Car parts made from rice husks may be coming soon

                BARCELONA: Spanish car-maker SEAT is testing car parts made from rice husks as an alternative to plastic for its upcoming models, particularly for interior trims. As well as the ecological dimension, the change would also reduce the weight of its vehicles, in turn reducing their carbon footprint.

The prototype trim elements are currently being made using Oryzite, a renewable and sustainable material  made using rice husks.

Over 700 million tonnes of rice are harvested worldwide each year, and around 20% of that — or around 140 million tonnes — consists of rice husks, most of which is disposed of. But what if it was recycled instead? The makers of Oryzite decided to turn rice husks into a new material that can be mixed with other components like polyurethane or polypropylene before being molded.

It is this new raw material that SEAT has decided to trial for some vehicle trim elements and parts, such as the rear hatch, the double load floor of the trunk or the ceiling headliner. This makes the parts lighter, reducing the weight of the car and its fuel use, in turn reducing its carbon footprint.

This initiative was presented at the second edition of SEAT Innovation Day. Tests are currently under way to check the parts' rigidity and strength, as well as resistance to heat, cold and humidity.

SEAT hopes to be a carbon-neutral company by 2050.


Facelifted Jaguar XJ launched in Malaysia from RM645,000

PETALING JAYA: Jaguar Land Rover (M) Sdn Bhd today launched the face-lifted Jaguar XJ luxury sedan in three variants with prices starting from RM645,000.

The new XJ full-size luxury sedan is now more dominant and assertive, with an imposing new upfront grille which creates a sharper and more confident look.  This is further enhanced by the full LED adaptive headlights with distinctive ‘Double J’ daytime running lights, and eye-catching tail lamps.

The all-aluminium construction ensures that the new XJ is stronger, more rigid and yet lighter; resulting in a more responsive, agile and fuel-efficient car.

For the Malaysian market, JLRM is offering the long wheelbase new XJ with three engine options that are matched to an 8-Speed Electronic Automatic Transmission with Jaguar Sequential Shift.

The 240Ps 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Turbocharged Petrol engine variant is priced from RM645,000. Customers could also opt for the 340PS 3.0-litre V6 Supercharged Petrol engine which starts at RM830,000 or the 300PS 3.0-litre V6 Turbocharged Diesel retailing from RM800,000. Prices quoted are inclusive of 6% GST but exclude road tax, registration and insurance.

As in any limousine, the cabin is crafted to pamper, with ample space to stretch out and relax with entertainment provided by a 20-speaker, 825W Meridian Digital Surround Sound System.

The new XJ is equipped with driver assistance systems.

Among the key features include the unique All Surface Progress Control (ASPC), a low speed cruise control that helps the new XJ cope with low traction situations. This allows the driver to focus on steering. This advanced system also has a pull-away function that allows the new XJ to move away from rest on slippery surfaces as well as a hill descent function that controls vehicle speed on steeper inclines.

The 360° Park Distance Control is uniquely designed to avoid objects at close proximity around the XJ with five cameras placed strategically around the car.

Another feature is the Pedestrian Contact Sensing System.  It automatically raises the new XJ’s bonnet slightly, when it senses a collision with someone on foot, to reduce impact on the pedestrian by preventing contact with engine components.

The new XJ’s InControl Touch Pro puts music, video, navigation and all essential in-car controls including Bluetooth connectivity, at your fingertips. The new 8-inch touchscreen features an Intel Quad Core processor to deliver the latest graphics and quick response to smartphone-style swipes and taps. In addition, a 12.3-inch HD TFT Instrument Panel Display with virtual dials and full-screen 3D Map View makes driving even more of a pleasure.

Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia managing director Datuk Aishah Ahmad said the launch of the new XJ signalled the Jaguar range in Malaysia is now completely refreshed.

“We are pleased to offer the full range of the latest Jaguar models that competes in almost every category of the premium luxury sedan segment in Malaysia. Discerning motorists now have the choice of a luxury car that not only has a rich heritage but offers a first-class driving experience,” she said in a statement.

Every new XJ comes with Jaguar Care, which comprises a five-year/150,000km warranty, five-year or 80,000km (2.0-litre engine) or 65,000km (3.0-litre engine) servicing and three-year Jaguar Roadside Assistance.


Bentley's latest special edition droptop Continental GT pays homage to horse racing

                LONDON: Bentley Mulliner has introduced the Continental GT Convertible Equestrian Edition.

The branch of the British brand responsible for creating totally customised cars presented the one-of-a-kind model inspired by The Cheltenham Festival, one of the biggest horse-racing festivals in Britain.

