Lexus comes top for customer service

The 2016 model-year Lexus GS.
LOS ANGELES: For the 17th time since 1991, Toyota's luxury marque has taken the number-one spot in JD Power's annual Customer Service Index (CSI) study.

The study uses 70,000 real US owners' experiences with a car company's dealers, franchises, and servicing centres and awards each marque a score out of 1,000. With 874 points, Lexus came top overall as well as in the luxury segment for looking after drivers of new cars bought or leased over the past five years (i.e., model year 2012-2016).

In the luxury category, Audi came second (869 points), Lincoln third (868 points) and Porsche (867) and Cadillac (865) completed the top five.

As for mainstream marques, Buick came top with 860 points, followed by Mini (850), GMC (837), Chevrolet (829) and Nissan (822).

Of the company regaining its position as the top marque for car customers after a four-year absence, Lexus group vice president and general manager Jeff Bracken said: "Customer service is at the heart of our brand, and we're proud of the continuous efforts by our dealers to exceed our buyers' expectations."


Nissan offers flood aid package with upholstery restoration

                KUALA LUMPUR: Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) together with Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis (TCEAS), had introduced a special Nissan Flood Relief Assistance programme to its customers impacted by the recent flash floods.

This programme offers 20% discount on parts and labour charges that will help alleviate financial burden for the affected Nissan owners.

In addition, a special upholstery restoration package is available at RM1,655 nett for sedans and RM1,988 nett for MPV, SUV, pick-up trucks and vans respectively.

Nissan owners can have better peace of mind with Easy Payment Plan (EPP) up to 12 months on total bill, and six months or 10,000km mileage warranty (whichever comes first) on Nissan Genuine Parts replacement.

Extended services such as free towing with terms and conditions, door-to-door towing for vehicles that are badly affected and Collect & Deliver service for usual maintenance service over the weekends are now available.

Owners can contact Nissan Customer Care Centre Hotline at tel: 1800-88-3838 for further assistance, or call the nearest TCEAS outlet for an appointment.

ETCM and TCEAS would like to reassure its customers’ peace of mind is of utmost importance and deeply sadden with the loss suffered by those affected by the flood.

“We would also like to reaffirm that both ETCM and TCEAS are committed to ensure our customers’ safety and satisfaction are of the highest level, and are working together to promptly address this unforeseen situation,” the companies said in a statement.


Govt to set new formula for fuel prices next week

                BATU KURAU: A new formula to fix fuel prices will be announced next week, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.

He said the move was to ensure stability in the domestic oil industry.

He added that the ministry would be holding a meeting with oil industry players next week to discuss the formula.

"The people must sympathise with petrol station operators who suffer losses when oil prices drop. They (petrol station operators) feel they are the victims (when prices drop)," he told reporters after attending a Ramadan function here today.

He added that he would be asking the Government to assist petrol station operators as they had been badly affected by the uncertainty in oil prices.

The retail prices of petrol and diesel have been on a downward trend lately.

Since April 1, the retail prices of RON95, RON 97 and diesel are set on a weekly basis.

It was previously on a monthly basis based on the managed float system.


Did you name your Mini Marvin?

                LONDON: Over half of the world’s Minis are boys, with the most popular name being Marvin, according to the world’s first ever Mini Census.

The survey, carried out by the organisers of Mini World Live, which takes place at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Northants, on July 10, received responses from Mini owners all over the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Malta and the United States.

The results show that in total, 51% of the world’s Mini population is male, 35% are female and 14% are neither – although anyone who’s ever owned a Mini knows it’s more than just a car.

Among the boy Minis, the most popular names are Marvin, Tommy (Cooper) and Jack, although there’s a developing trend towards the names Dave, Stuart and Bob, made famous by Minions - The Movie. Girl Minis tend to follow a more alliterative tone, with Minnie (perhaps unsurprisingly), Mollie and Millie being the three most favoured names.

Some of the more unusual names that owners have given their Minis include Pingu (because he’s white with a black roof), Tetley (because he has more holes in him than a tea bag) and Mojo Jojo (after the evil monkey in The Powerpuff Girls). Randomly, one correspondent has also named her Mini Leigh Halfpenny after the Welsh rugby international (because he’s smallish, gorgeous and powerful).

The survey also proves the diversity of the world’s Mini owners, with the youngest respondent being 17-year old Luke from Auckland, New Zealand, who has a male Mini called Sheldon, after Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory. The oldest respondent was 80-year old John from Bangor, North Wales, who has a female Mini called Mavis, named after his late wife.

Commenting on the survey, Mini World Live event manager, Katherine Chappell, said: “Mini owners have a real sense of community, and their cars are just as much a part of that community as they are. Minis, both old and new, are the most celebrated and characterful cars in the world, and with Mini World Live we want to celebrate that character.”

Following the show’s debut in 2015, which brought thousands of Mini enthusiasts to the Northants venue, the organisers are promising even more action and more of a festival feel for the show, which is backed by three major Mini-related magazine titles – MiniWorld, Mini Magazine and Modern MINI.

The show will feature attractions catering for fans of both classic and modern MINIs, including a concours competition, individual entries, a huge retail village, show and shine areas, club displays and on-track action, the details of which will be confirmed nearer to the date.

Live music and refreshments will also form a core part of the event, with camping available the evening before to ensure it benefits from a vibrant, festival feel.


GM to buy sensor-tech firm Strobe to boost self-driving car push

                DETROIT: Number one US automaker General Motors Co said on Monday it would buy Strobe Inc, which uses Lidar technology to helpself-driving cars identify objects at a distance, to boost its push into the market for self-driving vehicles

Lidar is one of the major sensor technologies used in autonomous vehicles. There is fierce competition between large automakers to bring autonomous, or self-driving, vehicles to market first.

Fully self-driving vehicles are expected to hit the market in a limited form by around 2020. GM and its US rival Ford Motor Co have both publicly stated that they aim to have fully self-driving cars on sale by 2021.

"Strobe's Lidar technology will significantly improve the cost and capabilities of our vehicles so that we can more quickly accomplish our mission to deploy driverless vehicles atscale," Kyle Vogt, chief executive of GM's Cruise Automation unit, said in a statement.


Maserati Levante Trofeo Launch Edition arrives from RM840K

                PETALING JAYA: Naza Italia has announced the arrival of the Maserati Levante Trofeo Launch Edition with only three units out of the 100 built for the world reserved for Malaysia.

Priced from RM838,800 (before duties and taxes), the limited edition Levante performance sport utility vehicle (SUV) is accompanied by a three-year or 60,000km warranty (whichever comes first) as well as a "Maserati Premium Service Plus" of three-years or 60,000km which includes a one time change of oil, brake pads and disc as well as wiper blades.

READ MORE: Get a load of the Maserati Levente GTS

In addition, new owners in Malaysia will enjoy an exclusive seven-year warranty programme dubbed ‘Serenity’ that's available across the South East Asia Pacific (SEAP) region and is valid for the month of June 2020 only.

At current, the limited edition Levante is available in Blu Emozione Matte (blue), Giallo Modenese (yellow) and Rosso Magma (red) while being powered by a more capable 3.8-litre (3,799cc) twin-turbo V8 direct-injected petrol engine.

READ MORE: The super everything Maserati MC20 sports car

Power is rated at 590hp at 6,250rpm and 730Nm of torque from 2,500 to 5,000rpm - allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 3.9 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 304kph, while being mated to an eight-speed ZF gearbox that sends power to the Q4 all-wheel-drive system with a limited-slip differential (LSD).

The LSD is able to send all the twist directly to the rear in 150 milliseconds if necessary or simply allow the power to be equally split between the front and rear axles.

Regardless, the engine's grunt gets the forged multi-spoke 22-inch Orione alloy wheels fitted with 265/35 (front) and 295/30 (rear) series tyres spinning.

All that partially obscures the performance brake callipers (in matching body colour) that's touted to provide a minimum braking distance of 34.5m from 100 to 0kph.

For comparison, the Levante S uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 put together by Ferrari that puts out 430hp and 580Nm which gets it from 0 to 100kph in 5.2 seconds while top speed is attained at 264kph.

To exploit the Levante's power gain is the newly included Corsa (Race) driving mode with launch control while the exhaust note, faster-shifts in manual mode (found within the Integrated Vehicle Control system for the first time) and revised electronic stability programme with the option of turning it "off" entirely to help heighten the driving experience.

This 2,170kg (kerb) SUV with a 50:50 weight-distribution sits on a front double-wishbone and rear multi-link suspension setup that uses adjustable Air Springs paired with Skyhook shock absorbers.

To readily differentiate itself, this Levante "wears" air extractor vents on the hood while showing off its sport bumper fitted with carbon colour inserts - including the air blades that help direct air into the large gaping vents for much needed cooling purposes.

The side profile shows off the widened side skirts with carbon fibre inserts while the rear sports a "Trofeo" logo on the C-pillars and a "Saetta" badge on the rear boot.

Inside, the cabin has been fitted with full-grain Pieno Fiore natural leather for the sports seats accompanied by matching-colour stitches and the Trofeo logo embroidered into the headrests.

The cabin also features 3D-touch matte carbon fibre inserts, a special "one of 100" plague on the centre console, paddle shifters, specific instrument cluster graphics and floormats with metal Trofeo badges.

Along with the Trofeo analogue clock centrally-mounted on the dashboard and a dedicated rocker-switch to adjust the ride height (lowered by 75mm or raised it by 85mm), a 1,280-watt, 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system rounds off the premium goodies.


Petron teams up with bookdoc to reward users for staying healthy

Beh (right) and Choong exchanging the document of collaboration agreement between BookDoc and Petron Malaysia on Thursday. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Interested in earning additional Petron Miles Point without driving? Now there is an easy and rewarding way to do it. All one needs to do is walk to stay active and healthy.

Walk a minimum of 3,000 steps and up to 10,000 steps through bookdoc App to accumulate Petron Miles Points, tiered at bronze, silver, gold and platinum level, said bookdoc’s founder and chief executive officer Datuk Chevy Beh.

