Hyundai's new Universe Mobile Office takes remote work to the next level

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Company recently announced the launch of its Universe Mobile Office, a variant of its Universe luxury passenger bus for the Korean market that enables teams to remain productive while on the move and at remote locations.

Hyundai Motor developed Universe Mobile Office by thinking of the bus as a smart mobility solution, not just as a means of transportation.

With this model, the company aims to lead the motor coach sector with a customised solution that takes remote work to the next level of mobility and luxury.

The vehicle’s interior uses a mix of curves and straight lines to create an open-air office ambience with three distinct seating areas with premium yet practical design elements, such as semi-automatic blinds and light-colored laminated floors.

Universe Mobile Office’s floor plan facilitates both individual and group work by including a group collaboration spaces at the front and rear, personal workspaces in the middle and storage areas throughout.

The group collaboration space at the front maximises collaboration efficiency by arranging a video conferencing system, foldable conference table, sofa seating and custom-made storage.

The personal workspaces in the middle are equipped with premium reclining seats, tables, wireless charging pads, individual entertainment systems and personal storage spaces to create a comfortable environment for work and relaxation in transit.

Universe Mobile Office is available in three options, including standard 10-seater, 13-seater (12+1) with group collaboration space in the front, 13-seater (12+1) with expanded office space, and 13-seater (11+1+1) with separate seat configurations for transit and collaboration.

The company first exhibited the mobile office with various separate workspaces as well as passenger seating at the 2021 Seoul Mobility Show.


Modenas Ninja 250 ABS and Z250 ABS receive five-star MyMAP rating

                SHAH ALAM: Edaran Modenas Sdn Bhd, the subsidiary of Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn Bhd (Modenas) has received a five-star rating from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) under the Malaysian Motorcycle Assessment Programme (MyMAP), for its Modenas Ninja 250 ABS and Z250 ABS models.

Featuring Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and other technological aspect that both model share such as the economical riding indicator, assist and slipper clutch, and ergo fit for lighter chassis management, MyMAP has officially awarded both models with a five-star rating under the programme prior to the assessment and audit process that Modenas has gone thru in October 2022.

 Ninja 250 ABS.

The MyMAP initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to promote safer motorcycles by the utilisation of safety technology on motorcycles and to enhance consumer awareness on safety riding for crash prevention. The programme has the same grading standards as the New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) and was also founded by the same people who created the Asean NCAP.

Modenas chief executive officer Roslan Roskan said the certification was the first time for Modenas to receive such recognition for its products.

 Z250 ABS.

"In addition, both models are the first motorcycles to receive the MyMAP 5-star rating in its class (250cc sports bike for Ninja and 250cc naked bike for Z250).

"By having so, we believe that it will help our customers to make a more informed purchase decision, especially on the importance of having advanced safety technology available on their motorcycles.

"In addition, Modenas will continue to provide more safety features to its existing range of motorcycles,” he said.


Audi A6 sedan and A7 Sportback now available

                PETALING JAYA: Audi Malaysia announced the availability of new variants of the Audi A6 business sedan and the Audi A7 Sportback five-door coupé, both with a high performance 2.0 litre four-cylinder, inline petrol engine coupled with Audi’s legendary quattro permanent all-wheel system.

The Audi A6 2.0 TFSI quattro is priced from RM407,900, whilst the Audi A7 2.0 TFSI quattro will retail from RM484,900.

The executive Audi A6 2.0 TFSI quattro slots in between the entry-point Audi A6 1.8 TFSI and the range-topping Audi A6 3.0 TFSI quattro, and looks almost identical with its larger-engined variant with the only exception beings its 18” 10-spoke V-design alloy wheels.

With balanced proportions and crisp styling, the Audi A6 2.0 TFSI quattro cuts a handsome visage with its signature Singleframe grille and LED headlights and taillights with dynamic indicators.

 Audi A7 Sportback.

The elegant Audi A7 2.0 TFSI quattro provides a more accessible option for owners looking to combine the sporty appeal of a coupé, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of an Avant (station wagon) that comes with the Audi A7.

The understated Audi A7 Sportback 2.0 TFSI quattro provides a distinctively progressive silhouette with its long bonnet, muscular waistline and sloping roofline.

Under the hood, both vehicles are propelled by a 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder, in-line petrol engine with direct fuel injection and exhaust gas turbocharging that develops a total of 252hp and a maximum torque of 370Nm between the range of 1,600rpm and 4,500rpm.

This sporty engine is then mated with a precise seven-speed S tronic transmission and Audi’s legendary quattro permanent all-wheel drive to allow the sedan to accomplish the century sprint in 6.5 seconds and the five-door coupe to make it in 6.7 seconds.

On to the interior, the Audi A6 2.0 TFSI continues to uphold the standard for business class comfort, with electrically adjustable front seats with four-way lumbar support and a spacious rear seat all done up in Milano leather.

In order to keep all occupants connected and entertained, this executive sedan also features Audi MMI navigation plus with MMI Touch which is accessed through an electrically retractable 8-inch screen, Audi connect which provides Google Earth and W-Fi hotspot functionality and a Bose surround sound 12-channel amplifier with 14 loudspeakers.

The Audi A7 2.0 TFSI quattro features a decidedly sportier interior, featuring a more sculpted dashboard with Aluminium Ellipse silver inlays and underlined further with electrically adjustable sport seats with four-way lumbar support in the front and a cosseting rear seat, all done up in a sporty Alcantara-leather combination.

Also bristling with technology, this Audi A7 Sportback also features all of the same infotainment and connectivity features as the A6 sedan, but with the added function of the Audi Smartphone Interface, which allows the access of a connected iOS or Android smartphone’s features through the vehicle’s MMI interface.

Both the Audi A6 2.0 TFSI quattro and the Audi A7 Sportback 2.0 TFSI quattro come packed with an array of electronic and mechanical features to ensure safety and efficiency, including a start/stop system with energy recovery, tyre pressure loss indicator, hill descent control, Electronic Stabilisation Control (ESC) which includes Traction Control (ASR), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and a total of eight airbags.


BMW takes a step out of Tesla, VW’s shadow with all-electric iX SUV

                MUNICH: For BMW AG, going electric relatively early hasn’t exactly paid off.

The battery-powered iX SUV that BMW unwrapped today is debuting seven years after the company began making the i3 hatchback. At that time, Tesla Inc. was just getting the Model S off the ground, and Volkswagen AG was still marketing millions of illegal engines as “clean” diesels.

The tables have turned since then. Tesla has run away with electric-vehicle sales leadership, and VW has emerged from its emissions scandal with plans to give Elon Musk a run for his money. BMW has been less committed to battery-only models, instead introducing an array of plug-in hybrids.

Last week, chief executive officer Oliver Zipse seemed at least tacitly to suggest some may have forgotten about iX, which the German carmaker first talked about four years ago. “I’m sure this car will surprise and delight a lot of people,” he said during BMW’s quarterly earnings call.

The perception that BMW missed the boat with regard to EVs has been costly. Its shares are down more than 40% from their peak in 2015, valuing the company at about €45 billion (RM219bil). At US$389 billion (RM1.6tril), Tesla’s market capitalization is more than seven times richer.

When Arndt Ellinghorst, an auto-equity analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, started coverage of European carmakers in September, he was surprised how many investors thought BMW lacked an EV narrative like VW’s.

“Sometimes BMW seems to be ‘too smart to care’ when it comes to telling their story,” Ellinghorst, who rates the company the equivalent of a buy, said in an email. “They’re great at engineering but poor at communicating it.”

The iX, which retains much of the design cues from the iNext concept BMW showed in 2018, is expected to go on sale in Europe in the second half of next year for at least €75,000 (RM366,000), a price point that portends niche sales volume relative to the 500,000 vehicles Tesla expects to deliver worldwide this year. VW is similarly aiming for more of a mass market with its lower-priced ID.3 hatch and ID.4 crossover.

BMW expects the iX to have an estimated range rating of 480km in the US. That would be roughly in line with the Performance version of Tesla’s Model Y but trail the at least 540km rating for the Model X. BMW didn’t release approximate battery-charging times.

The iX is based on a dedicated architecture for EVs that Ellinghorst expects the company to launch more models from in the future. While some investors see the carmaker’s electric efforts as half-hearted, he expects the new iX3 — a battery-only version of the X3 sport utility vehicle — to be competitive with Tesla’s Model Y in terms of range.

Juergen Pieper, an equity analyst at Bankhaus Metzler, believes BMW has taken the right approach.

“The risk of being the latest to change its strategy was higher than the risk to lose something of the BMW DNA,” he said.


Porsche to pick Sajjad Khan as board member for Car-IT

                BERLIN: Porsche AG said today its supervisory board intends to appoint Sajjad Khan, a former chief technology officer at rival Mercedes-Benz, to the company's executive board with a focus on Car-IT.

The move comes as Volkswagen-owned Porsche gears up for a market listing.

Khan, 48, worked for Mercedes-Benz for over six years until August 2021. Most recently, he was a member of the divisional board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, and served as chief technology officer. He has also worked for BMW.

"We look forward to being able to welcome Sajjad Khan, a proven digital expert, to the Board and thereby to strengthen our IT team in a critical position," Porsche AG executive board chairman Oliver Blume said in a statement.

Khan, who was born in Pakistan and has German nationality, would become the eighth member of the executive board. He is an internationally recognised expert in the development of intelligent software in vehicles.

No decision had been taken yet on exactly when the supervisory board will sign off on Khan's appointment or on when he could start, Porsche added.


Australian firm completes purchase of failed battery startup Britishvolt

                LONDON: Australia's Recharge Industries has completed a deal to buy Britishvolt, a bankrupt startup planning a gigafactory for electric vehicle batteries in the UK, administrators overseeing a rescue deal said today.

"The joint administrators... have completed the sale of the majority of the business and assets to Recharge Production UK Limited for an undisclosed sum," a statement from financial group EY said.

"The remaining Britishvolt employees have transferred to Recharge as part of the transaction."

The sale of the business "will help to support the development of technology and infrastructure needed for the UK's energy transition", it added.