On the headrest of each seat, an icon of a horse and rider have been embroidered onto the sustainable Saddle hide upholstery.

Complementing this caramel-coloured fabric is a Cumbrian Green hide, both of which cover various cabin components apart from the seats including the dash, steering wheel and door panels, some of which are also finished with veneer and box wood inlays.

Matching the green hide found throughout the interior is Spruce-coloured exterior paint job which is complemented by a glossy black finish on all the components on the standard Continental GT Convertible which are usually chrome like the radiator grille, bezels and wheels.

In terms of tech, the model has been outfitted with a slew of driver assistance systems including Lane Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Night Vision, among others.

This Continental GT Convertible Equestrian Edition was specially commissioned by the Bentley Bristol dealership.


Facelifted Honda Civic and 10th-gen Accord launched

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia today launched the facelifted Civic C-segment and all-new Accord D-segment sedans, with increased prices across the board.

Both the Civic and Accord are now fitted with 1.5-litre turbocharged engines and the full suite of Honda Sensing safety technologies which includes automatic braking and Lane Keep Assist.

CIVIC: WHAT'S NEW

The company aims to sell 1,000 Civic units each month, and prices are RM113,600 (1.8-litre S variant); RM129,600 (1.5-litre TC variant) and RM139,600 (1.5-litre flagship TC-P variant). They are RM5,435, RM8,745 and RM10,969 more expensive than before.

Both the Civic and Accord are covered by a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty with five free labour service are limited to within 100,000km or five years.

The new Civic is billed as offering class-leading advanced features in safety, style and comfort, and comes with Honda LaneWatch camera-based safety technology which reduces the blind spot for drivers when changing lanes. It was supposed to be launched last December but was held back to today over a delay in getting approval for the model pricing.

The new Accord uses the same 1.5-litre turbocharged engine as in the Civic, only it plays to higher tune with 201PS at 5,500rpm and 260Nm of torque from 1,600 to 5,000rpm on tap over its previous 2.4-litre engine with 173hp and 225Nm.

Honda Malaysia is targetting monthly sales of 200 units for the 10th-generation Accord flagship executive sedan, priced at RM185,900 (1.5-litre TC variant) and RM195,900 (1.5-litre TC-P variant). The previous 2.4-litre Accord was selling for RM169,800.

Power is sent to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT) - now with Econ and Sport driving modes, and allows it to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 9.0 seconds for the 1.5 TC and 9.1 seconds for the 1.5 TC-P before reaching a top speed of 190kph.

There are four colour options for choice, which includes Modern Steel Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl and a new Platinum White Pearl (RM400 option)

In terms of dimensions, the new Accord - with a 2,830mm wheelbase (+55mm), measures in at 4,901mm-long (-34mm), 1,862mm-wide (+12mm) and 1,450mm-tall (-15mm). This brings its centre of gravity down by 10mm compared to its predecessor.

As standard, the Accord rolls on 17 (1.5TC) and 18-inch (1.5TC-P) alloys with 225/50 and 235/45 series tyres respectively as well as LEDs for its headlights, daytime running lights, rear light clusters and fog lamps.

Also included are leather upholstery, keyless entry with push-start button and remote engine start as well as a multi-angle reverse camera system, dual-zone climate controls, rear vents, 7.0-inch digital display within the instrument cluster.

Notable mentions for the cabin include leather upholstery, powered front seats (eight-way driver's seat with memory and four-way for passenger) as well as a 10-speaker (with subwoofer) sound system with 8.0-inch (+1.0-inch) colour touchscreen that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

For safety, the Accord comes fitted with the usual slew of six airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, hill start assist, vehicle stability assist and agile handing assist.

The 1.5 TC-P gets added with Honda Sensing's suite of safety and driver-assist systems that include lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist system, road departure mitigation, collision mitigation braking system, forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control, low speed follow function (new), LaneWatch 360-degree camera system, cross-traffic monitor, smart parking assist system with rear brake assist and tyre deflation warning.

For added personalisation options, the Accord can be had with a Modulo Package (RM5,414) which comes with a body kit that includes a front lip, side skirts, rear diffuser and a boot spoiler as well as a front digital video recorder (RM749) and 3M or Ecotint window tint options (RM1,478 to RM2,293).