"To redeem the points via the app, users need to pump at least RM50 worth of petrol at any of the 650 Petron stations nationwide. The redemption is from RM2 up to RM15,” he said after the collaboration agreement signing between bookdoc and Petron Malaysia at Menara OBYU on Thursday.

At the signing both parties also announced a Petron Virtual Run Challenge to be held from Aug 25 to Sept 7 where participants could also accumulate points using the app.

Beh is confident that 10,000 runners will take part in the run.

"Registration starts from today and the top 100 participants who achieve the most number of steps will be rewarded RM50 worth of Petron Miles points,” he said.

Currently, bookdoc operates in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Thailand and over 40,000 healthcare professionals have registered with bookdoc.

bookdoc has been collaborating with more than 100 reward partners and the rewards are redeemable in over 1,600 offline and online locations in 12 countries.

Meanwhile Petron Malaysia’s Retail and Commercial Business head, Choong Kum Choy said the collaboration with bookdoc as its new Activ Reward Partner would provide customers with more benefits.


Canadian firm wants to build a 3-wheeled electric car to mine cryptocurrencies

                TORONTO: Daymak Avvenire, a Canadian brand with an extremely futuristic vision, is proposing a 100% electric 3-wheeled car capable of mining cryptocurrencies.

The car is not yet available, but the project is already attracting interest. It has reportedly already surpassed US$350 million in pre-orders.

Daymak wants to produce a car that will mine cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum or even Dogecoin. Integrated into its 3-wheel car model (two wheels in the front, one in the back), the Avvenire Spiritus, will be the new technology produced by the brand: Nebula Miner.

However, this technology has not yet been patented, and Daymak has not yet produced any car, although it has shown a prototype.

"While every other car sits depreciating in the garage, Spiritus owners will have a vehicle that has the potential to pay for itself while it's parked," said Daymak's president, Aldo Baiocchi.

The Nebula wallet will be linked to the car and will allow people to collect, store or carry out transactions with the cryptocurrencies mined through their car.


Goodyear Assurance ComfortTred unveiled

                KUALA LUMPUR: Goodyear Malaysia has expanded its Assurance tyre portfolio with the latest introduction of its ComfortTred tyre which is now available at Goodyear Autocare and participating Goodyear stores.

Customised specifically for luxury passenger cars, the Assurance ComfortTred is constructed in China and has been priced from RM420 to RM860 with 12 sizes for choice.

The tyres boast of the American tyre company’s Advance Noise-cancelling (ANX) technology to deliver a quieter experience.

Additionally, it features a closed tyre pattern design that helps reduce ‘air pumping’ noise while a high number of smaller tread aid in lowering impact forces to further improve noise reduction.

Along with its new tread design, the tyre is touted to provide shortened braking distances, especially in the wet, right from “the first mile to the last”.

The tread compound is said to have a high amount of silica and resin compound for added traction, road contact and water evacuation.

Size availability starts from 16-inches (215/55 and 215/60) followed by 17-inches (215/50, 215/55, 225/45, 225/50, 225/55 and 245/45), 18-inches (225/45, 235/45, 245/45) and 19-inch (245/45).

“We believe that the new Assurance ComfortTred is a true comfort provider that enables the vehicle to become a quiet space for the riders to recharge themselves, gathering their thoughts and sharing moments with people they cherish,” said Goodyear Malaysia managing director Alex Ng.

Ng also announced the company would be providing an exciting range of products to further expand its Assurance range next year.

In conjunction with the launch of the Assurance ComfortTred, the American tyre-maker in Malaysia is offering free JBL Headphones to the first 200 eligible customers who purchase four pieces of the Assurance ComfortTred tyres.

After making the purchase, simply register the tyres for Worry Free Assurance (WFA) warranty before sending a screenshot of the buyer’s details, receipt and WFA, via WhatsApp message, to Goodyear (+6012-998 8410) to find out if you make the cut.

For more information, log on to www.goodyear.com.my. - JAY WONG


Škoda engine know-how will power 50 models across seven VW Group brands

                LONDON: Škoda’s technical expertise and experience has been honoured with an important assignment, as the brand has been given responsibility for the development of EA 211 series combustion engines.

The engines will power 50 model lines across seven brands within the Volkswagen Group.

Škoda will develop all EA 211 series internal combustion engines for the entire group.

So far, the Czech carmaker has mainly developed naturally aspirated MPI engines of this series, but now it will also take responsibility for the development of TSI units.

The new responsibility builds on Škoda’s previous roles. For example, it is already responsible for the development of the MQB A0 Global platform, which can use the EA 211 engines, while also developing drum brakes for the entire group. In addition, alongside the new generation Superb, the new Volkswagen Passat has also been developed in Mladá Boleslav.

Škoda’s engine development tradition in Mladá Boleslav stretches back well over a century.

The history of the development and production of internal combustion engines in the town dates back to 1899, when Václav Laurin and Václav Klement built their first bicycle fitted with an auxiliary engine. As early as 1905, Laurin & Klement presented its first car, the Voiturette A, which was powered by a 1.0-litre liquid-cooled engine developed in-house.

With a few exceptions, the Czech carmaker used its own power units almost exclusively until it joined the Volkswagen Group.

Even following the merger in 1991, Škoda continued to keep up its engine development and manufacturing tradition in Mladá Boleslav, despite engines developed by other group brands starting to appear under the bonnets of Škoda cars.

Production of the EA 211 engine series began in Mladá Boleslav in 2012 with the new 1.0 MPI type.

Shortly afterwards, Škoda was put in charge of the complete development of MPI power units for the entire group.

In 2014, Škoda opened a brand-new engine centre, which gave it the necessary capacity and cutting-edge technology to take responsibility for an entire engine series.

Consequently, engineers in Mladá Boleslav are now going to gradually take charge of developing the future TSI engines of the EA 211 series in addition to the MPI units.

Today the EA 211 model range is characterised by a high degree of variability – the engines can have three or four cylinders, range in size from 1.0-litre to 1.6 litres and currently cover a power output spectrum from 65PS to more than 150PS.

The engines can use petrol, CNG or ethanol and are also available in mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.

The MPI units are naturally aspirated engines with indirect multipoint fuel injection, which are renowned for their robustness.

The TSI engines, on the other hand, feature an exhaust pressure wave supercharger, which are powerful, high-torque engines that can power a wide range of models – including 1.0 TSI, 1.4 TSI (for plug-in hybrids such as the Superb iV), and 1.5 TSI found in vehicles from Fabia and Octavia, to the Karoq and Kodiaq.

They offer drivers a combination of high performance and low fuel consumption, as well as excellent handling.

The developers in Mladá Boleslav will continue to improve and adapt these engines to the needs and regulations of dozens of global markets.

The aim is to develop even more powerful and more fuel-efficient engines with lower emissions, with an emphasis on maximum reliability.


UK to require charge points for electric vehicles in new buildings

                LONDON: Charging points for electric vehicles will be required to be installed in new buildings in Britain from next year under new legislation to be announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his office said in a statement on Sunday.

It said the regulations would lead to up to 145,000 extra charge points being installed in England each year in the run-up to 2030, when the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will end in Britain.

The requirement will apply to new homes and to non-residential buildings such as offices and supermarkets. It will also apply to buildings undergoing large-scale renovations which leave them with more than 10 parking spaces.

Johnson was due to announce the new legislation in a speech to the Confederation of British Industry's annual conference today.

Accelerating investment in infrastructure to facilitate a transition to electric vehicles was one of the elements in a wide-ranging national Net Zero Strategy document published by the British government last month.


2022 Jeep Wrangler tipped over in crash test, says US insurance safety group

                WASHINGTON: The US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) said a 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4-door model tipped over in a crash test, an issue that could pose safety risks to users.

The industry-funded group prods automakers to make safer vehicles by issuing ratings after tests that are used by some prospective buyers. Positive ratings are often touted by automakers.

IIHS said the driver-side small overlap crash test showed a repeat of a problem found in a 2019 Jeep Wrangler model. IIHS said structural modifications made by Jeep manufacturer Stellantis did not eliminate the issue.

The 2022 Wrangler tipped onto its passenger side after striking the barrier used in the crash test on March 10, resulting in a marginal rating. The Wrangler earned good ratings in four other IIHS crash tests.

Stellantis said on Thursday it is reviewing the latest IIHS test results but said after building more than a million of these vehicles, "real-world performance strongly indicates they afford the level of safety our customers demand and deserve."

The automaker added that by a "conservative estimate, (Jeep Wranglers) have accounted for 105 billion on-road travel miles. And we are unaware any of field reports that correspond with the IIHS test results."

IIHS says even partial rollovers are dangerous since "they increase the chances that an occupant may be completely or partially ejected from the vehicle."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in March that motorists killed in rollover crashes increased by 13% in 2020 to 7,107, accounting for about 18% of all traffic deaths.

The 2019 model did not tip over in the test conducted by the company and which was submitted to IIHS for verification, the US safety group said.

Rather, it tipped in an IIHS test conducted as part of an audit program and then again in a subsequent retest requested by the automaker, IIHS said.


50% discount on traffic summonses via MyBayar Saman extended till April 15

                KUALA LUMPUR: The 50% discount for traffic summonses via MyBayar Saman has been extended to April 15, said Bukit Amam.

In a statement today, Federal Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Deputy Comm Datuk Azisman Alias said the four-day extension was because of encouraging public response.

"In the 18 days since the discount period began, 659,998 summonses had been settled totalling RM73.3mil.

"This includes the 56,909 summonses amounting to RM6.28mil settled via the MyBayar Saman application," he said.

He added that a total of 708,030 users had already registered with the application.

It was reported that discounts of up to 50% would be offered to those paying their road summonses via the newly-launched MyBayar Saman app.

The offer started on March 25 and was supposed to end on April 11.


Tune in to HARMAN's way of car audio systems

                LONDON: If you've heard of Bang & Olufsen, Bowers & Wilkins, Harman Kardon, Infinity, Lexicon, Mark Levinson, Revel - chances are you've got expensive taste for your audio equipment.

Such brands are owned by parent company Harman, and its line of customers include Audi, BMW, Jeep, Lexus, Ferrari, Maserati, Mini and Volvo to name a few.