The news comes despite weekend media reports that the deal was facing delays due to checks on whether Recharge had sufficient funds.

Britishvolt, which was championed by former prime minister Boris Johnson to help drive a greener economy, failed to adequately finance a multi-billion-pound facility in Blyth, northeast England.

The shortfall occurred despite the promise of government financial support and in the wake of funding by metals giant Glencore and British luxury car firm Aston Martin.

A majority of the 300 Britishvolt employees had lost their jobs in the collapse.

It emerged earlier this month that Recharge had been selected by EY as the preferred bidder to take over the majority of the business.


2016 Toyota Eco Youth tackles solid waste

                PETALING JAYA: The Toyota Eco Youth Challenge celebrates its 15th anniversary with a concerted push by making Solid Waste Management its theme for the year.

Starting off as an eco competition between schools, the annual programme has grown in leaps and bounds, impacting secondary schools and teachers as well as countless communities where participating schools are located.

“It is no secret that environment sustainability is second nature to Toyota,” says Datuk Ismet Suki, President of UMW Toyota Motor, at the opening ceremony of the Toyota Eco Youth programme held at Concorde Hotel Shah Alam.

He adds that on a global basis, the car manufacturer has established the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, which identified six key environmental issues to be tackled in the next 3 decades such as CO2 reduction, water optimisation and establishing societies that practice recycling and an earth-friendly culture.

 (From left) Ismet and Mahamad talking to the team leaders of the participating schools.

Closer to home, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) implements environmental best practices at their head office, showrooms and service centers. Various environmental activities are also conducted with their staff every year, such as environmental awareness talks, tree planting, recycling and others.

These efforts underline UMWT’s strong commitment to environmental consciousness and grow a future generation that adopts sustainable practices in all aspects of life.

As the saying goes, ‘We don’t inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children’, Datuk Ismet urges this year’s Toyota Eco Youth participants to produce real impact.

Mahamad Amran Kamsi, Chief Asst Director, Ministry of Education, concurs, adding that Solid Waste Management is a long-standing problem that is growing worse by the day as the country and world’s population increase.

“The main problem with solid waste is that they are not biodegradeable,” says Mahamad Amran. “A plastic bottle takes 500 years to break down, a plastic bag 10-20 years, a milk carton 5 years, a tin can 50 years, a glass bottle 1 million years.”

That means plastics and glass items will still be around long after we are gone, he laments. “This means it is not only a problem to the planet now, but for the next 10, 100, 1000, up to a million years.”

He lauds UMW Toyota Motor for the Toyota Eco Youth programme, as it allows students to develop both technical and soft skills. As education is a lifelong process, it goes beyond the four walls of a classroom or school. It takes more than textbooks to develop intelligence and higher thinking skills, asserts Mahamad Amran.

In the past, participating schools were selected by the Ministry of Education, typically one from each state for a fair representation across the country. Bringing the challenge one notch higher, schools who would like to participate in the Toyota Eco Youth programme this year had to submit a project proposal to the organizing committee.

This new arrangement is expected to bring even better results in terms of project outcome, promotions and exposure, as schools who had submitted proposals had already shown their competitive spirit from the onset.

To date, 209 schools have participated in the Toyota Eco Youth Challenge. UMW Toyota Motor had spent over RM6 million for the programme since its inception in 2001, considering it a worthy investment in human capital and the planet we live in.

Mahamad concludes that consumerism attitudes must change.

Although the best solution is still the 3R- with emphasis on Reduce, then Reuse and Recycle, the recycling rate in Malaysia is still dismal at 2%. He assert, “We cannot afford to wait until the world turns into a planet of garbage”.


The hottest new motorcycles for 2022 - new trends and one comeback

                STUTTGART: Motorcycling remains as popular as ever and if 2021 is anything to go by, the sales boom is set to continue this year as new arrivals enter the showrooms.

Around 60,000 motorcycles were sold in Germany alone during the first nine months of last year in line with a massive increase of 95 per cent in worldwide sales.

Adventure bikes and electrics are set to lead the sales surge and Maik Schwarz, who writes for the German bike mag Motorrad Magazin MO, believes buyers are turning to lightweight, enduro-style motorcycles in the same way that car punters took to SUVs.

 There are several new models in the sports tourer range, such as the Triumph Speed triple 1200 RR.

"These bikes have a higher riding position and they offer more comfort than conventional road machine although they are shod with street tyres and are not really designed for dirt-riding," says the expert.

Typical Models are the BMW F900 XR, Kawasaki Versys and Yamaha Tracer which will be joined this year by the Aprilia Tuareg 660 and Husqvarna Norden 901.

While electric cars boom, consumers have been slow to adopt electron-sipping two-wheelers. "They are too expensive, too heavy and their range is limited", said Schwarz.

"On top of that, charging takes too long. They just don't suit the user profile of leisure riders who want to cover a few hundred kilometres on the weekend".

 New 500cc Honda bikes.

Some cool new electric models are making their debut in early 2022 though and among those worth checking out are the Zero SR, Energica Ego+ and hyper-naked Energica Eva Ribelle RS which the makers say is "an electric e-fighter, aggressive with an urban mojo."

Electric power makes sense for scooters for short hauls and many eyes will be on BMW's sleek new CE 04 Scooter which is aimed squarely at urban mobility and commuters.

The white bodywork gets a modern floating bench seat and the liquid-cooled, permanent-magnet electric motor is located in the frame between the battery and the rear wheel.

Joerg Lohse, who is deputy chief editor at the specialist magazine Motorrad, can detect three big trends for 2022. He expects strong demand for mid-range bikes, a sales offensive by Italian makers and the return of the sports tourer.

What makes these bikes interesting for riders in many countries is that they can be ridden on a car driving licence with no need to pass a specific motorcycle test.

 The CE 04 Scooter from BMW is all electric.

Prominent among them are the Triumph Tiger Sport 660, Kawasaki Z 650 RS and the Honda CB 500 series. The Kawasaki is a retro throwback to the legendary Z series of the 1970s, but with modern features such as LCD displays, LED lights and a punchy two-cylinder engine with 67 horsepower on tap.

The Italian industry has been fettling a raft of new bikes, with Aprilia offering the Tuareg 660 in the wake of the RS 660 and Tuono 660. This sees the maker offering a sports bike, naked bike and adventure bike all based on a modular platform. Moto Guzzi has conjured up the V100 Mandello, its first water-cooled V2 which generates 115 horses from one litre of capacity.

Ducati weighs in with the Multistrada V2, 800 Urban Motard, 1100 Tribute pro, Multistrada Pikes Peak, Desert X, Panigale V4 and Streetfighter V2 with 153 horses.

Benelli's new adventure bike is the twin-pot TRK 800 which is made in China rather than in the Italian homeland. It comes with all all the right adventure styling cues and double arched headlights.

That noblest of Italian marques, MV Augusta is meanwhile reprising the desert-blazing past of its sub-brand Cagiva with two new adventure models, the Lucky Explorer Project 9.5 and Lucky Explorer Project 5.5.A

New sports tourers have been rare in recent years but models like the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR with its traditional cafe racer style front fairing and powerful three-pot engine point to a revival. In a similar vein are the Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello, Suzuki GSX-S 1000 GT and Honda NT 1100,

BMW does not have a lot of innovations lined up for 2022 but Lohse expects plenty of new models later in the year since the brand celebrates its 100th anniversary next year.

Michael Lenzen, who chairs the German federation of motorcycle riders, expects strong growth in the retro segment represented by machines like the Kawasaki Z650RS or Z900RS SE.

"Chinese brands will make further inroads into Europe too," he said with a nod to manufacturers like Voge, CFMoto odr French-based Mash with its X-Ride 650 Classic built in China. It revives the good old days with a rumbling one-cylinder motor and old-school enduro looks.

Maik Schwarz believes Bluetooth-connectivity between the cockpit and smartphone will play a larger role this year too.

A cockpit TFT display is sufficient for the directional arrow or map display, with the navigation software stored on the smartphone as a free app from the motorcycle manufacturer.

This saves space and makes separate navigation systems superfluous.


Lamborghini’s new yacht has supercar DNA

                NEW YORK: Talk about a shift: The Italian supercar company that used to make tractors for farming is now launching a yacht.

Lamborghini announced on Tuesday that it has designed a luxury speedboat called the "Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63.”

The Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy-based brand will work with boatbuilder Italian Sea Group to create 63 of the hypercar-lookalike boats, which are inspired by the Sián FKP 37 hybrid car and are also meant to commemorate Lamborghini’s founding in 1963.

While the €3 million (RM14.6mil) yacht is not strictly the first boat on which Lamborghini has collaborated (the company provided engines for others in the 1960s), it is the first yacht on which the brand has led the design.

The boat will be built of carbon fibre and weigh 24 tons, a veritable lightweight, considering its 63-foot length.

The vessels contain elements directly inspired by Lamborghini cars, such as the special stretch "carbon skin” that the team of Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini’s chief technical officer, uses in the brand’s sports seats and steering wheels.

That material will be in the seats, steering wheel, and helm of the boat, which even takes its clean line and aggressive edge design cues from the "lowly” (when compared to the Sián) Huracan sportscar.

Elsewhere, the yacht comes with the same start/stop button function that ignites the Lamborghini Huracan and Aventador sports cars. The Y shape of the lights on the boat’s bow evokes the Terzo Millennio concept car and the Sián FKP 37, both of which have headlights shaped like a Y.

The hard top of the yacht comes from the same design as Lamborghini roadsters; it’s meant to minimize exposure to the sun and wind while maintaining peak aerodynamics.

Each Lamborghini 63 yacht comes with two V12, 2,000-horsepower engines that can reach up to 60 knots, roughly 70 mph. It’s not as fast as the Mercedes-AMG Cigarette Racing boat, which could hit more than 120 mph. But it’ll get you from point A to B swiftly enough-and in true Italian style.

Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63 yachts will go on sale in 2021.

Inspiration is everywhere

The ability to work on a yacht helps inspire design in what could be the future of Lamborghini cars, said Stefano Domenicali, the chairman and chief executive officer of automobili Lamborghini, in a written statement.

