailing firm in the country to use EVs.

Be, a homegrown platform with nearly 10 million customers, and GSM, founded by the owner of Vietnamese EV maker VinFast, will work with Vietnam Prosperity Bank to allow drivers to switch away from combustion engine vehicles at "affordable prices", Be said in a statement.

Vietnam is promoting the production and mass use of EVs as part of efforts to achieve carbon emission neutrality by 2050.

There are currently about 7,800 electric vehicles on its roads, according to Vinfast.

GSM, which was founded by chairman of VinFast parent Vingroup and Vietnam's richest man, Pham Nhat Vuong, is scheduled to start electric car and motorcycle leasing services from April.

Its tie-up with Be will include a direct investment into the ride-hailing firm, the statement said without providing an amount. - Xinhua


Peter Sellers' Lotus Elan goes under the hammer

LONDON: A rare 1966 Lotus Elan S2 once owned by famous comedian, actor, photographer, singer and all round icon Peter Sellers, will be auctioned at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show on Nov 14 by Silverstone Auctions, estimated at between £45,000 and £50,000 (RM295,000 - RM328,000).

The car was delivered to Peter Sellers’ Haymarket home on June 22, 1966 and driven by him, with wife Britt Ekland in the passenger seat, until Feb 29, 1969. 'SAR 57D' then went through two other owners before being bought by the current vendor.

According to Silverstone Auctions, the car is being offered for sale having been part of an extensive private classic car collection for over a decade. It is said to be in its original condition and had been in dry storage off the road since August 2005.

The Elan has covered nearly 106,000km with the bodywork in good condition.

“The car is sure to gather a huge amount of attention and we expect that it will appeal to fans of Peter Sellers as well as Lotus enthusiasts alike," said Silverstone Auctions operations manager and classic car consignor Harry Whale.


China’s Panda New Energy orders electric cars from Nevs, ex-Saab, for US$12b

                STOCKHOLM: Chinese energy vehicle leasing company Panda New Energy has placed an order for 250,000 electric cars from Chinese-owned carmaker Nevs, formerly Saab, for US$12 billion (RM52bil), Nevs announced on Thursday.

This is the second order this autumn for National Electric Vehicle Sweden (Nevs), which has experienced major financial woes since being established in June 2012 to take over Saab’s assets after bankruptcy.

“This is a strategic collaboration for Nevs not only in terms of the numbers of vehicles, but it is also an important step to implement our vision and new business plan,” Nevs vice chairman Stefan Tilk said in a statement.

In October Nevs announced a partnership with Turkey to develop a “Turkish national vehicle.”

Nevs spokesman Mikael Ostlund told Swedish news agency TT the Chinese order would create jobs for “hundreds of people.”

Nevs will provide Panda with 150,000 9-3 sedan electric vehicles by the end of 2020, based on Saab’s 9-3 sedan platform. The deal also includes 100,000 other electric vehicle products and services “from companies associated to Nevs and its owners,” Nevs said.

Panda cooperates with chauffeured car service platforms in China, and aims to become one of the biggest electric vehicle leasing companies in the world.

Nevs is owned by China’s National Modern Energy Holdings, Tianjin Binhai Hi-tech industrial Development Area, and the Beijing State Research Information Technology Co. Ltd.


AB Dynamics' Tool of the Year

                BRADFORD-ON-AVON (UK): When it comes to auto manufacturing, the right specialized tool for testing can significantly reduce time and money such as the AB Dynamics ANVH 250 axle-level NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) rig which won the ‘Development Tool of the Year’ category at the Vehicle Dynamics International Awards 2020.

Launched in June 2019 and utilising AB Dynamics’ exclusive linear electric actuator technology to provide a market-leading operating frequency range, the ANVH 250 allows manufacturers to identify NVH issues earlier in the design process; reducing costs and time to market.

The assessment of a suspension at the early design stage over such a large frequency range helps avoid expensive NVH fixes at the later stages of a vehicle development programme.

On receiving the coveted award, Edward Haynes, Chief Engineer – Electric Actuators, AB Dynamics, said: “We’re exceptionally pleased for our work with the ANVH 250 to be recognised, especially as its design represents a significant breakthrough in NVH testing for passenger, commercial and electric vehicle applications.

"With electrified powertrains becoming increasingly common and their near silent characteristics highlighting NVH issues that would otherwise be masked by a conventional drivetrain, there is an ever-growing and succinct need for a highly advanced test rig like the ANVH 250.