The company recently provided an in-depth interview with its chief engineer of acoustics Arndt Hensgens, who provided a background on the complex, challenging task of creating and tuning an OEM audio system for automotive use.

And, according to Hensgens, the car is one of the most challenging environments for achieving great audio.

“There is a huge range of materials – plastic, cloth, leather and glass – which all absorb and reflect sound waves at different rates and every model has a different shape cabin, adding yet more complexity.

Golden Ears“Car audio is a long and delicate process that combines technology but most importantly, the human ear. Each model-specific car audio system is meticulously tested by HARMAN’s trained team of audio specialists, nicknamed ‘Golden Ears’ for our abilities to hear subtle audio differences.”

HARMAN ‘Golden Ears’ – Top 5 songs for tuning car audio

1) Cassandra Wilson – Fragile
2) Juri Horning Trio – Walking On The Moon
3) Eva Cassidy – Fields of Gold
4) Allan Taylor – Colour to the Moon
5) Mussorgsky – Pictures at an Exhibition, Fritz Reiner Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Road Testing“We use the car on tracks and roads of varying surfaces. The speed, road surface, number of passengers, the roof being up or down, even if the car is petrol or diesel: all elements affecting the audio. We also consider the type of music a person buying that particular car would listen to. Only when we’re happy that the audio is at its finest will the system be signed off for production."

Testing your own audio: “At HARMAN There are four key ‘tests’ to assess the audio experience that can make the different between having an exhilarating or exhausting in-car experience,” says HARMAN’s chief engineer of acoustics Arndt Hensgens.

Before you begin:
Setting-up the controls- make sure that all the audio controls (bass, treble, balance, fade) are set to ‘0’ or normal (setting to ‘0’ ensures the most accurate music reproduction from the system)

Playing the audio – play the tracks from your smartphone or other device, try to use high quality sources

Create your playlist– playing short 20-30 second segments of several different tracks, spanning genres, will show the system’s capabilities for handling a variety of music styles

Process:
1. Bass Response – Power
Listen for the presence, balance and extension of low frequencies

The listening experience is not only heard, it’s felt

The bass should be punchy and tight so that each note is distinctly present and physically moving

The low frequencies should be balanced with good, deep bass extension to facilitate a smooth and natural response

2. Spectral Uniformity
Listen for the balance of frequencies (bass, midrange, treble)

Each spectral region (bass, midrange and treble) should be distinct and balanced

The bass, such as bass drum and bass guitar, should transition smoothly into the midrange, which includes vocals, piano, electric and acoustic guitar, to give a sense of warmth and intimacy

The high frequency should complement the midrange providing accurate detail and clarity without a sense of harshness or irritation.

3. Spatial Imaging
Listen for the perceived location of instruments

The listening experience in a car should be comparable to attending a concert, sitting towards the right of centre stage

The instruments should appear naturally separated and accurately spread throughout the dash, the driver’s equivalent of the stage

It should have good width, extending from pillar to pillar with appropriate height and lifelike depth

The main vocal should be located towards the centre of the dash (stage)

4. Dynamic Capability
Listen for performance at various volume steps

The system should be balanced and pleasing at each volume step

Even at low volumes, the bass should be present and balanced with the midrange and treble continuing to demonstrate ample clarity and detail

At high volumes, the bass should feel increasingly powerful and balanced

The intimacy and clarity of the midrange and high frequencies are accentuated without a sense of fatigue.

Arndt Hensgens goes on: “Audio is a very subjective and visceral experience. However, it can be difficult to describe a powerful listening experience. There are some key descriptors that we find useful when talking about premium in-car audio.”

Vocals/instruments:
Deep, rich, nuanced, defined separation.

Should not be:
Dark, muddy, honky, hollow, dull.

Spaciousness:
Wide, stable, panoramic, seamless.

Should not be:
Unnatural, closed stage, mono sounding, flat.

High volume:
Crisp, clear, powerful, pleasing ambiance.

Should not be:
Harsh, bass heavy, honkie, uncomfortable, fatiguing, boomy, loose.

Noise:
Serene, quiet, unobtrusive, tranquil.

Should not be:
Whirring, static, buzzy.


Car prices drop 17.9 per cent since 2013, says Mustapa

                KUALA LUMPUR: Car prices in the country have dropped 17.9 per cent for the past two years until October, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Thursday.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the government remained committed to reduce car prices.

"Barisan Nasional has promised to continue to reduce vehicle prices between 20 to 30 per cent within five years, and for the past two years, we managed to achieve an average reduction of 17.9 per cent," he said when winding up debate on the Supply Bill 2016.

However, he did not deny that several automotive companies either did not reduce their car prices or were forced to revise them due to pressure from the weakening ringgit.

In this case, he said if the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement were signed, import duties on completely built units from the US will be reduced to zero per cent.

"In 12 years' time, the import duties of US vehicles, currently at 30 per cent, will be gradually reduced to zero per cent.

"In addition, Japan and Australia, through free trade agreements, ratified before the TPP Agreement, will be allowed to bring in cars without paying import duties from Jan 1 next year," he said.

Mustapa said he is confident that if the TPP Agreement were signed, national car companies like Proton would continue to stay competitive and change their business strategy by producing models at more competitive prices.


Benelli TnT135 fun bike launched

KUALA LUMPUR: Benelli Malaysia unveiled the Benelli TnT135 fun bike priced at RM7,990 at Hard Rock Café Kuala Lumpur. The all-new TnT135 features a powerful SOHC 4-valve oil-cooled vertical single 135cc electronic fuel-injection engine and a five speed gearbox with an output of 13hp at 9,000rpm.This small bike is sure to satisfy those with a desire for a sporty ride; and coupled with a steel tube frame for excellent manoeuvrability on all types of road conditions.“A small and powerful bike has arrived onto our roads in the form of a compact and powerful TnT135. With power in hand and lightweight agility, I am confident this new bike will appeal to our performance, stylish-oriented riders,” said Benelli Malaysia General Manager, Low Kin Yong  at the launch.Also present Global BENELLI QJ, Chief Marketing Officer, Dante Richard Bustos, Benelli Malaysia Chairman, On Thiam Chai and Benelli Malaysia, Executive Director, On Hai Swee.The TnT135 bike has been certified as an Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) status by Road Transport Department and it is locally assembled. Among the features of the TnT135 is the 5 speed gear box for smooth shifts and an exciting ride. The 41mm inverted fork gives more stability and comfort in riding. The design of the exhaust system provide a sporty sound. A bold and sleek designed LED front light that is brighter and more visible for both day and night.A larger front disc (220mm diameter with 2 piston calliper) complementing the powerful braking system.The Benelli TnT135 comes in a choice of two attractive and trendy colours and graphics in White and Red. For the limited time offer, Benelli Malaysia announced that for the first 200 buyers who purchase the TnT135 will receive one helmet - Givi M60.0 Skid Off Road worth RM371.


New KIA Optima earns Top Safety Pick Plus from IIHS

                LOS ANGELES: Kia Motors America’s (KMA's) top-selling sedan, the Optima, has earned itself the Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for vehicles built after March 2017.

The Optima has been equipped with the optional front crash prevention system, LED headlights with High Beam Assist as well as an integrated Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system for crash prevention.

Aside from earning a few "good” crashworthiness ratings and a superior rating for the optional front-crash prevention system, the Optima also achieved a “good” rating after for its headlights from the IIHS.

To qualify for TSP+, the IIHS testing parameters require each vehicle to earn “good” ratings in five crashworthiness tests – small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength and head restraints – as well as an “advanced” or “superior” rating for front crash prevention and an “acceptable” or “good” rating in headlight testing.

The Optima offers a suite of available driver assistance systems such advanced smart cruise control (ASCC),  blind spot detection (BSD) with lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert (RCTA), rear parking assist system (RPAS), front collision warning system (FCWS), lane departure warning system (LDWS) and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

“The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety sets some of the highest standards when it comes to evaluating vehicle safety, and the Top Safety Pick Plus designation is a significant achievement that substantiates Kia’s ongoing effort to improve the quality and integrity of our world-class model line,” said KMA vice president (product planning) Orth Hedrick.


Asian car makers may slow investments in Britain after Brexit

                BEIJING: Executives at Asian automakers with factories in Britain, largely set up to export to the European Union, say they could slow investments in Britain or even put them on ice for now, after the country voted to leave the 28-nation bloc.

Automakers, including Toyota and Nissan, had been among the manufacturers that have warned that a period of uncertainty would follow a Brexit vote, as trade and labour deals with Europe are renegotiated. Most today estimated it could take around two years.

Toyota and Nissan had said in the run-up to the vote that continued membership of the European Union was preferable for their operations: a vote to leave would create new challenges for an industry that employs some 800,000 people in Britain.

Even so, Sunderland in northern England, where Nissan has its operations, was among the constituencies that surprised pundits by the extent to which voters supported an exit.

Shares in all Asian automakers tumbled.

"We don't have any choice but to be more cautious with our investment decisions, including moves like whether to produce a new or significantly redesigned vehicle model in the UK," said one official at a global automaker with manufacturing capacity in Britain, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Tata Motors' Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is Britain's largest carmaker, followed by Nissan, which has been in Britain for three decades and makes 475,000 cars a year in the country, most of them for export inside the European Union and beyond.

According to sources familiar with the company, JLR has estimated its annual profit could be cut by one billion pounds (US$1.47 billion) by the end of the decade as a result of Brexit. It said today it remained committed to Europe.

But the carmaker also warned of a "significant negotiating period" to follow the vote.

"The big question for automakers . . . is what kind of trade deals with the EU would be negotiated. That is the big unknown," a second executive at a global automaker said.

Exports from Britain to the European Union are free of tariffs and duties. Toyota has said duties under new trading deals could be as much as 10 percent, hitting either prices or margins, and denting sales.

Toyota produced about 190,000 cars in Britain last year. Of that, 75 percent went to the European Union. Only 10 percent was shipped and sold within Britain.

South Korea's auto association said it was worried a departure could revive a 10-percent tariff on exports of passenger vehicles to UK, unless a separate deal is negotiated.