"If I had to imagine a Lamborghini on water, this would be my vision,” Domenicali said.
Lamborghini has long dabbled offshore.

In 1968, founder Ferruccio Lamborghini persuaded boat-builder Carlo Riva to fit a pair of 350-hp V12 engines from a Lamborghini 350 GT into a wooden Riva Aquarama boat. With a top speed of 48 knots, it became the fastest "Aquarama” boat Riva ever produced.

Indeed, so have many other automakers: Mercedes-AMG has made a dozen high-speed boats in partnership with Cigarette Racing. In 2016, Aston Martin made the 37-foot AM37 powerboat; in 2017, Lexus designed a one-off, 42-foot Lexus Sport Yacht concept; and in the same year, Bugatti debuted its 66-foot, 1,000-horsepower Niniette.

Last year, even Fisker got in on the act when it announced a 164-foot superyacht with Benetti for the cool price of US$37 million-a figure that makes the Lamborghini 63 look like quite the bargain.


AkzoNobel coating for McLaren F1 car

                MELBOURNE: AkzoNobel is again supplying hi-tech coatings technology for McLaren’s stylish new Formula 1 car, the MCL35.

As official paint and coatings partner of the McLaren Racing team, the company’s Sikkens brand has helped McLaren to stand out on the grid since 2008.

With a new look and design for the 2020 season, all painted parts of the latest race car – as well as the team’s transport, garage and accessories – feature AkzoNobel’s high-performance products.

Additionally, AkzoNobel’s range of Protective Coatings from its International brand, provides heat-shielding for the car. Intertherm 50 has been applied to critical components surrounding the engine and exhaust to help them withstand temperatures of up to 540°C.

A single coat of the product is just 25 microns thick – around a third of the width of a human hair.

“We’re extremely proud of our long partnership with McLaren,” explains Patrick Bourguignon, managing director of AkzoNobel’s Automotive and Specialty Coatings business.

“The car looks fantastic – both on top and underneath – and we’re especially looking forward to seeing it in action at Zandvoort when the F1 Grand Prix returns to the Netherlands this year.”

The McLaren Racing team will be looking to build on a positive 2019 season, when they finished fourth in the Constructors’ Championship.

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing said: “Once again our new Formula 1 car, the MCL35, looks fantastic. We’ve pushed the technical boundaries this year with our livery, and we’re grateful that AkzoNobel – a trusted partner of ours for over ten years – has collaborated with us.”

Scientists and technicians at McLaren and AkzoNobel have been collaborating for more than a decade, with the partnership being extended in 2012 to include McLaren road cars.

The first Grand Prix of the new season will take place in Melbourne, Australia, on March 15.


A sneak peek at what carmakers will be bringing to CES 2018

Honda's 3E Robotics Concept.
LAS VEGAS: The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas used to be all about robots, drones, new smartphones and other, well, consumer electronics. Nowadays though, CES is increasingly being used as a global showcase for vehicle manufacturers to give the world a glimpse of the latest technological advances they're working on. And this year, Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mercedes are all looking to make a big impression at the Las Vegas tech-fest.

Of course, plenty of other auto companies will be there, but the likes of Ford are being considerably more tight-lipped about what they are bringing to the show than Mercedes and the three Japanese auto giants.

Honda's offering at CES appears to be more about robotics than vehicles this year, although one of its robot exhibits is a driverless off-road vehicle concept the company says is designed to "support people in a broad range of work activities." All the Honda robots are part of its 3E Concept, which is shorthand for "empower, experience, empathy."

 The MBUX.

The focus of the Mercedes-Benz presence at the show will be the debut of a new infotainment system for its smaller vehicles. Called the Mercedes-Benz User Experience, or MBUX, the new system incorporates artificial intelligence and is set to begin appearing in vehicles in showrooms as early as this year.

The German luxury manufacturer will also be bringing along a number of exciting concept cars too, including the Concept EQA electric hatchback, the Smart Vision EQ ForTwo city car concept, and the eagerly-anticipated Project One electric hypercar.

Toyota is also going to be giving a debut to a new infotainment system called Automotive Grade Linux, which will be an open-source project by The Linux Foundation, the official authority of one of the foundational programming languages of modern computing.

Nissan is going to be clarifying its mobility technology plans by taking its IMx crossover to the US for the first time, which is a self-driving concept with a battery offering a range of at least 373 miles. The new 2018 second-generation Leaf EV will be on display at CES between Jan 9-12 and will illustrate the latest incarnation of the company's electrification programme.


Mercedes-AMG GT-R sets Nürburgring record

                STUTTGART: Mercedes' upcoming flagship supercar, the Mercedes-AMG GT-R, has just set a remarkable Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 7 minutes, 10.92 seconds.

The official time, the fastest ever recorded by German publication "sport auto" when testing a genuine road-going sports car on the notorious track, also ranks as the seventh fastest in history around the infamous 20km circuit.

To put its time, also confirmed as the fasted achieved by a rear-wheel drive only car, into some sort of perspective, the much more potent 488 GTB needed 7 minutes and 21.6 seconds to get all the way around the circuit.

Yet the GT-R, on paper, shouldn't be so rapid. Its bi-turbo V8 engine outputs 585hp and 700Nm of torque and can accelerate from 0-100kph in 3.6 seconds. The Ferrari 488 serves up 661bhp and can race to 100kph in 3.0 seconds.

But unlike the 448, this Mercedes lived at the Nurburgring during its development. And it was on that track that the company's engineers and technicians attempted to transfer as much current generation racing technology derived from Formula 1 and GT3 competition as possible into the car.

"With the new AMG GT R, we have reached the next level of driving performance. This road-going sports car with motor-racing genes and innovative technical solutions offers an ultimate driving experience that allows people to feel our motorsport origins in every fibre," said Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes‑AMG GmbH.

It boasts innovations such as active aerodynamics that make the car slippery when going in a straight line or massively increase downforce when cornering at speed. In this regard it's the first road-going car to use an active under-floor panel that moves back and forward to channel how air flows under the car at different speeds.

"Our sports-car and performance brand AMG has its roots in motorsport and, ever since its formation, has repeatedly faced up to the competition on the racetrack," said Prof Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Mercedes‑Benz Cars Development. "[This] new top-of-the-range model is proof of the close collaboration between our constructors of racing cars and road-going vehicles."

The record time comes just as the GT-R officially goes on sale. The first deliveries are expected in March and, unlike the equivalent Ferrari, Mercedes has no plans to cap production numbers, meaning that anyone with around $200,000 can have one.


All NSE toll plazas go cashless from tomorrow

                BUKIT GANTANG: All 94 PLUS-operated toll plazas along the North-South Expressway will go cashless starting April 26.

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

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

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

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

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

“We hope to achieve 100%,” he added.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Stärke Revolution Speedster to offer the best of both worlds

                LAS VEGAS: US automotive coachbuilder Stärke wants to re-box the Porsche Boxster as a visual homage to the iconic Porsche 356 Speedster — just don't call the finished car a restomod.

Instead, the Stärke Revolution Speedster, which is set to make its global debut on October 20 in Las Vegas, has been dubbed by its creators — father and son team Wade E and Maxwell Morrison — as a restobod.

Because rather than take a 1950s Porsche and update its engine, suspension brakes and steering for the 21st century (and in doing so destroy its value on the collector car market), the company starts with a modern Porsche Boxster that it meticulously re-bodies and re-trims so that on initial inspection, it looks just like a classic Porsche.

The car making its debut later this month is the result of thousands of man hours of development by Starke, which is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. The body alone took 18 months to perfect, but now that everything is ready, the firm hopes to be able to produce an absolutely bespoke Speedster in 120 days following final design sign off.

Prices for the Revolution Speedster CS will start at US$59,950 (RM254,000) and its performance, and creature comforts will be limited to those of the donor car (a 1997-2012 Porsche Boxster, the cost of which is not included in the price).

However, plump for the Speedster Outlaw and things go up a notch. Wider and lower to the ground than the CS, the Outlaw can be specified with Bilstein adjustable coilover suspension, a sports exhaust system, a hand-built, 375hp racing engine and a body formed entirely from carbon fiber rather than fiber glass. However, the engine upgrade alone will add US$40,000 (RM169,000) on to the Outlaw's US$79,950 (RM338,000) base price. And again, none of those prices factor in the cost of the donor car.

Nevertheless, restobodding is certainly developing as a trend within the higher echelons of the automotive market. For instance, David Brown Automotive in the UK has had huge success with its Speedback GT, a Jaguar XKR convertible with a hand-finished bespoke interior and hand-formed aluminum body reminiscent of an Aston Martin DB5.

While over in Italy, Touring is producing coachbuilt classic cars based on the utterly modern Alfa Romeo 8C and Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. Even Rolls-Royce has got in on the act with the Sweptail, a one-off commission based on the Phantom Coupe. And when one considers that prices for the Speedback GT start at £500,000 (RM2.8mil) and that the Sweptail is believed to have cost over US$10mil (RM43mil), the Stärke starts looking like incredible value for money.


Part of busy Bangsar road in KL off-limits to traffic for 2 weeks after cave-in

                KUALA LUMPUR: Repair works along Jalan Maarof, Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur will likely take two weeks after part of the road caved in following a downpour on May 1.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said they had taken immediate action after the incident and closed off the road since May 1 from 10pm until 5am to facilitate repairs.

“Two lanes at the stretch from Public Bank to the traffic lights along Jalan Maarof was closed to pave the road surface.

“One lane was reopened to motorists after paving the road surface while another lane, where the cavity is located, will remain closed for another two weeks,” it said in a statement.

Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah who visited the site Saturday night, praised the officers’ swift action in addressing the problem.

Photos of the damaged road surface and the appearance of a “cavity” along the road had gone viral on social media.

Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil also tweeted about the incident and urged the public to avoid the damaged road.

He also said that the road, which was damaged at numerous locations, was likely due to water overflowing beneath the road surface because of the culvert wall collapse.

Selamatkan Kuala Lumpur chairman Datuk M. Ali questioned DBKL on the preventive maintenance measures in place to monitor underground drains since the cavity exposed a large monsoon drain.

“I suspect that the collapse of the drain culvert wall had led rain water to gush all over, including below the road.