An Urban Package (RM2,777) is also available and includes items such as door visors, illuminated side steps and a rear bumper under garnish. The Utility Package (RM865) adds on a boot tray, boot organiser, a windscreen sunshade and car cover) while the Protection Package (RM3,007) throws in wheel lock nuts, a glass body coating and window coating.
READ MORE:First look and drive of refreshed Honda Civic in Thailand
Honda jacks up prices of City, Jazz and CR-VHonda AccordHonda Civic


Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup truck debuts, order-taking begins

                FRANKFURT: Mercedes-Benz’s new X-Class model unites the typical characteristics of a pick-up truck with the classical strengths of a Mercedes-Benz - convincing robustness with modern design, impressive off-road capabilities with high driving dynamics and safety, sophisticated functionality and stylish comfort.

The new performance pick-up truck has a comfort suspension with a ladder-type frame, rear multi-link solid axle, front independent wheel suspension and coil springs at both axles.

The X-Class thus meets a wide variety of use cases – from a robust, off-road capable pick-up truck to an urban lifestyle and family vehicle.

It’s available in three variants:

> The X-Class PURE basic variant is ideal for rugged, functional use.
It fulfils all the demands on a “workhorse”.
At the same time its comfort and design make it perfect for visiting customers or suppliers, and for private activities.

> The X-Class PROGRESSIVE is aimed at people seeking a rugged pick-up truck with extra styling and comfort functions – as a “calling card” for their own business, while also being a comfortable yet prestigious vehicle for private use.

> The X-Class POWER is the high-end line and aimed at customers for whom styling, performance and comfort are paramount.

As a lifestyle vehicle beyond the mainstream, it is suitable for urban environments as well as for sports and leisure activities off the beaten track.
Its design and high level of equipment reflect an independent and individualistic lifestyle.

The X-Class can haul a payload of up to 1.1 tonnes and able to tow up to 3.5 tonnes or a trailer containing three horses or an eight-metre yacht.

Inside, there are three trim variants to choose from for the X-Class POWER: a pixelated look in matt black, an aluminium effect with longitudinal grain and a brown matt woodgrain effect.

To complement the high-quality feel, the upper section of the cockpit is available with ARTICO man-made leather in either black or nut brown.

The characteristic round ventilation outlets add a sporty touch.

With the PROGRESSIVE and POWER design and equipment lines, the centre console is also prominently framed by a decorative trim in silver shadow.

The large door handles are also finished in silver shadow.

The cool touch effect is reinforced by the freestanding central display, which is familiar from the V-Class.

As from its market launch, there are two powerful and efficient four-cylinder engines to deliver spirited performance.

The high-torque common-rail diesel drive system with a displacement of 2.3 litres is available with a choice of two power outputs.

In the X 220 d with single turbocharger, it generates 120kW/163hp and in the biturbo X 250 d no less than 140kW/190hp.

Both diesel models are available with rear wheel drive only or with engageable all-wheel drive.

A high-torque V6 diesel engine will be released mid-2018 and will generate 190kW/258hp and a maximum torque of 550Nm.

This gives the X 350 d 4MATIC the leading position in the segment.

The top X-Class variant will come as standard with permanent 4MATIC all-wheel drive and the seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-TRONIC PLUS with steering-wheel shift paddles and ECO start/stop function.

The DYNAMIC SELECT driving mode system is available.


2019 Nissan X-Trail facelift: RM134K to RM160K

                KUALA LUMPUR: The 2019 facelifted Nissan X-Trail has four variants, and is tentatively priced at:

- 2.0L 2WD (RM133,888)
- 2.0L 2WD Mid (RM145,888)
- 2.5L 4WD (RM153,888)
- 2.0L Hybrid 2WD (159,888)

The facelifted X-Trail is sold with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty (includes Hybrid components and lithium-Ion battery).

The estimated prices were announced by Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) at the Malaysia Autoshow 2019 held at MAEPS, Serdang.

"The new X-Trail Facelift comes with more features and no price increase. For those who seek exceptional fuel efficiency and performance, we offer the Hybrid, and for those who seek all-terrain adventures, we offer the powerful 2.5L Intelligent 4x4, while those who seek greater value, we offer the 2.0L MID,” said Christopher Tan, sales and marketing director of ETCM.

Nissan Intelligent Mobility safety and assistance technologies are fitted in the top three X-Trail variants.

These include Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), dual powered leather seats, LED headlights and a Motion Activated Power Tailgate (that operates by a simple quick kick below the tailgate to open or close).

The top two X-Trail variants also get Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Forward Emergency Braking (FEB), Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) and High Beam Assist (HBA).

Six airbags comes standard on the top three variants, while the base 2.0L 2WD make do with four.