"This could inevitably undermine the price competitiveness of South Korean automakers in UK, as opposed to Japanese and German rivals which have production bases there," said Kim Tae-nyen, vice president at the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association.

At least one country saw a silver lining in Brexit. India's auto industry body, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, said it could presage a better trade deal for India with Britain. India has made several futile attempts to enter into a free trade agreement with the European Union.

But others raised the prospect of moving Britain-based manufacturing capacity to Europe.

Toyota said in a statement that it would analyse the impact of the vote on its UK operations. Nissan did not comment, though chief executive Carlos Ghosn said last week the company would question its UK position in the event of Brexit.

"No one is going to rush out and do anything tomorrow, but rather than revamp a plant in the UK to produce a new model, they might revamp a plant somewhere else," CLSA analyst Chris Richter said. "Down the line, it could lead to job losses."

Aside from Toyota, Tata and Nissan, others manufacturing in Britain include BMW, GM and Honda.

Honda produces around 140,000 vehicles per year, including the CR-V crossover SUV and Civic sedan at its plant in Swindon. Half of its production is exported to the EU.

For now, officials said efforts would turn to lobbying hard for better trade deals.

"Obviously, trading deals to be worked out subsequently could be a worse situation than we have now, or better, or all the same," said the second executive. "We don’t know, and that’s the problem."


Volkswagen's former chairman Ferdinand Piech dies

                FRANKFURT: Ferdinand Piech, Volkswagen AG’s former chairman and chief executive, who transformed the German company from a struggling midsized carmaker into a global automotive powerhouse, has died, German tabloid Bild said on Monday.

Piech, 82, died on Sunday in Rosenheim, Bavaria, the German tabloid said, without citing sources.

A representative for the Piech and Porsche families, who still control a majority stake in Volkswagen through their family holding company Porsche SE, had no immediate comment.

Volkswagen could not be reached for comment.

Piech was a grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, the father of the iconic Volkswagen Beetle.

A brilliant engineer, Piech turned around VW after betting on a modular construction technique which allowed Audi, Skoda and VW brands to share up to 65% common parts, helping Volkswagen Group to attain greater economies of scale.
Under Piech’s leadership, VW emphasized engineering brilliance ahead of profits, and went on an expansion spree, adding high-margin luxury marques Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini in a single year.
“First and foremost I always saw myself as a product person, and relied on gut instinct for market demand. Business and politics never distracted me from the core of our mission: to develop and make attractive cars,” Piech wrote in his autobiography.

While working as a 31-year-old development chief at Porsche in 1968, he invested two thirds of Porsche’s annual racing budget to build 25 Porsche 917 race cars with an untested radical 600 horsepower air-cooled 12-cylinder engine design.

Max Warburton, an analyst at Bernstein Research, described Piech as the architect of VW’s global success.

“His stewardship of VW has been indisputably successful. Piech will go down in history as an automotive legend, in the same class as Gottlieb Daimler, Henry Ford and Kiichiro Toyoda,” Warburton said in a 2012 note.


Walkaround of the new Proton Saga Premium CVT - Video

Here is our quick walk around video of the new Proton Saga Premium CVT variant taken before the launch.SHAH ALAM: The new third-generation Proton Saga has arrived in four variants which consist of,Standard Manual - RM36,800, Standard CVT - RM39,800, Executive CVT - RM42,800 & Premium CVT - RM45,800.All on-the-road prices includes GST and insurance.Competing directly with the Perodua Bezza, the new Proton Saga is offered in six colour choices of Fire Red, Cotton White, Topaz Blue, Sterling Silver, Midnight Black and Metal Grey.The continuously variable transmission manages the 11% more efficient 1.3-litre VVT (variable valve timing) engine, which produces 94hp and 120Nm of torque for the front wheels.The new Proton Saga now not only gets itself an ASEAN NCAP Asean NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme for Southeast Asian Countries) crash rating of five stars, but also sports a 420-litre (+7 litres) boot, front disc brakes, rear drum brakes, front MacPherson struts and rear torsion beam.Other notable mentions include rear fog lamps, front parking sensors, two rear USB charging ports, a single DIN audio unit with MP3, Bluetooth and a USB port as well as ISOFIX child seat anchor points and an Eco Drive Assist indicator to help drive more efficiently.And, depending on variant, the Proton Saga also comes equipped with anti-lock braking system, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, hill hold assist, a reverse camera that's displayed in the rear view mirror, window tints, steering wheel controls and a larger audio unit.


New Honda City cars for contest winners

                PETALING JAYA: Seven grand prize winners in Honda Malaysia's Joy of Buying contest won a new City sedan each, and were presented with their new cars in a simple ceremony at the clubhouse at Tropicana Golf and Country Resort.

Held from Sept 1 to October 31, 2018, the contest celebrated Honda's 70th anniversary and the country's unity.

"It is the strong support of our customers that has enabled Honda Malaysia to be the top brand in the non-national segment for three consecutive years. We will continue the Joy of Buying to our customers to meet their demand for greater satisfaction," said Honda Malaysia president and chief operating officer Roslan Abdullah.

The two-month contest had 301 winners from a pool of over 4,800 submissions.

Besides the grand prize winners, there were 17 second prize winners who will get a Sony Blu-ray home cinema system each and 277 winners who will receive Honda official merchandise.

"This contest takes the lead from our tagline, and sought to find the most creative answer on how The Power of Dreams has changed the customer's way of life," said Roslan, who also pointed out that the City has maintained its market leadership in B-segment cars and it is the company's best-selling model.

This year, the City has contributed more than 30,200 units sold or 32% to the total Honda Malaysia sales from January to November, making it the highest sales unit contributor during this period.

The City offers a sporty silhouette with its many stylish features such as LED Headlights (V variant only) with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), LED Taillights (V variant only) and Dual-Tone Alloy Wheels.

It has a 1.5L i-VTEC engine, coupled with Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) developed under Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology.

The City is also known for its unrivalled interior spaciousness, and a 536 litre trunk space which is the largest in its class.

Safety features such as Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) are standard across all variants.

The City's prices start at RM73,836 (without insurance) and it comes in S, E and V variants.


Volvo Cars starts making C40 Recharge EV in Belgium

                GHENT (Belgium): Volvo Cars on Thursday started production of the C40 Recharge, its latest fully electric model, at its plant here.

The C40 Recharge is Volvo Cars’ second fully electric car and is the latest in a series of new pure electric cars to be launched in the coming years.

By 2030, Volvo Cars aims to sell only fully electric cars, one of the most ambitious electrification strategies in the car industry. It also aims to be a climate-neutral company by 2040.

The Ghent plant, one of the company’s largest, is a trailblazer in Volvo Cars’ move towards all-out electrification. It also produces the XC40 Recharge, the fully electric version of the company’s award-winning compact SUV and Volvo Cars’ first fully electric model.

Volvo Cars is increasing electric car capacity at the Ghent facility considerably, to 135,000 cars per year, and already expects more than half of the plant’s production volume in 2022 to consist of fully electric cars.

“The C40 Recharge is a car that represents our future,” said Javier Varela, Senior Vice President for Industrial Operations and Quality at Volvo Cars.

“Our manufacturing operations and a close collaboration with our suppliers are key in achieving our future ambitions in terms of electrification and climate neutrality. Our Ghent plant is ready for an all-electric future and will be an important part of our global industrial network for the years to come.”

The C40 Recharge is the latest manifestation of Volvo Cars’ ambitions for a zero-emission future.

The company will roll out several additional electric models in the coming years and aims for 50 per cent of its global sales volume to consist of fully electric cars by 2025, before becoming fully electric by 2030.

A landmark car for the company’s new commercial strategy, the C40 Recharge is available online via volvocars.com in selected markets around the globe. Customers can order from the comfort of their own home or place an online order together with their retailer.

When customers get a new C40 Recharge, it will come with a convenient Care offer including items such as servicing, warranty, roadside assistance, as well as insurance and home charging options where available.

The C40 Recharge offers the benefits of an SUV but with a lower and sleeker design. The rear of the C40 Recharge features a striking rear-end design to go with the lower roof line, while the new front design introduces a new face for electric Volvos and includes headlights with state-of-the-art pixel technology.

Inside, the C40 Recharge provides customers with the high seating position that most Volvo drivers prefer, while it is available with colour and deco options unique to the model. It is also the first Volvo model to be completely leather free.

Like the XC40 Recharge, the C40 Recharge comes with one of the best infotainment systems on the market, jointly developed with Google and based on the Android operating system. It provides consumers with Google apps and services built in, such as Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play.

Unlimited data enables superior connectivity and the C40 Recharge is designed to receive software updates over the air. That means it will continue to improve over time after it has left the factory.

The propulsion consists of twin electric motors, one on the front and one on the rear axle, powered by a 78kWh battery that can be fast-charged from 10 to 80 per cent in about 40 minutes. It offers an anticipated range of around 420km.


Daily insurance payout was nearly RM14mil in 2016, says PIAM

                KUALA LUMPUR: Motor insurance claims which amounted to RM5.02 billion in 2016, has raised concerns within the general insurance industry, as it worked out to a staggering daily payout of RM13.8 million.

General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) chief executive officer Mark Lim said road accidents often resulted in large claims involving death and injuries to motorists/ passengers, as well as severe losses in own and third party property damages.

"The motor insurance segment continued operating at a loss. Although it recorded a five per cent declined in 2016, it was still over RM5 billion.

"This cannot be sustained over the long term because the insurance industry is indeed paying a huge amount in claims," he added. Lim told this at a media briefing on the full year 2016 industry results here on Thursday.

In 2015, the total paid out for motor insurance claims stood at RM5.29 billion.

On a positive note, Lim said the industry recorded a decline of 20 per cent in motor theft counts. He said the number of stolen vehicles for all classes in 2016 amounted to 19,307, a reduction from 24,154 in 2015.

"We would like to commend the police, Customs and other law-enforcement agencies for their commitment and collaborative efforts in working closely with the Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (VTREC)," he said. The VTREC is a multi-stakeholder organisation set up by PIAM to combat vehicle theft.

Lim said for 2016, the locally made Proton Wira was the most stolen car at 854 units, a drop by 360 units from 2015.