“The gushing water must have caused the road surface to pop up at several spots.”


Honda targets annual sales of 70,000 Prologue electric vehicles in US from 2024

                WASHINGTON: Honda Motor Co's US unit said today it is targeting initial annual sales of 70,000 for its planned electric Prologue sport utility vehicle when it goes to market in 2024.

Honda plans to add additional electric vehicle models as it aims to have sold a total of 500,000 electric vehicles in the United States by 2030, and to achieve 100% zero emission vehicles sales in North America by 2040.

It comes as US President Joe Biden signed an executive order last month setting a target to make half of all new passenger vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles.

The Prologue is being co-developed with General Motors Co and is based on the Detroit automaker's Ultium platform, a modular platform and battery system. Honda and GM are also co-developing an electric Acura-brand SUV.

GM will assemble the Prologue and the Acura SUV - both of which will go on sale in 2024 - but Honda has not disclosed which plant will build the vehicles or the name or volume targets for the Acura.

Following the GM-built models, Honda will introduce a series of electrified vehicles through 2030 based on the Honda developed e-Architecture, a new EV platform led by Honda, and will assemble electric vehicles at Honda plants in North America.

Dave Gardner, executive vice president of national operations at American Honda Motor Co, said in a statement Honda will initially focus Prologue sales on California and other states like Texas and Florida.

He said Honda plans to add hybrid-electric systems to more US models.

"Our strategy is focused on introducing a higher percentage of hybrids in core models in the near term, making a committed effort to achieve higher volume leading to the introduction of our Honda Prologue," Gardner said.


BMW Vision iNext celebrates world premiere in LA

                LOS ANGELES: BMW has unveiled the Vision iNEXT concept vehicle, which it describes as the "future face of driving pleasure."

The car was unveiled at the press days in the run-up to the official start of the Los Angeles Auto Show.

In a first for BMW, a single electric vehicle - albeit a concept model that will never be seen on the road - has been designed to encompass all the Group's strategic innovation fields: autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification, and services.

The iNEXT was designed to highlight four main concepts the future automotive industry is set to be driven by: a human-centered design, the freedom of passengers to choose how they use the time spent in a vehicle, the complete and disguised integration of smart technology, and a purposefully designed innovative exterior.

On the inside, the car features a distinct "boutique" design, which is to say that the materials used, combined with the clean design lines, are reminiscent of sophisticated furniture. The interior definitely takes on a room-like feeling, maybe more than a vehicle one; after all, it's not often that a car's interior floors are lined with wood instead of carpet.

As for the smart tech, the "Shy Tech," it's almost completely out of sight until called upon by the driver or a passenger. In contrast with what is seen in a lot of the trending smart tech design within contemporary vehicles, BMW says that "there is virtually no need for either screens or buttons," for this model. It's almost hard to imagine an instrument panel not littered in buttons, dials, and levers.

This model is the latest of BMW's "project i," a mission created in 2007 for the Group to engineer sustainable transportation concept products targeted for those in urban environments.

The strategy didn't just produce concepts, though; it spawned market production of the i3 and i8, the former of which, launched in 2013, has been touted as the first legitimate iteration of the iNEXT. Therefore, this Vision model is the result of over 10 years of electric vehicle development.

A production model for the BMW iNEXT car is expected to "roll off the assembly line" from 2021.


CarSifu revs up with FMCCAM

                PENANG: CarSifu, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Star Media Group (SMG), has inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Associations of Malaysia (FMCCAM) to rev up its unique offerings that will give consumers more options when it comes to purchasing pre-owned cars.

The MOU was signed by SMG group chief executive officer Alex Yeow and FMCCAM honorary secretary-general Khoo Kah Jin during the federation’s 45th anniversary celebration held on Saturday at Berjaya Hotel here.

Present to witness the signing were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Johari Kassim, political secretary to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, as well as FMCCAM president Datuk Tony Khor and SMG senior general manager Chung Eng Lee.

Yeow said that through the collaboration, CarSifu aims to be the definitive buying guide in the automotive industry, enhancing user experience via data and technology while inspiring trust in prospective customers and car dealers alike.

“SMG’s ethos of being a credible and reliable source of news and information is mirrored across our various brands and products, while FMCCAM has long been the authoritative voice for Malaysia’s independent motor vehicle dealers. This collaboration will provide FMCCAM’s registered dealers with a trusted listing platform where they are able to reach even more consumers.

“With FMCCAM having over 5,000 dealers nationwide, it would be an understatement to say that consumers will be spoilt for choice. Together, SMG and FMCCAM can strengthen the trust between sellers and buyers and fulfil their respective needs,” said Yeow.

 Sealing the deal: Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (centre) with Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's political secretary Johari Kassim (in white shirtt) looking on as SMG group chief executive officer Alex Yeow (fifth from left) and FMCCAM honorary secretary-general Khoo Kah Jin (fifth right) shake hands after signing the MOU between FMCCAM and CarSifu, with them are FMCCAM president Datuk Tony Khor (red tie), SMG senior general manager Chung Eng Lee (in pink) and other representatives at the FMCCAM 45th anniversary celebration held at Berjaya Hotel, Penang. (May 27, 2023). — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

Established in 1979, FMCCAM pays close attention to instilling confidence in buyers looking to purchase pre-owned vehicles as well as protecting pre-owned car dealers from associated risks.

Khor said the tie-up between CarSifu and FMCCAM could not have come at a more opportune time as the pre-owned car market is currently on an upward trend.

“We’re excited to present car dealers with a platform that will allow them to extend their reach and showcase their offerings.”

He added that through CarSifu’s classifieds and FMCCAM registered dealers, customers can confidently make their purchases and expect a better, more transparent dealership experience.

“We look forward to working together to elevate our services and fuel the best experience for both dealers and customers,” said Khor.


Tan Chong’s co-founder dies at 97

                PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Tan Kim Hor (pic), the co-founder of the Tan Chong group, passed away yesterday.

Datuk Tan Boon Pun said his father passed away after a short illness.

The 97-year-old Kim Hor founded the Tan Chong group in the 1950s with his late brother Tan Sri Tan Yuet Foh.

After his departure from the Tan Chong group in 2004, Kim Hor and his children founded Wawasan TKH Sdn Bhd after they acquired a 28.7% stake in Greatpac Holdings Bhd.

Greatpac is involved in the manufacture and trading of disposable containers as well as mining and sales of refined kaolin.

Later, Kim Hor and his children injected car parts manufacturing and dealership businesses into Greatpac.

However, Kim Hor is more known for his involvement in the automotive business through Tan Chong.

The Tan Chong group, which has four listed companies under its stable, took the Malaysian automotive sector by storm in the 1970s with its Nissan brand of cars.

It dominated the local market until Proton came into the picture.

Its listed entities are Tan Chong International Ltd (TCIL), Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd, APM Automotive Holdings Bhd and Warisan TC Holdings Bhd.

Except for TCIL which is listed in Hong Kong, the rest are listed in Malaysia.

In 2000, a shareholders’ dispute broke out in the open between Kim Hor and the family of Yuet Foh.

It was resolved in 2009 via an out-of-court settlement.


The long goodbye: Expect an oil price spike as oil companies fall from favour

An oil refinery in the MIddle East. An oil-price spike would be a big economic headwind for a world recovering from the pandemic, especially in developing countries where the burden falls hardest. — AFP
NEW YORK: Nobody loves oil companies. Tesla Inc, the emblem of an emissions-free future, is worth more today than the top five Western supermajors combined.

Yet the world’s disdain for its petroleum giants could carry a sting in the tail – a jarring price spike.

Oil may be on the way out, but it will be a long goodbye. Even if demand peaks, companies like Exxon Mobil Corp and Royal Dutch Shell Plc need to keep investing tens of billions of dollars every year into fossil fuels just to stand still. Right now, many investors would prefer to take that cash in dividends, or see it channelled into renewables.

“We have concerns about investment, particularly in light of the pandemic, ” Opec secretary-general Mohammad Barkindo said at a virtual conference in Iran on Jan 26. Starving the industry of capital today “could sow the seeds for extreme volatility down the road.”

Oil producers have been hammered by the coronavirus. In 2020, collapsing cash flow, tens of billions of dollars in writedowns, large quarterly losses and dividend cuts became the norm for the industry.

Companies have taken dramatic steps to conserve cash. Many cut their dividends – in Shell’s case for the first time since the Second World War. Combined capital expenditures by the supermajors in the third quarter of 2020 were just half the level of a year earlier, and the lowest since 2005, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

With demand recovering and crude back above US$50 a barrel, the worst of the Covid-19 crisis appears to be over for the oil industry. But there are reasons to doubt that these companies are in a position to significantly boost spending on oil and gas.

In Europe, BP Plc, Shell, Total SE and Eni SpA have all pledged to eliminate most of their greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century and channel an increasing share of their investments into clean energy. In the US, Chevron Corp and Exxon are under less pressure to go green, but face scrutiny from investors dissatisfied with their returns.

On both sides of the Atlantic, the supermajors appear to have little financial leeway. S&P Global Ratings warned on Jan 26 that it may cut the credit score for a plethora of oil companies due to “greater industry risk” and climate change. Such a move could increase their cost of capital and potentially put new projects at risk.

“We don’t see upstream investments by the majors returning to 2019 levels of spending, and that was already a relatively low level from a historical context, ” said Giacomo Romeo, an equity-research analyst at Jefferies. Much of what they are able to spend will probably go into natural gas, which “could lead to a last hurrah in the oil price.”

An increasing number of people might consider declining investment in fuels a good thing.

There are alternatives available – from electric vehicles to wind and solar power – that don’t change the climate, but it is taking time to deploy them on a global scale.

In the meantime, an oil-price spike would be a big economic headwind for a world recovering from the pandemic, especially in developing countries where the burden falls hardest.

There’s plenty of historical precedent for an investment drought leading to a surge in crude a few years later. It happened after oil fell below US$10 a barrel in the late 1990s.

But in the most recent example, the warnings about a looming supply shortfall were wrong.