"As the Vehicle Dynamics International award has confirmed, once again, AB Dynamics is ahead of the curve when it comes to meeting the fast-evolving testing requirements of the automotive industry.”

From simulation to durability assessment, software to lab machinery, the Development Tool of the Year award recognises innovation in creating tools that help vehicle dynamicists achieve automotive excellence.


GM may start electric Hummer sales in Europe as part of reboot

                DETROIT: General Motors Co. plans to return to Europe with battery-powered models starting with the Cadillac brand and is considering selling the hulking Hummer electric vehicle, according to people familiar with the matter.

The carmaker may start importing the electric Cadillac Lyriq model, which is already on sale in the US, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential deliberations.

Broadening GM’s offering would expand its presence in a market where the company currently only sells luxury vehicles and the Corvette sports car in small numbers.

A GM spokesman said no final decisions had been made.

The move would be a renewed push in the region after the company sold its mass-market Opel and Vauxhall brands in 2017 to what is now Stellantis NV, following two decades of losses.

GM has recently revived the dormant Hummer brand, starting production of the electric pickup in December. The nameplate was controversial among environmentalists with the Hummer H2 model that used about one gallon of fuel to drive 10 miles.

The carmaker acquired Hummer brand from military contractor AM General in the late 1990s, at the height of the American SUV boom.

High gasoline prices had reduced sales and GM’s 2009 bankruptcy led the company to stop production of all Hummers in 2010.

While GM sold the bulk of its European operations, it continued to market a limited number of imported Cadillac models through a Swiss unit.

The company is also considering setting up a mobility startup in Europe along with the possibility of traditional sales.

Electric-only

Cadillac has been working to convert its entire lineup to electric vehicles by 2030.

GM wants to return to Europe with electric models because the company wouldn’t have to worry about tough emissions regulations in the European Union, which was a factor in the Detroit automaker’s decision to sell Opel and Vauxhall five years ago.

In November, GM promoted Mahmoud Samara, then vice president of Cadillac North America sales, to lead the restart of operations on the continent, the company said.

At the time of the announcement, Samara said that, "Europe is the second largest and fastest growing electric vehicle market in the world, presenting a significant opportunity as GM is about to roll out its comprehensive and cutting-edge EV and AV portfolio along with new and innovative software, autonomous technology and freight and logistics services.”


Dr M to Jokowi: C'mon, let's hop into Proton Persona and go for a bite

                PUTRAJAYA: Proton is bouncing back on its own steam, what with its X70 and model updates. Even so, it doesn't hurt to have the Prime Minister pitching in for the brand that he started way back in 1983.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad did just that today, driving visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a Persona to a luncheon he hosted at Seri Perdana, the prime minister’s official residence.

The two leaders left in the car from the Perdana Putra Building where they had a one-on-one meeting.

 Dr Mahathir driving Jokowi to lunch in the Persona today. — All Bernamapix

Joko, popularly known as Jokowi, arrived Thursday for a two-day visit to Malaysia. He was accompanied by his wife, Iriana Joko Widodo, and an entourage.

Dr Mahathir drove the red Persona bearing registration number B 2367 A, which was followed by the other vehicles carrying members of the Indonesian entourage.

The new 1.6-litre Persona was launched in April with prices ranging from RM43,000 to RM55,000. Dr Mahathir unveiled the new Persona, along with the Iriz, nearly two weeks before their official launch.

This is the second time that Jokowi had been in a Proton car driven by Dr Mahathir.

In February 2015, Dr Mahathir had taken Jokowi on a test-drive in an Iriz at the Sepang race circuit. He was the chairman of Proton then.


Toyota pumps US$22m into artificial intelligence research

                DETROIT: Research on artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous driving at the University of Michigan will get a major boost thanks to an initial US$22 million commitment from the Toyota Research Institute (TRI), announced on Wednesday by TRI CEO Gill Pratt.

Under the agreement, TRI will provide the funds over four years for research collaborations with the university faculty in the areas of enhanced driving safety, partner robotics and indoor mobility, autonomous driving and student learning and diversity.

Recently, TRI announced the establishment of its new Ann Arbor research facility (TRI-ANN) and the hiring of university robotics professors Ryan Eustice and Edwin Olson to support autonomous vehicle research. Both will retain university faculty positions part-time. TRI-ANN is the third TRI facility, joining TRI offices in Palo Alto near Stanford and in Cambridge, near MIT.