"The Toyota Hilux recorded the highest foreign made car stolen at 624, an increase of 29 units from previously," he added.

The industry is working on a Fraud Intelligence System (FIS), which uses advanced data analytics to detect and combat insurance fraud in the country. Lim said the FIS would be deployed in phases and is targeted to go "live" in the third quarter of 2017.


Proton City takes shape with infra boost for Tanjung Malim

                TAIPING: Preparations are already in place to build more infrastructure for workers and their families who would be moving to Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant in stages.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said come 2027, some 50,000 people would be expected to be staying in Tanjung Malim once it becomes a regional automobile hub, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“He said the two most important issues are housing and schools.

“The State Secretary has chaired four meetings with the relevant bodies on the matter, even before the Prime Minister’s recent trip to China,” he told reporters after attending a meet-the-people session at the Advanced Technology Training Centre here today.

On May 7, Anwar had said there is potential for Malaysia to become a regional automotive industry leader, and plans are under way to further develop national car manufacturer Proton's Tanjung Malim plant into a regional hub with foreign investment from Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd (Geely).

Anwar said he had discussed this with Saarani to ensure there was ease of doing business.

Saarani added that there were already some 3,000 workers at the plant.

“I was told that by 2027, a total of 10,000 employees would be stationed there.

“So if they bring their partners along, that will be 20,000 people, and if on average a family has three schoolgoing children, that would come up to 30,000 children.

“So with some 50,000 people, the need for housing will be crucial, and the State Secretary has already met with the Perak Housing and Property Board on this for immediate planning,” he said.

Saarani said there was also a need to build more primary and secondary schools around the district.

“I am sure the current available schools will not be able to accommodate the large enrolment expected.

“We have also discussed issues and services with the Tanjung Malim District Council (which will need to be) in tandem with the standards of Proton City,” he added.


Perodua Tweckbot free inspections heads to Kota Kinabalu

                KOTA KINABALU: Tweckbot, Perodua’s long-running complimentary vehicle inspection service, will be making its final road safety push for the year here next weekend.

A part of the Perodua Road Safety Programme, Perodua Tweckbot will be stationed at ITCC Mall, Penampang, on Dec 21 and 22 (10am-5pm) to offer free inspections for Perodua vehicles.

Customers who inspect their vehicles with Tweckbot will get a 20% discount voucher redeemable for the purchase of selected parts and accessories at any authorised Perodua service centre.

“As Christmas and the New Year approaches, many will be taking to the roads for vacations and to visit family and friends. Therefore it is crucial that their vehicles are in good working order at this time, more so considering the large travel distances in East Malaysia, ” said Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

“The Perodua Tweckbot team will thoroughly check your vehicle and give you a condition report for free. While you wait, our friendly staff will engage you in fun activities designed to increase road safety awareness, ” he said.

The vehicle inspection covers over 50 points including the engine, transmission, cooling system, brakes, power steering, clutch, tyres, suspension and electrics.

“Perodua Tweckbot aims to promote the importance of regular vehicle checks, servicing them at authorised Perodua outlets and using genuine Perodua products and parts, all in the name of safety.

“Most of all, it represents our commitment to always provide our valued customers with quality service and workmanship for their total peace of mind, ” said Zainal.

Perodua Tweckbot has inspected over 8,000 vehicles since its inception in 2011.


Petron Turbo Diesel Euro 5 powers Fuel Happy road trip

                KUALA TERENGGANU: Loyal Petron customers, including members of the media, experienced first-hand the high-performance benefits of Petron Turbo Diesel Euro 5 after driving an exhilarating 500km road trip from Kuala Lumpur to Pulau Duyong, Kuala Terengganu.

Using Mitsubishi, Isuzu, and Chevrolet 4x4 vehicles fueled by Turbo Diesel Euro 5, the teams traveled across hilly terrain and rough roads for six hours, including a pit stop at Pahang’s favorite waterfall in Jerangkang.

“We are proud of the results of the Petron Fuel Happy Trip, which put to test our cutting edge Turbo Diesel Euro 5. The road trip affirmed the fuel’s premium TriAction Advantage additives formula as it successfully boosted the performance of participating vehicles, giving the drivers and their passengers a satisfying road trip experience,” said Petron Malaysia head of retail business Faridah Ali.

Petron Turbo Diesel Euro 5 is a technologically-advanced diesel engineered with a premium additive system to provide improved engine performance for superior acceleration, better fuel economy, and reduced harmful exhaust emissions.

Other benefits are complete combustion for maximum power, cleaner fuel injectors, reduced ignition delay, improved cold start performance, and better protection against engine corrosion.

“Since the rollout in September 2016, we have received excellent feedback from customers who regularly use Turbo Diesel Euro 5. This product signifies our passion in delivering innovative products for our valued customers, and is now available in 70 stations to meet growing demand.

More importantly, it meets the ultra-low sulfur requirements of Euro 5 standards, helping improve air quality in the country,” continued Faridah.

Significantly cleaner, Turbo Diesel Euro 5 has 10 ppm (parts per million) sulfur or 50 times less sulfur than the current Euro 2M diesel fuels, which contain 500 ppm.

Due to its very low sulfur content, Turbo Diesel Euro 5 produces less emission and meets the stringent requirements of global Euro 5 specifications.


Musk's plan for a cheap Tesla car is what fans hope to hear this week

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has for years teased the world with his dream of an affordable electric car. This week, fans hope, he will explain what he has in mind - and perhaps how he can afford to build it.

Musk said last year he shelved the plan for a US$25,000 (RM112,000) car, known as Model 2, and he hasn't mastered the new battery technology that he has stated would be crucial to the cheap cars.

Expanding into the mass market is critical to meeting Tesla's goal to increase vehicle deliveries 15-fold - to 20 million - by 2030. Tesla cut prices in recent months to boost sales, which were pressured by a weak economy and growing competition.

Its shares are up about 60% year to date but are still at half their November 2021 peak.

The low-priced car is expected to be the centerpiece of Musk's 'Master Plan Part Three', which he will offer at an 'Investor Day' on Wednesday, along with plans for factory expansion and capital spending.

Whatever he says about timelines, though, investors will be wary, since he has missed his most prominent deadlines while building the world's most valuable car company.

"The formula for decoding Musk is pretty simple. Take whatever time frame he has, and multiply it by two," said Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, which owns Tesla shares.

He expects the new car platform to be rolled out in 2025 at the earliest, which would still be years faster than the typical auto industry development of a new vehicle.

Tesla did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.

It's all about batteries

Clues offered by Musk about the Model 2 leave much to the imagination. Making a compelling US$25,000 electric vehicle "has always been our dream from the beginning of the company," he said at a presentation about batteries in 2020.

Last year, Musk announced a plan to roll out a robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals by 2024, though it was not clear if it was the same inexpensive car.

A recent Tesla engineering video showed a small car with typical Tesla curves that was assumed by company watchers to be a Model 2 sketch.

Guidehouse Insights analyst Sam Abuelsamid said Tesla might announce a cheaper car with short driving range for the Chinese market, but a long-range, affordable car that would appeal in the US market will probably take some time due to slow ramp-up of its own batteries.

Musk said last year in a podcast about minerals, titled "Getting Stoned", that the new master plan, building on earlier ones for vehicle launches and developing solar and energy storage businesses, is about how to "scale" and get all the materials needed to make batteries for vehicles and energy storage systems.

The fundamental determinant "of the rate at which we can transition to sustainability is the rate at which we can grow the output of lithium ion batteries," he said in the interview.

Although there is some sign sky-high lithium prices may be easing, Musk has said lithium costs could force Tesla to make its own supply of the electric vehicle battery metal.

Battery production also is an issue.

Musk in 2020 forecast his company in 2022 would produce 100 gigawatts of newer generation, lower cost batteries, enough to power about 1.3 million Tesla Model Ys, but the December production rate of the batteries, called 4680s, was enough for just over 50,000 vehicles a year.

Musk has also said Tesla will continue to use battery suppliers to scale up fast. Tesla counts Panasonic, CATL, LG Energy Solution and BYD as cell suppliers.

Batteries are also likely to figure in Musk's plans for a "fully sustainable energy future" outside the car.

He may also discuss solar power generation and battery energy storage - which he has said are two other pillars to a sustainable energy future.

Investors will look out for any hints of demand, plans to ramp up production of the Cybertruck, which Musk said will start volume production next year, and locations of new Tesla factories, with Mexico, Canada, Indonesia and South Korea all cited as potential candidates.


Langkawi transport operators start using B20 biodiesel

                KUALA LUMPUR: Langkawi has begun using the B20 biodiesel in the transport sector since Jan 1.

Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok said Petronas' Tok Senik petrol station in the island has become the first petrol station in Malaysia to sell the B20 biodiesel.

Labuan would be next within this month.

Kok said recently that the B20 biodiesel programme would be deployed gradually in Sarawak, Sabah and finally the entire peninsula.

She said the B20 biodiesel programme was expected to mop up 500,000 tonnes of crude palm oil from the existing amount used for the current B10 biodiesel programme.

She said the government through the Finance Ministry has also agreed to keep the retail price of B20 biodiesel the same as that of B10 biodiesel, which is now selling at RM2.18/ litre.

"This means, consumers can enjoy a cleaner vehicle fuel at the same retail price rate.

"B20 would replace B10 in phases," said Kok.

"The main reason for using B20 biodiesel is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thereby making the country cleaner and sustainable,” she said.

Kok said with the increase in the price of crude palm oil in the global market which has surpassed the RM3,000/tonne level, the B20 biodiesel programme could assist in maintaining the momentum in price increase as well as boosting the household income of oil palm smallholders in the country.


eROT looks like the future of Audi damping

                INGOLSTADT: Audi cars in the future would be even more comfortable, thanks to a new shock absorber system that is being developed.

Audi is working on a prototype called "eROT," in which electromechanical rotary dampers replace the hydraulic dampers used today for an even more comfortable ride. In addition, it is able to offer energy recuperation as it converts the kinetic energy during compression and rebound into electricity.