After crude slumped from above US$100 a barrel in 2014 to below US$30 two years later, influential voices from International Energy Agency executive director Fatih Birol to Total SE chief executive officer Patrick Pouyanne said the industry’s huge spending cuts would lead to a supply shortfall and price spike by the end of the decade.

Instead, the 2010s ended with Brent crude hovering near US$65 a barrel in London and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies deepening production cuts to support prices amid warnings of a surplus.

The predictions were confounded largely by US shale explorers, who not only survived the downturn, but cut costs and found more productive places to drill, igniting a second boom that surpassed the first.

Whether the shale industry can confound expectations again is an open question.

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the American oil industry harder than the previous downturn. Production is down about 2 million barrels a day from its peak, almost twice as big as the drop that followed the 2014 price slump. The companies that have survived 2020 say they’ve learned from their mistakes, and investors are demanding an end to years of profligate spending.

“The industry has permanently changed, at least for the next several years, ” Michael Cohen, chief US economist at BP Plc, said at the Argus Crude Live conference. The American oil industry isn’t monolithic and some companies could still try to grow, but most drillers are focused on improving returns or repairing their balance sheets.

The boom years, when daily US output would clock an annual expansion of 1 million barrels a day, are over, Cohen said. Companies “are not interested in growing into a large, oversupplied market, ” he said.

Not everyone is so convinced that shale drillers have kicked the growth habit, especially when OPEC+ may once again be offering a life raft to the industry by pushing up prices. Since Saudi Arabia announced a surprise production cut on Jan 5, West Texas Intermediate crude has held above US$50 a barrel.

“A big chunk of US shale is definitely profitable” at that price, said the IEA’s Birol. “Will they be able to increase production? I think many of them will be able to do so.”

On hold

Total global investment into oil and gas exploration and production fell by 34% last year to US$261bil, the lowest since 2004, according to a December report from the International Energy Forum and the Boston Consulting Group.

Annual spending at that level won’t satisfy the world’s energy needs in the coming years, the report said. Even if the recovery in oil demand from the pandemic is only slight, the world would require 27 million barrels a day of new oil and gas supply by 2022 to offset production declines at existing fields.

Annual investment needs to be 25% higher over the next three years to stave off a supply crisis, the report estimated. That’s much faster than the pace of recovery after the 2014 to 2016 slump.

The coming year will be crucial in determining whether the industry is capable of rising to that challenge. The IEF report estimated that upstream investment would drop by another 20% in 2021, but prices have already rallied since it was published last year and “capex is likely to be higher than our initial estimates, ” said Jamie Webster, senior director at the Boston Consulting Group.

Fourth-quarter earnings season, which started this week, had been expected to show a brighter outlook for the battered oil majors. But it got off to a shaky start after Chevron posted a surprise loss on Friday.

Its ambitious growth plans for the Permian – the most prolific US shale basin – remain on hold. It could take until the second half of the year or even early 2022 before conditions are right to increase investment there, chief financial officer Pierre Breber said in an interview with Bloomberg TV


Bristol aerospace company unveils winged e-taxi for commuters

                LONDON: Commuters travelling between London and Brighton could be making the trip via air taxi as soon as 2024.

Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace has just unveiled plans for a winged taxi that could make the76km trip in as little as 30 minutes (the journey typically takes an hour by train). A model prototype will be completed by September 2021, the company said.

The startup plans to manufacture the VA-1X, capable of carrying up to five people including the pilot, in the UK. The emissions-free plane will reach cruise speeds of 240kph.

“We know ground-based congestion is already a problem and infrastructure can’t keep up,” said chief executive officer Michael Cervenka. “While none of us would say an aircraft carrying four or five people is the silver bullet to solve all of that, it clearly has a role to play.”

Cervenka, who formerly worked on a flying taxi concept for Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc, said such a model is now becoming viable, commercially, given today’s technology. The VA-1X will be powered by lithium-ion batteries, the company said.

Zero-carbon flight is a growing area of focus within aerospace as the industry reckons with pressure to lower emissions while also dealing with the biggest crisis in its history. The weight of the batteries poses a challenge in developing such aircraft, making smaller vehicles such as air taxis more achievable.

Vertical Aerospace’s work so far has been funded by founder Stephen Fitzpatrick, who also founded energy firm OVO. There also are plans at some point to implement up-front customer deposits.

Some of the fundraising and development was slowed down by the Covid-19 pandemic, but now, Cervenka said, the effort is being relaunched with a short-term target of £30mil (RM164.32mil). Ultimately, Vertical Aerospace is aiming to raise £150mil (RM822mil).

The company has a letter of intent from Honeywell International Inc to supply the flight deck technologies for the demonstrator. The air taxi will be certified through the European Aviation Safety Agency, hopefully by 2024, Cervenka said.

E-taxis have been pitched as a more environmentally friendly version of private jets. Initially, Vertical Aerospace said pricing will be somewhere between a private car and a helicopter. The company’s aim is to make the aircraft more affordable, with a goal of getting the cost down to a few pounds per passenger mile.


Tesla's China-made sales hit record following Shanghai factory upgrade

                SHANGHAI: Tesla Inc delivered 83,135 China-made electric vehicles (EVs) in September, smashing its monthly record, according to a report released on Sunday by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

The number marks an 8% increase from August and set a record for Tesla’s Shanghai factory since production began in December 2019, topping the prior deliveries high of 78,906 in June, as the U.S. car maker continues to invest in production in China.

"The record high sales of China-made Tesla cars showed electric vehicles have been leading the mobility trend," Tesla said in a brief statement.

Globally, Tesla last week said it delivered 343,830 EVs in the third quarter, a record for the world's most valuable automaker, but less than the 359,162 analysts on average had expected, according to Refinitiv.

Tesla quickened its China deliveries after suspending most production at the Shanghai plant in July for an upgrade, which has brought the factory's weekly output capacity to around 22,000 units compared with levels of around 17,000 in June, Reuters previously reported.

Since the plant opened in its second largest market in late 2019, Tesla has sought to run the facility in China's commercial hub at full capacity.

It, however, plans to hold production at its Shanghai plant at about 93% of capacity through the end of year, in a rare move for the U.S. automaker, Reuters reported last month, quoting sources, who did not say why it was doing it.

The plant, which manufactures Model 3s and Model Ys to both sell in China and export to other markets including Europe and Australia, had reopened on April 19 after a Covid-19 lockdown, but only resumed full production in mid-June.

Production accelerated despite heatwaves and Covid curbs that hit its suppliers in the southwest region of the country.

Tesla, which has been offering insurance incentives to consumers in China since September, is facing growing competition from domestic EV makers in a sharply weakening economy, while consumption falls amid the strict Covid curbs.

China’s BYD continued to lead the domestic EV market with 200,973 wholesale sales in September, a nearly 15% jump from August.

CPCA said higher oil prices and government subsidies continue to encourage more consumers to choose electric vehicles.


Land Rover Defender Works V8 Trophy sells out within days

                LONDON: There were only 25 of them up for grabs but deep-pocketed enthusiasts have snapped up all the adventure-ready Defender Works V8 Trophy vehicles from Land Rover Classic within a few days.

Prices start at a whopping £195,000 (RM1.1mil) for the Works V8 Trophy which has been re-engineered by Land Rover's heritage department. The car comes with a 405hp, 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine, eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, uprated brakes and a handling kit.

Finished in distinctive "sandglow" yellow, the rugged model is a tribute to the vehicles which took part in the annual Camel Trophy competition from 1980 to 1998. The rallye was sponsored by the Camel cigarette company and took place in Mongolia, Tanzania and Siberia, among other far-flung places.

Like the original cars, the go-anywhere specification includes a front winch, multi-point expedition cage, roof rack, underbody protection, A-bar, raised air intake, spotlights and mud-terrain tyres. Inside there are body-hugging Recaro leather sports seats,

"The Land Rover Defender has always been more than just a vehicle, its engineering capability and suitability for overland expedition and all-terrain competition means it’s renowned with getting away from it all," said Land Rover Classic director Dan Pink.

Later this year, Works V8 Trophy customers will be invited to compete in an exclusive three-day adventure in England's Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire – the spiritual home of Land Rover all-terrain training, testing and development. This will also be the first time customers get to drive their car.


BMW to double share of e-car production at Dingolfing plant

                FRANKFURT: BMW said today it plans to significantly ramp up production of electric vehicles at its Dingolfing plant, boosted by its iX sport utility vehicle.

The luxury carmaker made more than 18,000 electric cars at the site last year, accounting for about 8% of production, it said, adding that share will be doubled to 16% in 2021, helped by the start of serial production of the iX.

BMW also said that half of the vehicles produced at Dingolfing would be electrified by the middle of the decade.

The plant produced 231,970 vehicles last year, accounting for more than a tenth of BMW's total production.


All-new Lexus LX premieres

                TOKYO: The new Lexus LX made its world premiere today and is scheduled to go on sale in early 2022.

No mention of a hybrid yet, and price will be announced in due course. The new LX is the second model of the next-generation of Lexus following the NX.

Since its launch in 1996, the LX has been well received as Lexus' flagship SUV due to its high-quality, ride comfort, and driving performance that can withstand all kinds of roads around the world.

This has been achieved by refining the founding concepts of the LX: "reliability", "durability", and "rough-road driving performance".

The LX has sold a total of 500,000 units in more than 50 countries and regions as of the end of August 2021.

According to Lexus, the fourth generation LX 600 builds on its founding concepts by providing exceptional comfort and enriching the experiences of its occupants.

The new LX has the "golden ratio" of a 2,850 mm wheelbase, which has been inherited from generation to generation and which provides both high-level performance on rough terrain and a spacious interior.

While maintaining a traditional body-on-frame structure to ensure reliability, durability, and driving performance, it is now based on the new GA-F platform, reducing its hefty weight by 200kg, and achieving a digitally-developed high-rigidity body.

The new LX will be available with a new high-output, high-torque 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine (409hp/650Nm). It replaces the naturally aspirated 5.7-litre V8 mill of the previous LX.

Electronically controlled brakes (ECB) and an electric power steering system (EPS) are also adopted to ensure customers will be able to enjoy Lexus-unique driving performance to the fullest, both on-road and off-road.