TRI was drawn to Ann Arbor because of the broad strengths of the university and the region, particularly in areas related to the emergence of high-level driver-assist systems, eventually leading to fully autonomous vehicles. TRI will also be near two well-established Toyota Technical Center campuses.

The partnership builds on Toyota's strong and active presence in the Ann Arbor community. The two offices of the Toyota Technical Center have long worked with the university on connected vehicles and safety research. Toyota is a founding partner of the university’s Mobility Transformation Center, an interdisciplinary public-private research and development initiative that is developing the foundation for a commercially viable ecosystem of connected and automated vehicles.

The Mobility Transformation Center operates Mcity, a unique "mini-city" on a 32-acre site on campus that allows researchers to test emerging vehicle technologies rapidly and rigorously in a safe, controlled environment. In addition, Toyota's Collaborative Safety Research Center is a major sponsor of research at the university’s Transportation Research Institute focused on advanced safety technologies.

"Toyota has long enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the University of Michigan, and we are excited to expand our collective efforts to address complex mobility challenges through artificial intelligence," said Pratt.

As part of this agreement, the university will issue a broad call for proposals from faculty across the university to address challenges in mobility, safety and home robotics.


New VW Polo aims to be the world's most advanced compact car

                BERLIN: Revealed on Friday morning at a special event here, the sixth-generation Volkswagen Polo is huge on cabin space, premium fittings and latest-generation driver safety technology, but with prices starting at just €12,975 (around RM63,000), it's still small in terms of financial outlay.

The Polo has been in production for 42 years and five generations, and over that time it has helped to define and push the boundaries of the supermini or B-segment in Europe and around the world.

As such, it is a benchmark car, not just for VW, but for the industry as a whole and one that constantly achieves annual sales in excess of 700,000 models - that's 100,000 more than Volvo has ever managed in a single year for its entire model range.

And the new car, officially launched on Friday, is aiming to put even more space between itself and the competition. "This is a car that fits in perfectly with our times - both visually and technologically," said Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design Volkswagen Brand.

The exterior lines are an evolution of those found on the outgoing model and, at first glance, the biggest noticeable change will be the fact that this Polo will be the first ever that will only come in four-door, hatchback guise.

The car's mantra has always been "small on the outside, big on the inside" and those subtle line changes disguise the fact that the new car is actually longer and wider to ensure comfort for four passengers and to take the trunk's space up to 351 litres from the fifth-generation car's 280 litres.

Under the hood buyers will be able to specify one of nine different engines ranging from 65-150hp in output or, in the case of the GTi model, an eye-watering 2-litre 200hp block complete with paddle-shift dual-clutch transmission.

Inside, there's the option of a completely digital dashboard that ditches traditional dials and gauges. While in terms of assistance technologies, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert and semi-automated parking assist are all either options or standard equipment depending on trim level.

However, even the base model will come with pedestrian monitoring and emergency autonomous braking as standard equipment - a system the company is quick to point out has already reduced collisions for VW Golf owners (where the system is also standard) by 40%.

"The Polo is a young, fresh car. It combines charisma with strong technology. No other car offers so much space for its size. This makes our Polo the number one compact car, and it will remain number one," said Dr Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management.

The new Polo will go on sale following the 2017 Frankfurt motor show which this year opens its doors to the public on Sept 14.


Hyundai Ioniq 5 N testing takes it to Nurburgring

A performance version of the Ioniq 5 will be introduced in 2023, and it will have around 600hp on tap.
PETALING JAYA: If you thought the Hyundai Ioniq 5 performance was impressive enough, wait till you get your hands on the Ioniq 5 N.

The N variant is currently undergoing dynamic testing and will be launched next year. It will pave the way as the first sportiest EV from the brand.

The N car in camouflage had recently been spotted racing on Germany's Nurburgring track and it looked to have minimal body roll as the test driver pelted it around the corners, belying the heavy battery it has to lug around.

As the most powerful Ioniq 5, it will have around 600hp/447kW, which is close to the output from the dual motor Kia EV6 GT. This suggests the N car will share some parts with the EV6 GT.

Both cars are after all based on the E-GMP architecture, so parts sharing is the norm. We can expect aerodynamic enhancements and a more aggressive bodykit to make the N stand out from its non-M counterpart.

Hyundai will also toss in suspension upgrades, bigger tyres and brakes as well as a drift mode to ensure the Ioniq 5 justify the N badging.