The eROT system responds quickly and with minimal inertia. As an actively controlled suspension, it adapts ideally to irregularities in the road surface and the driver’s driving style. A damper characteristic that is virtually freely definable via software increases the functional scope. It eliminates the mutual dependence of the rebound and compression strokes that limits conventional hydraulic dampers. With eROT, Audi configures the compression stroke to be comfortably soft without compromising the taut damping of the rebound stroke. Another advantage of the new damper system is its geometry. The horizontally arranged electric motors in the rear axle area replace the upright telescopic shock absorbers, which allows for additional space in the luggage compartment.

The eROT system enables a second function besides the freely programmable damper characteristic: It can convert the kinetic energy during compression and rebound into electricity. To do this, a lever arm absorbs the motion of the wheel carrier. The lever arm transmits this force via a series of gears to an electric motor, which converts it into electricity. The recuperation output is 100 to 150 watts on average during testing on German roads – from 3 watts on a freshly paved freeway to 613 watts on a rough secondary road. Under customer driving conditions, this corresponds to a CO2 savings of up to three grams per kilometre (4.8 g/mi).

The new eROT technology is based on a high-output 48-volt electrical system. As currently configured, its lithium-ion battery offers an energy capacity of 0.5 kilowatt hours and peak output of 13 kilowatts. A DC converter connects the 48-volt electrical subsystem to the 12-volt primary electrical system, which includes a high-efficiency, enhanced output generator.

Initial test results for the eROT technology are promising, thus its use in future Audi production models is plausible. A prerequisite for this is the 48-volt electrical system, which is a central component of Audi’s electrification strategy.

In the next version planned for 2017, the 48-volt system will serve as the primary electrical system in a new Audi model and feed a high-performance mild hybrid drive. It will offer potential fuel savings of up to 0.7 litres per 100 kilometres.


World premiere: Bugatti designs brake caliper from 3-D printer

                WOLFSBURG: For the first time, the Bugatti developers have succeeded in designing a brake caliper that can be produced by 3-D printing.

It is also the world’s largest functional component produced from titanium using 3-D printing processes.

While the main material used for the additive production of vehicle components to date has been aluminium, the new brake caliper is made from titanium.

This new milestone in the development of 3-D printing was reached in cooperation with Laser Zentrum Nord of Hamburg.

With this world debut, Bugatti has underlined its lighthouse function for 3-D printing within the Volkswagen Group.

Vehicle trials for the use of the 3-D titanium brake caliper in series production are to start in the first half of the year.

This particular titanium alloy, is mainly used in the aerospace industry; for example, for highly stressed undercarriage and wing components or in aircraft and rocket engines.

The material offers considerably higher performance than aluminium.

In comparison with the aluminium component currently used, Bugatti can reduce the weight of the brake caliper by about 40% and at the same time, ensuring even higher strength by using the new part.

To date, this approach was not feasible because it is extremely difficult or even impossible to mill or forge components from a titanium block as is normal practice with aluminium due to the extremely high strength of the material.

This problem has now been solved using an extremely high-performance 3-D printer.


Bentley makes its esports debut

                CREWE: Bentley Motorsport has stepped firmly into the world of esports by announcing entry into its debut sim racing championship - the SRO E-Sport GT Series – a six-round series held by the organisers of many of the manufacturer’s real-world GT3 races.

The entry will see Bentley field squads in the ‘Pro’ class race for real-world racers and the ‘Silver’ class race for elite sim racers, and show support for all Continental GT3 drivers, including Bentley colleagues and fans around the world, in the ‘Am’ class events.

To celebrate the announcement, the 2020 works team livery, worn by the Bathurst 12 Hours race-winning Continental GT3, will be available for all Assetto Corsa Competizione users to download.

Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Paul Williams, comments:

“We have chosen to step into the huge sim racing arena with our trusted partners at SRO and take a very focused and targeted approach. We entered the SRO E-Sport GT Series Charity Challenge a few weeks ago and were incredibly impressed with the quality of the production and the racing.

"This is definitely the right place for us to be competing - it caters for our incredible loyal fans who have raced the Continental GT3 in the Assetto Corsa Competizione game for the last few years, while also enabling our real world racing fans to join us as we step into the world of esports.”

The six-round series mirrors events in the GT World Challenge Europe, the real world series in which Bentley Motorsport has competed since 2014, taking championship and race wins along the way.

Fans can follow the action from all Bentley’s esports action on social media by searching @BentleyRacing on Twitter and @BentleyRacingOfficial on Instagram.


2019 Bangkok Motor Show: 2020 Chevrolet Captiva

                BANGKOK: The all-new second-generation Chevrolet Captiva debuted at the 40th Bangkok International Motor Show, and will will go on sale in the second half of 2019, starting at less than 1 million baht (RM127,730).

It will be offered in five- and seven-seat variants, and features will include a panoramic sunroof and integrated LED headlights.

Thanks to a joint venture between General Motors (GM) and Chinese automaker SAIC Motor Corp, the new Captiva is essentially a re-skinned Baojun 530 sold in China, and is also marketed as the Wuling Almaz in Indonesia.

The new Captiva's powertrain for the Thai market will likely be a 1.5-litre petrol turbocharged engine with up to 150hp and 250Nm of torque, mated to a CVT.

“The new Captiva is positioned to overlap the fast-growing SUV-B and SUV-C segments,” said Piyanuch Chaturaphat, sales and marketing general director of Chevrolet Sales Thailand.

"We’re now taking the next step in our long-term strategy to grow our local vehicle portfolio by leveraging the global scale and partnerships of GM, starting with the new Captiva SUV,” said Chaturaphat.

“Detailed research clearly tells us that SUV customers in Thailand highly value exterior design and interior roominess. The Captiva will be one of the roomiest and most flexible SUVs on the market," she said.

In 2018, Chevrolet Thailand marked its third consecutive year of growth with sales by a significant 36 percent since 2016.


40 units of 1,578hp Bugatti Bolide hypercar to be produced

                SAN JOSE: On Friday, at the elite Quail motorsports gathering in Carmel, Calif., Bugatti collectors got their wish: The Bolide is now a reality.

First unveiled in October 2020 as an “experimental” hypercar concept, the 1,824-horsepower Bolide boasts an eight-litre W16 engine, a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive. It can reach 100kph in 2.17 seconds, according to the French manufacturer.

“Following its presentation, a significant number of enthusiasts and collectors asked us to develop the experimental Bolide as a production vehicle,” Bugatti President Stephan Winkelmann said in Friday announcement.

“We therefore decided to make the Bolide a few-off in order to give 40 customers the opportunity to experience this incredible vehicle.” Each will cost €4 million (RM20mil).

Track star

A 1.5-tonne lightweight, the name comes from the term le bolide, which means “the race car” in French. Indeed, the Bolide produced for consumers will not be legal for driving anywhere but on a track.

Bugatti engineers are working to conform the experimental concept car to Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) safety standards, which includes honing aerodynamics and handling and introducing an array of new components such as a six-point safety seatbelt, an automatic fire-extinguishing system, pressure refuelling with a fuel bladder, and central wheel locking.

The front end is aerodynamically similar to that of a Formula 1 car, says Bugatti, while the visually striking rear diffuser and a dominant rear wing produce high downforce for optimum traction.

The car sits very low to the ground, with a large air intake scoop on the roof and an ultra-sporty seat position. The two-tone paint job will come standard.

While the concept runs on 110-octane racing fuel, the production version runs on 98 RON gas, which is more easily available worldwide. This in turn reduces the output to 1,578hp and 1,600Nm starting at 2,250 rpm.

The Bolide news arrives amid big changes at the 112-year-old marque, based in Molsheim, France.

On July 5, Porsche and Rimac Automobil announced a plan to fold Bugatti into a joint venture called Bugatti-Rimac. The deal stipulates that Rimac will hold 55% of the venture while Porsche will hold 45%. In March, Porsche had lifted its stake in Rimac to 24%.

The re-organisation—and, now, the introduction of a new big-cylinder, gasoline guzzling vehicle—is seen as evidence that Bugatti in its current form lacks a vital role at parent company Volkswagen AG.

VW’s business strategy relies on its ability to produce and sell electric vehicles: In June, VW announced it would halt sales of combustion engine vehicles in Europe by 2035.

And while such VW brands as Porsche will offer a potential 30% electric mix by 2022-3—and as much as 40% by 2025—Bugatti has no such lineup on the horizon.

At the time of the announcement, Rimac founder Mate Rimac characterised the acquisition as “removing some distractions” from VW AG, saying Bugatti will become like an expensive mechanical timepiece—a beautiful, if irrelevant, status symbol.

The 33-year-old Croat will become the CEO of the joint venture company, Bugatti-Rimac, in the fourth quarter of this year.

Deliveries will begin in 2024.


Holograms on car windows: Wayray shows off 3D display concept

                MUNICH: Imagine every window is a screen: Drivers in the near future are set to see holograms in real time on their head-up display - and on every piece of glass in the car. That's the plan of tech supply company Wayray.

Three-dimensional animations with directions, ads and other information positioned to the millimetre and projected on top of every corner of the world around you - this is the newly unveiled vision of the Russian company.

The supplier has developed what it claims is the first head-up display that combines holography and augmented reality. The first series production has been announced for 2025.

Where previously only numbers or simple graphics could be projected into the field of vision, the Wayray technology reflects complex animations onto the windows, which can be perceived as three-dimensional even without special glasses.

They move in tandem with the car's movements, and are positioned to match your surroundings, allowing drivers to get tips on their route and updates from assistance systems.

As for the passengers, entertaining content such as games or travel advice can also be shown.

Even ads can be displayed in a location-specific manner, the manufacturer says, meaning taxis and rental cars could one day be highlighting restaurants and shops as you drive past them.

According to the manufacturer, the system offers even more advantages without costing significantly more: Compared to conventional head-up displays, it requires only about 10 per cent of the installation space and can therefore be installed in all vehicles.

In addition, the screen is not limited to the windscreen in front of the driver. Because the technology is based on a special film instead of a projector, all window surfaces in the vehicle can be turned into displays.

To demonstrate the technology, Wayray, together with the design studio of the sports car manufacturer Koenigsegg, has built a show car, the Holograktor.