These innovations, plus the adoption of two new available powertrains, will also contribute to improved environmental performance, reducing annual CO2 emissions when the vehicle is in use by 20 percent on a global cumulative basis compared to the previous model.

In harsh off-road environments, to promote a safer and more comfortable driving experience, the instrument panel features Lexus' first dual display with a 12.3-inch upper screen and 7-inch lower screen, as well as Back Underfloor View, which displays the area beneath the rear part of the vehicle as a world first.

As the luxe-up version of the Toyota Land Cruiser, the new LX is more personalised, with the newly added "EXECUTIVE" grade, which is specially designed with four independent seats for elegant and safe travel on all kinds of roads, and the "OFFROAD" grade which is dedicated to Japanese market.

In terms of styling, while pursuing a design that contributes to athletic performance and function (a design perspective that began with the new NX), ideal proportions are expressed through a blending of sophistication, power, and presence befitting a flagship SUV.

New 22-inch forged alloy wheels employ the high contrast of black and machined brilliance to emphasize that they are the largest ever offered by Lexus.

Among other featured technologies, Lexus' first fingerprint-authentication push-start switch contributes to reducing the risk of theft.

A fingerprint sensor is installed in the center of the push-start switch. When the driver has the smart key and touches the fingerprint sensor on the push-start switch while pressing the brake, the fingerprint information is checked against the fingerprint information registered in the vehicle. The engine will not start unless the fingerprint information matches.

At the world premiere, Lexus also introduced a Recreational off-Highway Vehicle concept running on hydrogen that the company says gives shape to its vision of a carbon neutral future for those seeking adventure beyond what the LX can offer.


Why Bosch is searching for a sustainable synthetic fuel

                STUTTGART: We may well be entering the first serious stage of the electric car revolution. Over the course of 2016, demand jumped by another 60% and in doing so nudged worldwide sales up to the 2 million model mark.

What's more, by April this year, they finally represented a full 1% of all new cars sold. However, that doesn't mean that the internal combustion engine's days are numbered. In fact, Bosch's latest research suggests that it could still play a decisive role in cutting pollution and emissions.

Demand for the raw materials that make up an electric car battery — lithium, nickel and graphite —have never been higher. Don't forget, they're also the raw materials that keep our smartphones, tablets, laptops and even hand tools going.

And while lithium itself is an abundant mineral, mining it or evaporating it from brine is a complex operation with many mitigating factors. As a result, according to Benchmark Mineral, lithium carbonate is currently trading at US$14,250 a ton and there is roughly 60kg of lithium carbonate in a Tesla Model S battery pack.

The supply chain will eventually mature in terms of consistency of product and price, but not fast enough for electric cars to be the sole solution to meeting the targets laid out in the Paris agreement. They demand a 50% cut in global vehicle CO2 emissions by 2050.

 The Li-ion battery pack in a BMW i3 is installed in the floor.

"Achieving our future climate targets calls for other intelligent solutions apart from electromobility," said Robert Bosch GmbH chairman Dr Volkmar Denner.

That's why Bosch has this week detailed the work it has started on the development of synthetic carbon-neutral gasoline and diesel. It's a hugely expensive endeavour and one that's in its infancy, but if successful, it could mean that all vehicles already on the road are no longer adding to the CO2 deficit.

What's more, vehicles — whether a classic Ferrari or a truck — wouldn't need any form of conversion to run on the fuels and traditional mechanics and fuelling stations would also remain in business; no infrastructure investment, such as fast charging stations would be needed. With this in mind, the investment needed to create the fuels starts to make economic as well as environmental sense.

However, there are several caveats. The biggest is that these fuels require an energy source for their creation. If the electricity used to extract hydrogen from water — the first step of the production process — isn't clean, then the fuel isn't carbon neutral. The challenge of cleanly capturing hydrogen is also why fuel cell cars are still in their infancy and the filling station network non-existent beyond California.

But if the fuels can be created via clean or renewable energy sources, then they represent a viable medium-term solution to cutting emissions. Especially because unlike biofuels, which are similarly carbon neutral, these fuels don't need organic matter that could have been used as food, for their creation. Instead, the hydrogen is mixed with carbon collected from the atmosphere to make a fuel that can be burned by any gasoline or diesel engine.


Honda stays on top, with new City dominating sales

                PETALING JAYA: The City was the main driver that enabled Honda Malaysia to retain its grip on the top spot in the non-national segment for the sixth consecutive year in 2020.

Overall, Honda Malaysia sold 60,469 cars last year, with the City contributing 34% of total sales.

The second best-selling model is Civic followed by HR-V at 20% and 17% contribution to the total sales respectively.

The all-new City recorded the highest monthly sales in its history with over 5,500 units sold in December 2020. Officially launched in October 2020, the fifth-generation City was well received with more than 15,200 bookings to date, making it one of the highest booking figures for a newly launched model for Honda Malaysia in the second half of 2020.

Between October and December 2020, Honda Malaysia had delivered close to 10,800 units of the City to customers nationwide.

The new City is set to raise the stakes in its segment with an attractive overall package that is beyond the B-segment. It boasts advanced technology, performance and an appealing design.

"Throughout the years, the City has never failed to impress Malaysians, and the record sales achieved since the launch of the fifth-generation City proved that it is still a much-loved model," said Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Toichi Ishiyama.

He also said the extension of the sales tax exemption until June 30 would help spur car sales.


Lotus offers glimpse of SUV to drum up support for possible IPO

                LONDON: Lotus is touting its electrification push to help drive interest in a potential listing of its China-based business.

Lotus Tech, which is developing electric cars for the Lotus brand, is currently weighing a listing in the UK, US or China, spokesman James Andrew told reporters here.

Last week, Lotus showed off its upcoming Type 132 electric SUV — developed by Lotus Tech and due to be built in Wuhan — to the financial community and dealers in London.

The size of the issue and valuation are still to be determined, and no decision has yet been taken on whether or not to proceed with an IPO, Andrew said.

Lotus Tech is key to parent Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co.’s plan to grow sales from the iconic British brand from 1,710 cars in 2021 to as many as 150,000 annually, driven primarily by the sale of what it bills as electric ‘lifestyle’ vehicles.

Lotus has said that half of its total sales may come from China in five years.

Like many other carmakers, UK-based Lotus is pivoting from combustion engines to electric vehicles. The long-awaited Emira sports car that will start deliveries later this year will be its last gasoline-only model.

The company’s all-electric product pipeline includes a sports sedan due to be introduced next year, a smaller SUV the year after, and a sports car due in 2026.

Chinese billionaire Li Shufu’s Geely, which also controls Sweden-based Volvo Car AB, bought a stake in Group Lotus in 2017.

It owns 51% of the company while Malaysia’s Etika Automotive Bhd. owns the remainder.

Under Geely, Lotus in 2019 launched its all-electric Evija hypercar, a 1,972-horsepower coupe that costs about US$2 million.


Porsche may be developing world's most powerful supercar

The Porsche 917 concept could very well serve as a working basis for the German manufacturer’s next supercar.
STUTTGART: Porsche may be working on a new supercar intended to surpass all competitors, according to Australian website Motoring, which relayed the words of Stefan Weckbach, head of the brand's electric vehicle development programme, from a roundtable session at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

"Our target is always, no matter what car we're doing, to have the sportiest car in the segment," said Weckbach. Porsche's aim would thus be to produce the world's fastest production supercar by 2025, in collaboration with Croatian brand Rimac, in which Porsche holds a 15.5% stake.

This next-generation supercar or hypercar would follow the 918 Spyder, whose hybrid system brings up to 887hp.

No information has leaked, however, about whether the future engine would be another hybrid or 100% electric. In terms of design, inspiration could potentially be drawn from the 917 concept study released by Porsche last spring in homage to the 50-year anniversary of its mythic sportscar.

To offer the world's fastest sportscar, Porsche will have to best Mercedes' AMG One, a veritable race car for the streets derived from its Project One whose hybrid engine is expected to surpass 1,000hp.

As if this were not enough, Aston Martin claims to be doing even more with its upcoming Valkyrie with a 6.5l, V12 engine hitting more than 1,100hp in its AMR Pro sport version.

Both of the extremely expensive cars, of which fewer than 500 models will be produced, are expected to become available in 2020.


Special-edition models and global events celebrate 70 years of the Vespa

                FLORENCE: Piaggio is marking the 70th anniversary of the iconic Vespa scooter with a special commemorative series of models, including the nippy Vespa Primavera, the sporty GTS (in 125cc and 300cc versions) and the timeless PX. Events are also lined up to celebrate Vespa's milestone, including this year's Vespa World Day in the South of France.

The special-edition 70th-anniversary scooters mainly stand out for their exclusive colour finishes and Vespa Settantesimo "70°" logo on the passenger seat leather and on the glovebox.

The commemorative models will be available from May 2016, in Azzuro 70 blue or in gray, priced from €4,099 (RM17,972) for the Vespa PX 125 to €5,799 (RM25,426) for the GTS 300 ABS. Vespa has even designed a new brown leather bag that matches the seat. This can be fixed to the rear chrome-plated luggage rack in all the special-edition models.

Among events organised to celebrate Vespa's anniversary year, The Vespa Club of Pontedera is holding an International Meeting, April 23-25, bringing riders and enthusiasts to the scooter's Italian hometown. As well as tours, exhibitions, handling contests and more, visitors can take a guided tour of the Piaggio factory or brush up on the history of the iconic Italian two-wheeler at the Piaggio Museum.

Another key date in the diary of festivities is this year's "Vespa World Days," held June 2 to 5 in Saint-Tropez in the South of France. This annual meeting brings together Vespa owners' clubs from around the world for a program of events including tours and scooter runs. There'll even be a "concours d'élégance" - a 1950s and 1960s themed Vespa pageant held on the town's famous harbour.

More than 18 million Vespa scooters have been sold worldwide over the last 70 years, with some 150 versions and variants of the original 1946 model.


Volvo Cars brings infotainment system with Google built in to more models

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo Cars continues the rollout of its new Android-powered infotainment system with Google built in to the XC60, S90, V90 and V90 Cross Country models, as part of a broader update of its model portfolio.