New BMW Z4 roadster now in showrooms, priced at RM480K

                KUALA LUMPUR: The all-new BMW Z4 has arrived in Malaysia, priced at RM479,800.

Out of three options available, Malaysia is only getting the mid-spec version, which is the four-cylinder Z4 sDrive30i rather than the Z4 sDrive20i or the 6-cylinder Z4 M40i. The Z4 sDrive20i is the base and basically a detuned 4-cylinder version of the Z4 sDrive30i. All the Z4s are turbocharged.

The Z4 sDrive30i in M Sport trim is available at all authorised BMW dealerships nationwide from today. Customers can also book the car online at www.bmwbethefirst.com.my.

The latest Z4 is the result of a collaboration between BMW and Toyota, which birthed its revived Supra based on the Z4, sharing its platform, engine, transmission and other mechanicals.

Though they share the underlying hardware, both car makers claim their cars will drive differently from each other. The two cars have undergone dynamic testing together at the legendary Nurburgring. Unlike the Z4 roadster with a retractable soft-top, the Supra will only be designed as a coupe.

The Z4 has a modern and contemporary design based on its classic low, elongated silhouette with short overhangs.

It is a bigger car this round. It has grown in length by 85mm (4,324mm), width by 74mm (1,864mm) and a slight bump in its height by 13mm (1,304mm) as compared to its predecessor. The wider track makes for more stable and agile cornering while the shorter wheelbase provides a smaller turning circle. BMW said the lower and more centralised centre of gravity delivers a sportier handling.

The twin kidney grille, which has an eye-catching grid structure, is now positioned lower.

The vertically-arranged LED headlights feature tubes uniquely designed in a hexagonal pattern, and the slim light strips in the inner edge of the headlight function as indicators for the new roadster.

From the back, the slim single-unit 3D taillights and distinct integrated rear spoiler design coupled with its low-slung body and low reversing light lends a sleeker appeal. The increased luggage capacity, larger door compartments and additional storage areas behind the seats benefit the driver, along with the increased leg room.

The interior is adorned with a sporty two-seater cockpit, a classic canvas roof, minimalist interior trim surfaces and a low seating position.

Controls are grouped into "function islands" for convenience. An indirect ambient lighting allows the driver to create his preferred lighting mood with calming colours.

The Z4 is now up to date with other BMW models, sporting a full digital instrument cluster (BMW Live Cockpit Professional) placed at the same level as the central touchscreen infotainment display.

It also comes with a BMW Digital Key that enables the driver to access the vehicle with the use of select Android smartphones. The Digital Key uses Near Field Communication technology to allow the car to be locked and unlocked from a smartphone.

The smartphone has to be held up to the door handle to unlock the door. Once inside, the engine can be started as soon as the phone has been placed in the wireless charging or smartphone tray. Via the BMW Connected App, the Digital Key enables the driver to share the key with up to five people.

Also offered is the Intelligent Parking Assistant featuring the Reversing Assistant. The Parking Assistant is a highly-capable system that can help owners easily manoeuvre out of tight parking spots.

When activated, the Park Assist can park the vehicle in spaces parallel or perpendicular to the road. The Reversing Assist is also useful when operating in narrow spaces. The system remembers the last 50 metres of the drive to the parking space and will use that information to assist the driver in exiting the spot by taking over the wheel.

The Z4 features a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine offering 190kW/258hp with a peak torque of 400Nm from 1,550 to 4,400 rpm and a top speed of 250kph. It sprints from 0-100kph in 5.4 seconds.

The low centre of gravity and 50:50 weight distribution showcases its classic BMW roadster characteristics. The Z4 engine is coupled to an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission; the car also features M Sport Suspension and Variable Sport Steering.

Four exterior colours are offered for the Z4: San Francisco Red, Misano Blue, Black Sapphire or Alpine White. The cabin is offered in three choices: Black décor with Black stitching, Magma Red with Black stitching or Cognac with Black stitching.

With the balloon financing plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the Z4 can be owned with monthly instalment plans starting from RM5,478 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure).

BMW Z4 SPECIFICATIONSREAD MORE: Toyota Supra vs BMW Z4 in drag race
(Video shows UK-specced Z4. The Z4 specs for Malaysia will vary.)


Facelifted Peugeot 5008 SUV goes on sale across Europe

                LONDON: Peugeot has begun selling  its facelifted 5008 sports utility vehicle (SUV) that now shares the same front end as the smaller 3008, which has also undergone a similar refresh.