The electric small car is designed to be the taxi of the future, and it can even be controlled by a driver via remote control or by autopilot.

According to the manufacturer, three seats are waiting behind the gull-wing doors cut far into the roof, all of which offer the best view. And because ideally someone else is driving so that the holograms can be enjoyed undisturbed, there are joysticks and touchpads on each seat for gaming and surfing.


Get acquainted with 'Dronekhana'

COLOGNE: Pokemon Go counts has an addictive game people play. If Ford has its way, “Dronekhana" would be the next level up.

Two of the planet’s best drone pilots tackle a unique obstacle course that includes a drifting Focus RS, a smoking Ford Mustang, and a robot. Pilots Luke Bannister and Brett Collis navigate their drones remotely with the help of special goggles, which provide a first-person view as they fly under the Ford Ranger pickup and through the Ford B-MAX’s pillarless doors. A rig of 36 GoPro cameras captured the drones mid-action in a style made famous by the 1999 film The Matrix.

“It’s basically like stepping into the cockpit. It was a tough course and we had some mishaps – but at least the Mustang’s all right, that’s all that matters,” said 16-year-old World Drone Prix champion Luke Bannister who took on the course with Tornado XBlades team mate and fellow Brit, Brett Collis, 22.

Named in tribute to the YouTube phenomenon Gymkhana, starring Focus RS consultant Ken Block, “Dronekhana” was filmed at Ford’s European headquarters in Cologne, Germany, the city which this week hosts Gamescom Europe’s biggest interactive games trade fair. It follows previous “Snowkhana” videos that have become a festive Ford tradition.

Ford has also invited five gamers from across Europe to Cologne to try to set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the “Longest video marathon on a racing game”, in Forza Motorsport 6. They face a two-day stint behind the wheel of a virtual Ford GT race car to take on the simulated Le Sarthe circuit used for the Le Mans 24 Hours – where the real-life Ford GT race car won earlier this year. To set a new record, the gamers will need to race for more than 48 hours 1 minute – starting at 14:00 C.E.T today. If successful, a presentation will be made to the record-breaking gamer on the Microsoft stand, at Gamescom on Thursday.


Taking the road less travelled with the Proton X70

PETALING JAYA: A group of Proton X70 owners has embarked on The Malaysia-China Amazing Trip, organised by the Borneo Leisure Touring Team, which will take participants on a 13,000km, 33 day odyssey across 4 countries – Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and China.Day 1 – Malaysia to Hatyai, Thailand, 540km and 12 hours.- Traffic was heavy on the way up North, but the journey was made easier thanks to the comfortable seats, music streaming function and powerful air conditioning system in the Proton X70.- After exiting the PLUS highway, the group paid a visit to Proton Juru Auto-city for a quick vehicle inspection and lunch hosted by the branch.- Used the navigation function on the Proton X70 to direct the convoy to the Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) at Seberang Jaya to apply for permits to enter Thailand.- The border crossing was at Padang Besar and was done without a hitch so upon reaching Hatyai, the convoy headed to dinner with Proton Motors Thailand.Day 2 – Hatyai to Hua Hin, 740km and one of the longest legs of the trip. The Borneo Leisure Touring Team departs Hatyai as they head to Hua Hin.- For the first really long day of travelling, all participants were thankful for the comfortable cabin and excellent ride comfort of the Proton X70.- At a cruising speed between 90-120kph, there is very little wind and road noise and the suspension absorbs the inconsistencies of the Thai road surface to leave the cabin occupants undisturbed.- The air ioniser was also much appreciated and kept the cabin smelling fresh at all times.Day 3 – Hua Hin to Tak, 619km.- The third day took the group to Tak, capital city of the Tak Province that shares a long border with Myanmar.- The journey was uneventful as the smooth 1.8 TGDI engine used its torque to overtake slower moving traffic to power the Proton X70 to the head of the pack.- Many small towns were passed along the route and though traffic was light, the Auto Hold function was highly appreciated as it made stop lights and traffic jams painless. The Borneo Leisure Touring Team are posing for a group photo before departing for Chiang Khong.Day 4 – Tak to Chiang Khong, 580km and 10 hours on the road.- On the way to Chiang Khong, the group stopped by the infamous Magic Hill on Highway 105.- The group then proceeded to Chiang Khong to put up for the night facing the Mekong River and Laos.- On the fifth day, the group would cross the Friendship Bridge to Laos. The Proton X-70 Fleet reaches the border crossing at the Yunnan Province, China.Day 5 – Chiang Kong to Mengla, 430km and crossing into China.- Physically driving to a border makes the experience more memorable, especially if that border is the starting point of a day when you cross into three different countries.- The fifth day of the Malaysia China Amazing Trip saw the convoy cross over from Thailand to Laos and then China.- We arrived at the Thai border at 8am and since it opened at 8.30am, we had time to take some pictures with the Proton X70 and its surroundings.- The capital of the Lao province of Bokèo, on the border with Thailand, is Ban Houayxay.- The town lies on the Mekong River opposite Chiang Khong with The Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge at Ban Houayxay now the northernmost border crossing between the two countries.- The road leads to Asian Highway 3, which runs through Ban Houayxay and extends north to Yunnan Province in China.- The country changed and so did the road surface, potholes instantly multiplied, human traffic increased and the landscape turned greener but the Proton X70 took everything in its stride.- The roads got hilly too but the Proton X70 handled the terrain with ease, powering up steep slopes and good handling to keep all four tyres in contact with the road.- Finally, we arrived at the border to China where more adventure awaits. - What else will we face over the next 28 days? Stay tuned to find out. The Borneo Leisure Touring Team as they arrive at the border to China.


Porsche to pursue aggressive Mission E charging strategy

                STUTTGART: A lot of the focus on making all-electric vehicles truly practical revolves around how far they can be driven on a single full charge of the battery. Although more and more batteries can be added to increase range, the weight that adds causes its own problems.

Now it appears Porsche is pursuing a slightly different way of boosting all-electric range by employing an 800-volt system in its new Mission E, which as well as offering a 400km range, can also be recharged in as little as 20 minutes.

What Porsche is doing is increasing voltage instead of current, and this 800-volt system is double the voltage most automakers are working with at the moment. The company has some experience already with this way of doing things as it has already used it in its 919 Hybrid Le Mans racer. Through increasing voltage instead of current, there's no need to employ thicker cables and that helps to avoid a huge increase in weight.

However, using a system like this in a car doesn't come without its own issues, and the need for charging and battery hardware that can operate at 800 volts is the main drawback of opting for this way of doing things.

Porsche is working with electronics giants LG and Panasonic on the chemistry and packs, and they expect to see a five percent increase in lithium-ion battery performance per-year in the not-too-distant future. The big problem here though is the need for a dedicated 800-volt charger, which will inevitably severely restrict the ability for Porsche Mission E drivers to find places they can recharge away from their home.

The prototype recharger Porsche is working on is an accumulator, which actually stores the power instead of simply delivering it to the car's battery straight from the mains supply. The system the German automaker is developing is said to store enough power to recharge three vehicles one after another, without the need to access the grid.

Porsche says that eventually, when out on the road, drivers will be able to reserve a place at a network of Turbo Charger stations.


BMW CE 04 e-scooter with 130km range unveiled

                MUNICH: BMW Motorrad has a new electric scooter. And it's called the CE 04.

The €11,990 (RM60,000) urban scooter has been a long time coming, having being previewed as the BMW Motorrad Concept Link in 2017 and then as the near-series BMW Motorrad Definition CE 04 in 2020.

With a maximum output of 31kW (42hp), the CE 04 has a powerful motor and promises outstanding riding pleasure. For the classic “traffic light start” from 0 to 50kph, it takes just 2.6 seconds. Even in the reduced output L3e-A1 vehicle class, 23 kW (31 hp) drive power is available. The maximum speed of both versions is 120kph – for speedy progress not just in the city but on main roads and motorway sections, too.

The CE 04 has an ample battery cell capacity of 8.9 kWh, providing a range of some 130km (reduced output version: 100km). This enables day-to-day emission-free riding in the city, in an urban setting and for smaller-scale fun tours after work or at the weekend – without worrying about range.

The CE 04 has a permanent magnet electric motor mounted in the frame between the battery and the rear wheel, as used in a similar form in BMW cars such as the 225xe Active Tourer.

BMW Motorrad conducted extensive riding tests to develop a specific type of recuperation for each riding mode, giving the rider a high-level convenience.

The lithium-ion battery is charged using the integrated charging device either at a regular household socket, a wallbox or a public charging station.

When the battery is completely flat, charging time ideally lasts 4 hours and 20 minutes. With the quick charger available as an optional extra with an output of up to 6.9 kW (2.3 kW is the standard level), charging time is reduced to just 1 hour and 40 minutes when the battery is completely flat.

If the battery level is only 20 per cent and the battery is charged to 80 per cent, the charging time is reduced to just 45 minutes with the optional quick charger. Depending on the market, the standard charging cable with a charging capacity of 2.3 kW comes as standard with the CE 04.

A Mode 3 charging cable is required for fast charging at the wallbox at home or at a public charging station. In the same way as with BMW cars, BMW Charging solutions are available for the CE 04, too – for maximum flexibility based on numerous customised programmes for charging at home, on the road and at work.

The electric scooter is available with traction control system, comparable to the Automatic Stability Control (ASC) in BMW motorcycles with combustion engine. ASC limits engine torque in relation to rear wheel slip. Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), available as an optional extra, provides even greater riding safety. DTC enables even more safe acceleration, especially in banking position.

The CE 04 features three riding modes namely “ECO”, “Rain” and “Road” as standard. The additional “Dynamic” riding mode is also available as an ex works option, enabling the scooter to accelerate at an even swifter pace.

The main frame is a tubular steel construction. The front wheel is controlled by a telescopic fork with a slider tube diameter of 35 mm. Rear wheel control consists of a single-sided swing arm.

At the rear, suspension and damping are performed by a directly controlled, fully covered spring strut. The CE 04 is fitted with generously sized tyres, with 120/70 R15 67H at the front and 160/60 R15 56H at the rear.