The system, developed with Google, rethinks the nature of car infotainment and is defined by a user-friendly interface and excellent connectivity.

Volvo Car Group is the first company to team up with Google on integrating an infotainment system powered by Android with Google apps and services built in, and the fully electric XC40 Recharge became the first Volvo car to carry the system.

To give customers the same experience that they are used to on their phones, but adapted for hands-free interaction while driving, Volvo Cars also introduces the Digital Services package, which will be available for all Volvo cars with the Android-powered infotainment system with Google apps and services built in.

The Digital Services package includes access to Google apps and services, the Volvo On Call app and the wireless phone charger, as well as all data required to run the services.

Google apps and services enhance the functionality of the Android-powered system by providing hands-free help from Google Assistant, best-in-class navigation through Google Maps, and a broad ecosystem of native in-car apps via Google Play.

With Google Assistant, drivers can use their voice to get things done while keeping their focus on the road. Drivers can do things like control the temperature, set a destination, play music and podcasts, and send messages, all while keeping their hands on the wheel.

Music and media apps optimised and adapted for cars will be available through Google Play, while Google Maps will be able to provide up to date map and traffic data.

Apart from the new infotainment system, the mentioned models are also updated with the company’s latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), a modern, scalable active safety system that consists of an array of radars, cameras and ultrasonic sensors.

Other portfolio updates include new exterior colour and upholstery options as well as a leather-free interior option for all models in the 60-series. The latter is also made available on the XC40 Recharge.

The model portfolio update comes as the company is also announcing that the fully electric Volvo XC40 Recharge will be available exclusively online going forward, as part of Volvo Cars’ recently announced new commercial strategy.

Under the new strategy, Volvo Cars aims to be a fully electric car company by 2030 with all electric cars to be available online only. It will invest heavily in its online sales channels, focusing on offering premium electric cars in a convenient and simple way.

The fully electric XC40 – and later, the newly presented C40 Recharge – will be available via the company’s flagship online store, volvocars.com, which in turn will be overhauled to present customers with a simplified buying process, transparent pricing and a wide selection of pre-configured electric cars aimed at shortening delivery times.


Flood assistance package for motorcycles distributed by Mforce

                BUKIT MERTAJAM: Mforce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd is offering a special aid package to owners of SYM, Benelli, Wmoto, SM Sport, Keeway and Brixton motorcycles that suffered damage as a result of the recent floods.

For owners of Mforce distributed motorcycles affected by the disaster in the Klang Valley area, they would get:

> 20% discount on selected spare parts items
> Free inspections and labour charges
> Free basic engine oil replacement

From Dec 27 to Jan 15 next year, owners of flood-damaged motorcycles under Mforce can send their motorcycles to Mforce Segambut branch along with a letter of support to get the benefits.

Mforce Segambut

No. 15, Jalan Segambut Atas, Taman Segambut, 51200 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact : 04-545 2222
Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5.30pm

Mforce said the company was sympathetic towards the plight of the flood victims.

Mforce general manager of operations Asri Ahmad said the aid provided would alleviate the burden to be borne by owners of Mforce distributed motorcycles.


myTukar teams up with  Daihatsu Malaysia to improve used car selling experience

                KUALA LUMPUR: Online used car platform myTukar has partnered with Daihatsu (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (DMSB), a subsidiary of MBM Resources Bhd (MBMR) to enhance and make the used car selling process hassle-free.

DMSB is the sole authorised dealership of Perodua and Hino in the country.

Through the partnership myTukar said it would facilitate a smooth experience for Daihatsu customers to sell their used cars and bring convenience to between 300 and 500 customers daily.

 (From left): Daihatsu Malaysia Group of Companies executive director Katsumi Ohori, Arman Mahadi, MBM Resources president & CEO Muhammad Fateh Teh Abdullah, myTukar founder and chairman Fong Hon Sum, CARRO chief financial officer Ernest Chew and Derrick Eng.

myTukar CEO Derrick Eng said the company is honoured and excited to embark on the new venture with Daihatsu Malaysia Group, a giant in the Malaysian automotive sector.

“The collaboration will leverage myTukar's proprietary technology-enabled platform to speed up the selling process of used cars for all Daihatsu Malaysia Group customers. With this partnership, we want to provide Daihatsu Malaysia Group customers a one-stop platform to sell their old cars and get a new one in return, instantly and transparently,” he said.

myTukar will be a trade-in partner for Daihatsu Malaysia Group, whose partners and customers will now get to enjoy comveniences that include inspection services, collection, settlement and a quicker, smoother payment process.

myTukar will also be supplying certified inspectors to perform on-demand vehicle inspection for Daihatsu Malaysia Group customers.

Daihatsu Malaysia Group managing director Arman Mahadi said myTukar’s comprehensive and intuitive platform would enable customers wanting to sell their used cars and buy a new vehicle within Daihatsu group easiy.

For details on myTukar and this partnership, visit https://mytukar.com/


Hint of Toyota RND Concept

                LONDON: Toyota is breaking with motor industry convention by revealing a new product outside the familiar surroundings of an international motor show.

Instead its new RND Concept will make its world debut in the UK on January 26, ready for fast-track development that should see it changing the face of motoring within weeks.

The first image released today hints at how the concept’s design marks a radical shift in direction for Toyota, taking the “fun-to-drive” qualities of its cars to a higher level.

Although presented as a concept, Toyota acknowledges the RND will be unveiled in its production-ready form.

Manufacturing and product supply have been secured and on-the-road pricing has been fixed at a level that will make the RND Concept accessible to the widest possible market.

Toyota is confident, too, that the RND Concept’s impact will go far beyond its own model range, having the potential to transform the look of every vehicle on the road.

President of Toyota GB, Matt Harrison, said: “Full details of the RND Concept will be announced next week, but ahead of the official unveiling I can say that this is something we are proud of and that will make a valuable contribution to the world we live in.”


Honda Tomo EV is the cute concept we hope to see in future cities

                MILAN: Designed in part by Master of Transportation Design students from Italy's Istituto Europeo di Design here, the Honda Tomo EV that's expected to go on display at the March 7-17 Geneva Motor Show represents the compact, smart EVs of Honda's future, according to the institution.

In January, the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) here announced that about a dozen of their graduate design students were partnering with Honda to create what turned into the zero emissions-producing Tomo concept car, whose name means "friend."

Since this was announced last month, all we've known about the project - which is part of the Master in Transportation Design graduate students' theses - is that the model will be a compact electric vehicle that will be on display at the Geneva Motor Show.

On Tuesday, the institution provided a few more details about the concept and even a few sketches of the cute city companion that will debut beside Honda's Urban EV prototype that's expected to go in production this year.

Based on the sketches, it looks to fit in well beside Honda's other latest EV concepts including that Urban EV and the Sports EV with its smooth, curved futuristic lines and light-dark exterior colour scheme.

The Tomo is only the latest of concepts that Honda has created with students from the IED. In fact, this will be the 15th thesis concept vehicle produced. According to the school, Honda asked 13 students to design what they felt "Honda next 'fun' driving" means for the six years through 2025.

While this model is simply a design exercise, there's no doubt that it looks natural beside Honda's other concepts. Maybe when it debuts in early March, it will be the design inspiration for the company's next line of EVs.


New Toyota Harrier debuts in Japan, comes with Digital Inner Mirror

                TOYOTA CITY: Toyota is making the new Harrier model available through its dealers across Japan from today.

Available as a conventional SUV with a 2.0 litre or a hybrid with a 2.5-litre petrol engine, the Harrier is priced from 2,990,000 yen to 5,040,000 yen (from RM120,000 to RM202,000).

This is the first Toyota model to get a Digital Inner Mirror, which enables recording of images to the front and rear of the vehicle while driving.

The Digital Inner Mirror has an added front-facing camera; coupled with a rear-facing camera, it can now record driving video on SD cards.

A panoramic roof with electro-chromatic windows is also a Toyota first. It uses a large sheet of electro-chromatic glass that covers the front seats and as far as back as overhead for the rear seat passengers.

Dimming the glass fosters a feeling of quality as soft light penetrates the cabin, as if through traditional paper windows.

The domestic launch of the new Harrier marks Toyota's emphasis on online sales. Through the online sales channel, customers can reach out to any dealer they want or exchange messages with sales representatives from the comfort of their own home. The KINTO ONE "beloved car" subscription service allows customers to complete the entire buying process online, from estimate to application to contract.

Toyota is aiming to sell 3,100 units of the Harrier per month.

The latest Harrier brings together simplicity, elegance, and robustness in a coupe form.

It has a front view that emphasises its sharp styling through the continuity of lines flowing from the front upper grill through to the headlamps. The signature lamps emphasise the individuality and technical advancement of the new Harrier, enabling it to be easily distinguished from a distance.

Despite a simple structure, the side view offers a dynamically changing body cross section that creates a rich expressiveness while giving a powerful sense of movement.

The combination of a narrowed coupe cabin with sports car-like wheel housings extending from both sides of the body gives a generous ruggedness to the rear view. The light from a thin, sharp line of tail lamps and stop lamps gives it an overwhelming sense of presence.

A total of seven muted colours are available, including Precious Black Pearl, to show off the changing shades.

With a characteristic design that is unique to the new Harrier, the daytime running lamps are created in a double-L shape.

In the cabin, the centre console presents a wide and imposing impression of a horse's saddle. It combines with an instrument panel set within the edges of the saddle to present a generous ruggedness with an emphasis on individuality.

Extending out from the instrument panel to the door trims on either side, the dash looks as if it is wrapping around the occupants.

The interior employs tactile synthetic leather to create the image of a natural-looking silhouette wrapped in thick leather, and bentwood-inspired wood tones and piping throughout, presenting a casual air of quality.

The interior employs low-contrast browns, grays, and blacks. This calming atmosphere gives the interior space a feeling that is both chic and mature.

The new Harrier uses the TNGA (GA-K) platform for its basic structure. This creates a highly rigid body with a low centre of gravity in pursuit of both ride comfort and vehicle driving performance with a focus on driver sensitivity.