The new 5008 is currently available in Europe and comes with a bolder design language that's touted to be modern, stylish and elegant.

This 7-seat SUV possesses a redesigned front end, new full-LED rear lights (although the headlights are bulbed), new body colours and a new "Black Pack" option.

And depending on specifications, the 5008 will roll on wheel sizes ranging from 17 to 19-inch while at the rear resides a 952-litre boot - significantly larger than what's available in the 3008.

The third-row seats are removable and this can help to the boot further to 1,060 litres. By folding down the second-row seats, it will reveal a cavernous 2,150 litres of space.

The driver-centric cabin features the French carmaker's latest i-Cockpit design that's coupled with a new 10-inch high-definition touchscreen.

Thanks to EuroNCAP and its five-star rating system, the 5008 has the usual inclusion of six-airbags, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency braking assist.

In addition, it also comes equipped with a speed-sensing central locking system, hazard light activation upon heavy braking, dynamic stability control and electronic anti-skid system.

For power, there are two petrol-powered engines there is are two options of a 1.2 and 1.6-litre turbocharged powerplants producing 131hp and 181hp respectively and both are managed by a standard eight-speed automatic although the 1.2 has a six-speed manual optional available.

In the diesel spectrum, the 5008 gets moving by either a 1.5 or 2.0-litre turbodiesel mill producing 131hp and 177hp respectively. The 1.5-litre mill can be optioned with six-speed manual transmission.

Prices for the 5008 ranges from £29,000 (RM160,000) to £42,000 (RM232,000).


Honda Malaysia presents the Civic to Domestic Trade Ministry

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has delivered 16 units of the Civic 1.8S to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry which has selected the C-segment sedan to used among its fleet vehicles.

This marks the first time that Honda Malaysia is presenting a Honda model to the ministry.

Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Toichi Ishiyama said the company was honoured that the ministry had chosen the Civic as their preferred car in accomplishing their tasks and duties.

"We are also appreciative of the ministry’s crucial role in promoting and sustaining domestic trade in Malaysia, which is important as we are still facing challenges to boost the Malaysian economy which was greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"It is encouraging to observe that all Malaysians are working together to overcome the setbacks and we sincerely hope that Malaysia will be on the road towards economic recovery soon,” he said.

The facelifted tenth-generation Civic was introduced in the Malaysian market in February this year, offering D-segment features in a C-segment model.

Since its launch, the Civic has sold more than 10,400 units, capturing 81% market share and leading the C-segment as of October 2020.

Known for its dynamic performance, excellent fuel economy and attractive looks, the Civic is also currently the second best-selling Honda model in Malaysia.

The 1.8L i-VTEC engine offers a maximum power output of 141PS and maximum torque of 174Nm, which provides a balance of fun driving feel and excellent fuel efficiency.

Additionally, the Civic also comes in a 1.5L VTEC Turbocharged variant which is equipped with the Next Generation Advanced Safety Features, the Honda Sensing. The Civic is certified as Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV).

To complete its overall package, the Civic is equipped with advanced features such as Electric Parking Brake (EPB), Walk Away Auto Lock, Remote Engine Start and 7-inch Advanced Display Audio.

The Civic has been awarded with five-star safety rating by Asean NCAP and is equipped with top class safety features such as Six Airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Agile Handle Assist (AHA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA) and Auto Brake Hold (ABH).

For more information on the Civic and other Honda cars, visit any of the 102 Honda Malaysia authorised dealerships nationwide, call Honda’s Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020 or log on to www.honda.com.my.


Tesla says Model 3 on track for volume production by September

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla said on Wednesday its mass-market Model 3 sedan was on track for volume production by September, encouraging investors who see the electric vehicle as the avenue to profitability for the young company.

But the carmaker's operations continued to burn through cash, and chief executive Elon Musk told analysts on a conference call that he may ask Wall Street for more.

"According to our financial plan, no capital needs to be raised for the Model 3 but we get very close to the edge," Musk told investors on a conference call. Tesla plans an additional US$2 billion to US$2.5 billion in capital expenses before the Model 3 launch and has US$3.4 billion cash on hand.

"We're considering a number of options but I think it probably makes sense to raise capital to reduce risk," Musk said.

Musk said chief financial officer Jason Wheeler, in his role for just over a year, would leave in April to work in public policy. He will be replaced by former Tesla CFO Deepak Ahuja, who was popular with investors.