At the front, a twin disc brake ensures secure deceleration, supported by a single-disc system at the rear. ABS Pro, available as an optional extra, goes even further: By means of a banking sensor, ABS Pro also controls braking on bends, thereby offering the greatest possible safety.

The CE 04 comes fitted as standard with a 10.25-inch TFT colour screen with integrated map navigation and connectivity. For the first time, the new 10.25-inch colour screen makes it possible to display a navigation map in the instrument cluster, so no additional display is needed.

The lighting units on the CE 04 are based on LED technology. They include a headlamp for high beam and low beam at the front. In addition to a rear light featuring LED technology, there are also LED turn indicators. The indicator lamps likewise use LED technology.

Even greater safety at night is offered by the adaptive turning light Headlight Pro, available as an ex works option. Here, the rider benefits from further improved illumination of the road when cornering for even safer riding at night. Special light functions such as “Welcome” and “Good Bye” are also available as ex works options.


Renault Sport Track Day returns, Megane RS 280 Cup sets new record

                SEPANG: Following the launch of the new Renault Megane RS 280 Cup, the Renault Sport Track Day made a comeback with a twist at a night session at the Sepang International Circuit.

A total of 30 Renault Sports owners put their skills and vehicle performance to the test in as many adrenaline-pumping laps around the track as they could complete within the allocated time.

In conjunction with Track Day, TC Euro Cars also conducted a timed run of the new Renault Megane RS 280 Cup with a six-speed automatic Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) transmission, prior to the start of the track sessions.

The Megane RS 280 Cup EDC bettered the previously recorded lap time by three seconds – 2:38 mins vs 2:41 mins by the Megane RS 265 Cup – on a stock car with the 19-inch Yokohama AD08R 245/35 tyres, the official tyre sponsor for the event.

The AD08R tyres provide more grip for unprecedented performance. Rapid reflex twin ribs provide stability during high-speed driving. Steel sidewall inserts resist lateral deflection to provide excellent control and enhanced cornering.

Only experienced drivers were allowed to drive on the track by themselves while first-time track drivers were accompanied by a professional instructor.

Another pre-requisite before the drivers could hit the track was the safety briefing, regardless of whether the participant is an expert or seasoned track driver.

While participants were not racing amongst each other, they were racing against their own record to try and set better lap times.

These track enthusiasts, with their Megane RS, Clio RS and limited-edition Megane RS 275 Trophy R, eagerly checked their lap times often, not only to see how they performed against other vehicles, but also to beat their personal records.

Meanwhile, taxi rides were offered for the all-new Megane RS 280 Cup around the circuit by professional drivers to prove its track capabilities.

Having set a benchmark in the world of high-performance hatchbacks, the Renault Megane RS is officially back in Malaysia, sportier and even more radical before.

Available with the Cup chassis, the new Renault Megane RS is also offered with the customary six-speed manual transmission (MT).

New features and technologies include the 4CONTROL four-wheel steering system – a world first-in-segment technology that further improves cornering efficiency, four rallying-inspired hydraulic compression stops to all shock absorbers, a new four-cylinder 1.8-litre turbo engine that delivers 280PS and peak torque of 390Nm as well as a new Torsen mechanical and limited-slip differential.

Another new feature is the five-door version, instead of the previous three-door version.

There is also a new striking signature colour (Orange Tonic) to choose from, in addition to the classic Liquid Yellow.

For the EDC-equipped variant, Multi-Change Down and Launch Control functions are available in Sport and Race modes, the former allowing drivers to shift down by several gears by pressing and holding down the left-hand shift paddle.

The Megane RS with the manual gearbox retails at RM279,888 while the EDC-equipped version retails at RM299,888, on-the-road without insurance.

These prices include a three-year or 100,000km warranty, whichever comes first.


CNY Open House promos from Volkswagen Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen dealerships nationwide will be hosting a virtual Open House this Feb 20 and 21 from 11am to 5pm, with sales and aftersales offers to celebrate the Year of the Metal Ox.

Throughout the weekend celebrations, tune into the social media channels of Volkswagen dealerships to catch detailed introduction and walkthroughs of various models and aftersales specials.

Viewers can send in their questions to interact with Sales Consultants and Service Advisors via Facebook Live from the comfort and safety of their own homes.

Those looking to purchase a Volkswagen will enjoy ang pao rebates of RM1,000 on selected models, free additional 1-year insurance or RM5,500 savings on top of exclusive online deals when they place their booking via the Volkswagen eShowroom.

The weekend highlights include the Passat Elegance and R-Line, and the Tiguan Allspace Highline.

 Passat Elegance.

The Passat Elegance and its sportier sibling, the Passat R-Line comes with a 2.0TSI turbocharged engine paired with a 7-speed wet clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG) that produces an output of 190PS and 320Nm of torque.

Additionally, the Passat R-Line also comes with Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), with up to 15 selectable increments for a truly dynamic driving experience.

 Passat R-Line.

The Passat Elegance is priced at RM181,856 while the Passat R-Line is RM203,411 with the sales tax exemption and is available with up to RM10,000 in savings.

The perfect family SUV, the Tiguan Allspace Highline is highly fuel efficient, thanks to its 1.4TSI turbocharged direct injection engine with a 6-speed wet clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG) to give an impressive output of 150PS and a torque of 250Nm.

Its longer wheelbase provides versatility with multiple seat configurations with a massive boot space of 1,775 litres that is the best in its segment.

 Tiguan Allspace.

The Tiguan Allspace Highline is priced at RM164,430 with the sales tax exemption, and with up to RM8,000 savings on 2020 models.

Volkswagen owners can also enjoy the latest deals under the CNY Aftersales Service Campaign with great promotions on parts replacements and genuine engine oil, as listed below:

A list of additional offerings for the benefit of owners include complimentary 5 Star Service Check, up to 20% discount on batteries and tyres. Service appointments can be made online here.

For more information, follow your preferred dealership on Facebook or visit www.volkswagen.com.my.


Apple explores rules of the road for self-driving cars

                LOS ANGELES: The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on Friday said that it met with Apple to discuss rules of the road regarding testing self-driving cars.

"The Apple meeting was to review DMV's autonomous vehicle regulations," a department spokesperson told AFP in an email response to an inquiry.

"DMV often meets with various companies regarding DMV operations."

Apple has not commented on rumours that it is working on a self-driving car, and the California-based technology colossus did not respond to an AFP request to contribute to this story.

The DMV's responsibilities include developing regulations for safe operation of self-driving vehicles. To that end, members of the department meet with companies to better understand the technology.

Google and several major car makers have been pursuing autonomous vehicle technology.

Google has been testing self-driving cars in Silicon Valley and elsewhere.

Toyota early this month announced plans to invest US$50 million into building artificial intelligence into cars, an indication it could be joining the race to develop driverless vehicles.

The joint research with Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will take place over the next five years, Toyota Motor Corporation said, emphasizing its interest in technology that could be used by people as they grow old or become less able to drive safely.

While the Japanese automobile giant did not mention making cars that drive themselves, it did promise work on "intelligent vehicle technology."

A Stanford lab led by professor Fei-Fei Li will work with Toyota and MIT to use computer vision, machine learning and large-scale data analysis to enable vehicles to navigate complex traffic situations.

"Our team will work to help intelligent vehicles recognize objects in the road, predict behaviors of things and people, and make safe and smart driving decisions under diverse conditions," Li said.


Rising car sales show economy is recovering, says Guan Eng

                BEIJING: Increased vehicle sales in Malaysia indicate that the economy is recovering well, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said vehicle sales increased by 13% in the first five months of this year compared to the same period last year.

“Vehicle sales are a direct indicator of the economy’s performance.

“This is a sign of good economic growth this year,” he told Malaysians during a gathering at the embassy here yesterday.

He added that the Pakatan Harapan government was confident that the country’s economy would be back on track in a few years’ time.

Lim is here on a working visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Liu Kun to discuss bilateral cooperation.

This is his first trip to China as Finance Minister. Lim will be spending three days here before visiting Shanghai and Guangzhou, and will head home on Thursday.


Voltage shifting tech holds promise to shift future of renewable energy

                SAN JOSE: A new type of battery system, Switching Battery, offers a glimpse of hope for electric vehicle (EV) charging from renewable energy directly.

The Switching Battery will be commercially available in early 2022.

"All commercially available batteries are non-switching," said Kannappan Chettiar, the Singapore-born founder of the battery tech startup Switching Battery Inc.

The Switching Battery is a new type of hardware with PCB that connects all the batteries to a renewable energy source as well as to the load, simultaneously, using software.

The Switching Battery does two things differently compared to non-switchable batteries.

Firstly, it charges and discharges the batteries instantly using two independent switching circuits at 50-60Hz with transistor switches. Secondly, the switching circuits enable a new "voltage shifting" technology.

The technology behind the patent-pending Switching Battery is relatively simple. While batteries cannot be arranged in both parallel and series in the same circuit, batteries can be arranged in parallel and series in two separate circuits with two separate independent cycles to form a new battery connection method called para-series.

The para-series arrangement produces a new technique for energy flow called "voltage shifting" when the first battery circuit is connected to the renewable power source, such as solar panels, in parallel initially to be charged.

The circuits then switch to a second battery circuit that is timed precisely and connected to the load in series, thus enabling a higher voltage to the load.

Voltage shifting technology is useful where there is a space constraint for solar panels, such as in electric vehicles, as the Switching Battery takes over the voltage requirement to drive the load. The technique is also useful for all other renewable energy such as wind turbines that may be affected by slow wind speeds.

"The Switching Battery is like a flexible water tank that is able to squeeze all the water out by constantly shifting between a wider parallel arrangement and a taller series arrangement that makes it more efficient in extricating all the electrons from the batteries," said Kannappan.

He is an education entrepreneur who has worked with reputable universities such as London School of Economics, University of London, Golden Gate University and University of New Brunswick to offer these courses in Singapore from 1990 until 2017.

The battery research was initially undertaken by his education group, Stansfield College, in 2005 through its India campus. Kannappan continued the battery research with a team of independent experts from around the world after he left Singapore to pursue his full-time studies in Energy and Clean Technology at Berkeley School of Law.