The suspension system benefits from MacPherson struts at the front and a double wishbone setup at the rear. The front and rear suspension geometry has also been optimized to produce a well-balanced rigid body. The front and rear suspension geometry has also been optimized to produce a rigid, well-balanced body.

A focus on sightline movements ensures the vehicle moves in ways the driver can predict. The goal was a ride that is both solidly reassuring and graceful, keeping the driver alert through ensuring their line of sight remains steady.

To improve steering convergence in the new Harrier, from the first moment driving off and then on the highways, shock absorbers that ensure smooth pedal stroke even in very low speed ranges are used. This enables the driver to feel the tyres gripping the road.

Active Cornering Assist (ACA) is employed for braking control to prevent understeering at corners. Coupled with an electric power steering system that responds quickly to steering wheel movement and provides light steering, this creates a feeling of comfort in the vehicle's responsiveness.

Hybrid models feature the Toyota Hybrid System (THS II) that uses a 2.5 litre Dynamic Force Engine (A25A-FXS). The 4WD vehicles that include the E-Four electrical 4WD system manage a fuel economy figure of 21.6 kilometres per litre in WLTC test cycles while still offering powerful, seamless driving.

The new 2WD models, added to widen the choices available, also achieve 22.3 kilometres per litre in WLTC test cycles.

Gasoline specifications feature a lineup that combines a 2.0 litre Dynamic Force Engine (M20A-FKS) with Direct Shift-CVT.

The goal was to ensure both direct handling and superior fuel economy, so 2WD models achieve 15.4 kilometres per liter while 4WD models manage 14.7 kilometres per litre in WLTC test cycles.

The vehicle makes an effort to address vibration and noise through the placement of sound-absorbing and vibration-controlling materials and use of highly efficient sound-absorbing windows.

The new Harrier comes with Toyota Safety Sense, which employs a pre-collision safety system that detects pedestrians during the day and at night, as well as cyclists during the day.

It is fully equipped with safety equipment for safety and peace of mind, such as Intelligent Clearance Sonar with Parking Support Brakes (Stationary Objects) that helps reduce and/or mitigate damage from collisions during low-speed driving in parking lots, etc.

The hybrid model features a 100-volt (alternating current) / 1,500-watt accessory power outlet. This not only allows the use of electrical products using the same electrical outlets found in the home, but also enables the vehicle to be used as a power generator during blackouts and other times of emergency.

The T-Connect SD navigation system uses a 12.3-inch TFT wide touch-display screen. It also supports smartphone-connectivity functions such as SmartDeviceLink, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

The Harrier is fitted with the JBL premium sound system that comes with nine speakers.


Toyotas in camouflage: Suzuki launches Across and Swace hybrids

FRANKFURT: In cooperation with Toyota, Suzuki is launching two new hybrids - the Across and Swace - desiged to help the automaker take the next steps towards electrifying its lineup.

The Across off-roader is the first plug-in hybrid to enter the Suzuki range. The Swace is not only the brand's first compact estate, but also its first hybrid. Both are already on sale in select markets.

The Across is a Toyota RAV-4 that has only been slightly modified and, like the RAV-4, is powered by a combination of a 2.5-litre petrol engine, an electric motor and continuously variable automatic transmission, a second electric motor on the rear axle and an 18.1 kWh battery.

According to Suzuki, the 4.70-metre-long off-roader can cover up to 75km on electric power alone. A system output of 306hp provides for a maximum top speed of 180kph. The standard consumption is a low 1.0 litres (22 g/km CO2).

The Swace is also a Toyota in camouflage and is already on the market as a Corolla estate. At 4.65 metres long, it offers 596 to 1,606 litres of luggage space and room for five people.

It's powered by a 1.8 litre petrol engine supported by an electric motor. Fed by a rechargeable battery that is only charged with reconverted braking energy, this alone can only move the estate at a moderate speed for 1km.

But that's still enough to push the standard consumption down to 3.4 litres (75 g/km CO2). If both engines work together, the system output is 122 hp and the top speed is 180kph, according to the manufacturer.

 The Across interior and (below) the one from Swace.


ADVERTORIAL: Proton's new affordable Persona set to excite

                The second-generation Proton Persona comes competitively priced (on-the-road including GST and insurance) from RM46,800 to RM59,800.

Using an elongated Proton Iriz platform, the new Persona is available in three trims of Standard, Executive and Premium (with and without body kit) variants.

Colour choices are Cotton White, Fire Red, Sterling Silver, Graphite Grey, Quartz Black and new Carnelian Brown.

The entry-level Standard is offered with a choice of a five-speed manual (RM46,800) or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for RM49,800, and is followed by the mid-range Executive (RM55,800) before topping out with the Premium (RM59,800) - both available with CVT only.

The Persona comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty.

The sedan reuses the same 1.6-litre VVT engine as before and gets mated to either a five-speed manual (Standard only) or CVT as before, but Proton said the engine’s been further refined for reduced Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels as well as improved fuel economy.

The 1,597cc engine produces 107hp at 5,750rpm and 150Nm of torque at 4,000rpm – fuel economy is rated as low as 5.6 (manual) and 6.1 litres per 100km (CVT) thanks to the inclusion of an ECO Drive Assist system to help drivers reduce consumption.

The Persona rolls on standard 15-inch wheels with 185/55 series tyres that obscure the disc (front) and drum (rear) brakes, while the MacPherson struts (front) and a torsion beam axle (rear) suspension gives it 155mm of ground clearance and takes care of ride and handling duties.

Sharing the platform used by Iriz, the Persona has the same wheelbase at 2,555mm, but has been modified to be 482mm-longer at 4,387mm, 2mm-wider at 1,722mm and 4mm-taller at 1,554mm.

The outgoing Persona, launched in 2007, came weighing in from 1,170 to 1,190kg and has a wheelbase of 2,600mm, while measuring 4,477mm-long, 1,725mm-wide and 1,438mm-tall.

Standard equipment across all variants include rear fog lamps, front and rear proximity sensors, driver seat height adjuster and Eco Drive Assist.

The Persona gets a five-star Asean NCAP crash-test rating, while standard safety equipment includes two airbags (six for the Premium variant), anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, hill-hold assist, Isofix anchor points, dual pre-tensioner seat belts and reverse camera exclusively for the Premium.

Other features include a 510-litre boot space, a spacious cabin, seven cup-holders and four USB ports (two for Standard variant).

Since the launch of the original model in 2007, some 250,000 units have been sold both locally and internationally.


BFGoodrich's next move - commercial truck tyres

 BFGoodrich Cross Control.
PETALING JAYA: BFGoodrich has set its sights on the truck tyre segment with its BFGoodrich Route Control and BFGoodrich Cross Control range of truck tyres.

They are priced from RM409 to RM983. BFGoodrich Route Control is available in the following sizes: 295/80R22.5, 11R22.5 and 7.00R16. BFGoodrich Cross Control is available in 7.50R16.

The truck and bus segment in Malaysia is estimated to be between 1 million to 1.5 million tyres per annum. The intermediate segment in which BFGoodrich participates accounts for 30% to 50% of the segment.

BFGoodrich Route Control is suitable for regional and highway application and has been designed with even-pressure contact patch to fight irregular wear and excellent traction in the wet.

BFGoodrich Cross Control is a tyre range suitable for on/offroad and has been designed to fight cuts, tears and abrasions, confer a firm grip on gravel, dirt and asphalt as well as toughen up to resist bumps and bruises.

BFGoodrich made a comeback to Malaysia early this year with the introduction of passenger car tyres.

 The BFGoodrich team are (from left) Rian Aznani of Michelin, Alexis Richard and Victor Tan. BFGoodrich ROUTE Control Usage (PRNewsFoto/BFGoodrich) BFGoodrich ROUTE Control Usage (PRNewsFoto/BFGoodrich)


Edaran Tan Chong Motor upgrades Rawang Nissan branch and appoints three new dealerships

                KUALA LUMPUR: Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has upgraded its branch in Rawang into a Nissan 3S (sales, service and spare parts) outlet as well as appointing a new dealer each in Taiping, Kluang and Sibu.

The Rawang centre was previously a sales outlet only and is enlarged now to offer the full range of services to meet the needs of customers in Rawang and the surrounding areas.

The new 3S outlet in Pusat Bandar Baru Rawang, also incorporates the Nissan Corporate Identity with the new Nissan logo, in accordance with NRC-NEXT (the global Nissan Retail Concept).

This follows Nissan’s enhanced global plan to innovate Nissan showrooms and provide customers with an elevated brand experience.

Visitors to the showroom will experience a new and comforting environment with a modern interior layout and furniture design.

Customers can view all Nissan models, with a Star Car prominently on display.

Presently, the Star Car is the recently launched new Nissan Serena S-Hybrid.

In addition to the warm, welcoming atmosphere with attentive sales representatives, there are also a comfortable customer lounge to relax in and enjoy refreshments, and a private discussion room.

Test drives are also available.

As a mini 3S outlet, ETCM Nissan Rawang also has a fully equipped service centre on the same site.

Nissan owners can obtain aftersales support provided by skilled technicians as well as assured supply of Nissan Genuine Parts.

The service centre has two service bays for Quick service and maintenance jobs to be carried out efficiently.

Sales operating hours are:
Monday - Friday: 8.30am-7pm
Saturday: 8.30am-6pm
Sunday: 10am-5pm

Service operating hours are:
Monday to Saturday: 8.30am-6pm
Sunday/Public Holiday: Closed

Meanwhile, the new dealership in Taiping located on Jalan Simpang is operated by Lofty World.

Sales operating hours are:
Monday to Saturday: 9am-6pm
Sunday/Public Holiday: 11am-4pm

Service operating hours are:
Monday to Saturday: 9am-6pm
Sunday/Public Holiday: Closed

The dealership in Kluang located in Taman Intan and is run by Da KIm Auto.

Sales operating hours are:
Monday to Friday: 8.30am-6pm
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday: 10am-4pm

The dealership in Sibu is located on Jalam Salim and operated by Ngu Brothers Motor Service.

Sales operating hours are:
Monday to Saturday: 8am-5pm
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday: 8am-12noon