Standard safety features include Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold function, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Traction Control, Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Hill Start Assist, and Isofix points for two child seats.

READ MORE: Refreshed Nissan X-Trail opens for booking, hybrid is range-topper


Biden goes to Detroit to celebrate EVs, but few would qualify for US$7,500 tax credit

                DETROIT: There’s a flashy electric car at seemingly every turn of the Detroit auto show.

Much harder to find is a model that will actually qualify for new consumer incentives.

Fewer than a dozen of the EV and plug-in hybrid models among the hundreds of vehicles on display at the industry confab Wednesday would be eligible for tax credits of as much as US$7,500, according to an analysis by Bloomberg.

The perks, recently signed into law, are seen as essential to getting the average carbuyer to consider going electric.

That isn’t stopping President Joe Biden and a parade of fellow politicians from swinging through town to celebrate the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, a sweeping set of changes designed in part to spur investment in domestic EV production.

The legislation marked a victory for Biden and the Democrats’ agenda, even as the auto industry complained that stringent sourcing and assembly requirements would disqualify most current vehicles.

"That US$7,500 will be critical for more price-sensitive consumers,” said Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights for automotive researcher Edmunds.com.

"The affluent early EV adopters buying Teslas today are a bit of a different demographic than the average Americans who will be needed to get to that 100% electrification level that the president and industry is aiming for.”

The average price of a new electric vehicle in the US reached nearly US$62,000 in August, up 7.8% from a year earlier and US$15,000 more than the average price of new vehicles overall, according to Edmunds.

At those luxury prices, EVs have accounted for fewer than one-in-20 US auto sales so far this year, according to Edmunds.

The disconnect between policy and reality reflects the challenges facing the industry, as old-school automakers try to fend off upstarts, reshape their supply chains and figure out how to adapt to rapidly changing consumer tastes.

EV adoption is accelerating even as prices remain out of reach for most carbuyers and supply constraints make many models hard to find.

"Demand for these transformative vehicles continues to ramp up,” John Bozzella, chief executive officer of the Alliance for automotive Innovation, said in a statement.

"Getting the right public policies in place as quickly and smartly as possible is going to be necessary to take this market from 6% to 15, 25 and eventually 50% by the end of the decade.”

Fading star

A symbol of the changing industry is the auto show itself.

The event, formally known as the North American International auto Show, was once a must for automakers on the global circuit, drawing top CEOs and dozens of major brands to the 723,000-square-foot exhibition space in downtown Detroit.

But its star has dimmed in recent years amid competition from events like CES in Las Vegas, as well as a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

And automakers have increasingly turned to avenues such as social media and pop-up events to debut their new models.

The industry’s biggest name when it comes to EVs — Tesla Inc. — hasn’t had a floor-show booth in Detroit since 2015, and other absentees range from buzzy startups (Rivian automotive Inc.) to major international brands (Nissan Motor Co.)

In fact, no major Asian or European carmaker plans to hold a press conference.

Organisers moved it to September this year from its former early January spot on the calendar in the hopes of drawing more visitors and allowing it to incorporate an outdoors element.

The show has expanded beyond cars and trucks to showcase an "air mobility” element displaying hover boards, jet suits and electric vertical take-off and landing, or eVTOL, aircraft, according to its website.

It will also feature exhibits with life-sized dinosaurs, a mobile gaming arcade and a 61-foot-high rubber duck that the show calls the world’s largest.

Ducks and dinosaurs notwithstanding, Biden’s presence — along with names such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg — could give the show a much-needed boost.

A self-described "car guy” who has revelled in test-driving vehicles such as Ford’s F-150 Lightning, Biden plans to discuss the growth in EV manufacturing in the US when he appears Wednesday at the auto show.

The recent legislation included rules requiring North American assembly for EVs to qualify for tax credits.

Other changes include a requirement that batteries use raw materials sourced from countries with which the US has free-trade agreements.

The president also plans to announce the approval of the first US$900 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to build EV chargers, according to a White House official.

The construction will cover over 85,000km of highway across 35 states.

To help consumers, the Biden administration published a list of 24 vehicles that it says are likely to meet the bill’s requirement for "final assembly” in North America.

Another 10 models made by Tesla and General Motors Co. will become eligible next year when a prior cap on EV credits per manufacturer will lift.

Ford Motor Co.’s large display in the middle of the show floor included Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning models, EVs that qualify for the subsidy.

The word "electrify” was plastered all over.

But the Ford section also devoted substantial space to the gas-guzzling Bronco, complete with a giant ramp festooned with the bucking horse logo.