Many investors and suppliers have predicted Model 3 volume production would be delayed until 2018, but Tesla said it would produce over 5,000 Model 3s per week "at some point in the fourth quarter", and 10,000 vehicles per week "at some point in 2018".

Musk reiterated that Tesla still planned to deliver 500,000 cars in 2018 and 1 million vehicles by 2020.

Tesla did not give its usual full-year delivery estimate, but said it expected to deliver 47,000 to 50,000 Model S and Model X vehicles combined in the first half of 2017.

The company did not give a Model 3 target for this year and declined to update a previous disclosure made last April that 373,000 advance reservations had been taken for the car.

"We're still in great shape," said Wheeler, when asked about early demand for the car.

The public might not see the final version of the Model 3 until as late as July, when limited production begins, Musk said.


BP bets on electric car switch with Britain's Chargemaster

                LONDON: BP is buying Britain’s top electric vehicle charging firm Chargemaster and will initially roll out its ultra-fast chargers across its filling station network in the UK before turning its attention to China’s rapidly growing market.

Oil and gas major Royal Dutch Shell and carmakers Volkswagen and Daimler have also made investments in the electric vehicle (EV) market, whose growth is being driven by a shift from polluting fossil fuels.

Like its rivals Shell and France’s Total, BP is planning to use its vast global network of filling stations to carve out a position in the EV market, with demand for petrol forecast to peak as early as the end of next decade.

“We want to have a leading position in the UK whatever fuel choice our customers have,” Tufan Erginbilgic, head of BP downstream, said after the company announced the 130 million pound (RM685mil) acquisition of Chargemaster.

BP forecasts that the global EV fleet will soar to more than 300 million by 2040, from just 1 million in 2016, and said it plans to deploy ultra-fast 150 kilowatt chargers able to deliver 160km of range in just 10 minutes across its 1,200 petrol stations in Britain over the next 12 months.

Although most EV drivers charge their cars at home or at street charging points, Erginbilgic believes that retail stations will remain essential because only they will offer ultra-fast charging.

And as carmakers, battery manufacturers and power providers look for ways to extend the use of EVs beyond urban areas, charging on highways is seen as vital for extending range.

“If EVs will be a mass-market product, the world needs to have fast and ultra-fast charging,” Erginbilgic said.

Chargemaster, which will be rebranded BP Chargemaster, operates more than 6,500 EV charging points across Britain and has supplied over 50,000 units across Europe.

London-based BP plans to invest around US$500 million (RM2bil) a year in low carbon technology and use its experience in Britain to expand into other rapidly growing markets, first and foremost Germany and China, Erginbilgic said.

“China and Germany will definitely be some of the priority markets given the trends… with our ultra-fast charging we can actually enable EV scaling up.”

BP announced a partnership in May with China’s NIO Capital to explore investments in EVs, energy infrastructure and battery technology. This followed a joint venture with Shandong Dongming Petrochemical Group to develop retail sites across China.

“BP sees the future EV retail market evolving into a model similar to today’s where drivers charge their cars in retail sites,” Erginbilgic said.

In January, BP invested US$5 million (RM20mil) in FreeWire Technologies which manufactures mobile EV rapid charging systems. A month later it linked up with car makers Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi to develop new battery technology.


Blind spot: Are you setting your car mirrors correctly?

                BERLIN: It is a pretty simple logic: The better adjusted the car mirrors are to the driver's line of vision, the better their ability to see.

But how do we know if we are setting the mirrors correctly? While all cars will have a blind spot - an area next to the vehicle that is not visible to the driver through their mirrors - it is possible to reduce the size of this area.

To do so, motorists, when adjusting their mirrors, should lean their heads as close as possible to the window when setting the left-hand mirror, advises German safety certifier TUV Sud.

The driver should then put the mirror out so far that their own vehicle is not visible in the wing mirror.

For the right-hand mirror, "we have to lean towards the passenger side, beyond the middle axis of the car, and then turn the mirror," says Vincenzo Luca from TUV Sud.

The mirror then must be pushed out so far so that that only the road, and not the vehicle, can be seen. Even after setting the mirrors correctly, the blind spot can still cause serious accidents, especially with cyclists.

Most commonly, when motorists are performing a right turn, cyclists can often be overlooked and collided with "because this area next to the vehicle can be difficult or impossible to see, depending on the car model," says Luca.

To combat this, Luca reminds drivers to always look over their shoulder before completing the manoeuvre "as it improves the all-round view."