‘Give and take’

The new legislation knocked out about 70% of the 72 models that previously qualified for tax credits, according to an analysis conducted by the Alliance for automotive Innovation.

"That’s how Washington, D.C., works. You have to give and take to get something over the finish line,” said Andres Hoyos, vice president of the Zero Emission Transportation Association.

He added that building a domestic supply chain will ultimately create more jobs in the US — accomplishing another aim of the administration.

The numbers aren’t likely to change quickly, given the industry’s heavy reliance on Asia for batteries and raw materials, and the many other supply challenges facing manufacturers.

"A shift to US production is an ideal goal,” said Caldwell, the Edmunds analyst.

But "meeting these guidelines amidst ongoing inventory shortages is a tall task for automakers.”


CARRO revs up FY2022 results

                SINGAPORE: Southeast Asia's largest online used car retailer, today released key highlights of their financial year ending in March 2022.

CARRO more than doubled its revenue and gross profit to a record in its last financial year, achieving more than S$650mil in revenue.

It is currently tracking at over S$1.3bil in run-rate revenue and is poised to deliver another 2x growth in revenue this financial year (FY2023).

The pioneers of the Certified Pre-Owned vehicle e-marketplace in Southeast Asia also achieved profitability in its last financial year.

CARRO co-founder and CEO Aaron Tan said FY2022 was the group's strongest showing yet.

“Not only did we grow 2.5 times, we did so profitably. We were laser focused over the pandemic around operational excellence and cost improvements; we chose to utilise programmers to solve our problems and are starting to see the fruits of our labour,” he said.

The Group’s continued focus on online retailing and machine learning have brought about record gross profits.

The company is on track to improve its gross profit margins to about 10% by the end of this financial year, thereby tripling its absolute gross profit.

CARRO chief data scientist Dr Bryan Tan said the organisation was focusing on data science and machine learning in every aspect of the consumer journey, from the pricing algorithm of its customer’s cars to credit approvals.

“By leveraging machine learning to improve and automate our processes, we’ve achieved best-in-class Gross Product Margin in this region compared with our peers,” he said.

CARRO’s online retailing of Certified Pre-Owned vehicles and financial services arm also drove the bulk of its improvements in profitability and margins.

Excluding its wholesale business, the company expects gross profit margins to be almost 15%.

CARRO’s wholly-owned fintech business, Genie Financial Services, also recorded a very strong FY2022.

The company’s Non Performing Loans ratio remained at a low of 0.1% as it continued to deliver about 30% Return on Equity in the last financial year.

The overall loan book grew almost two times to a record S$400mil this year.

CARRO chief financial officer Ernest Chew said revenue growth was not just driven by a single but all its four markets.

“Thailand alone transacted approximately 35,000 units run-rate per year and Indonesia today accounts for almost S$40mil annualised Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA).

“We expect revenue for our online retail and ancillary business to hit over S$500mil this financial year,” he said.

Since the beginning of FY2023, CARRO also secured close to S$200mil in additional financing from nine global and domestic financial institutions at highly competitive rates.

Following its strong performance in FY2022, CARRO has also set its sights beyond the shores of Southeast Asia, and has since expanded into Taiwan and Japan this quarter.

The company expects to be EBITDA positive again this year.


Volkswagen to launch budget car family in 2018

                FRANKFURT: Volkswagen plans to launch a family of low cost budget cars in China and possibly elsewhere starting in 2018, its chief executive said in a newspaper interview today.

"We will bring a budget-car family to market in 2018, with an SUV, saloon and hatchback," Martin Winterkorn told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

Europe's largest automaker had for years been pondering a budget car but difficulties in hitting internal cost targets had thwarted approval of the project.

The vehicles - to be built in China - will cost between 8,000 euros (RM34,000) and 11,000 euros (RM47,000), Winterkorn said.

Previously, the company targeted a price of between about 6,000 (RM26,000) and 8,000 euros for its budget car.

"We will see if this is something of interest for other markets as well," Winterkorn said.

The budget car is seen as important for VW's future plans, particularly in South-East Asia.


VW to optimise traffic using quantum computer

                LISBON: Volkswagen is launching in Lisbon the world’s first pilot project for traffic optimisation using a quantum computer.

The group is equipping MAN buses of the public transport provider Carris with a traffic management system developed in-house. This system uses a D-Wave quantum computer and calculates the fastest route for each of the nine participating buses individually and almost in real-time.

This way, passengers’ travel times is set to be significantly reduced, even during peak traffic periods, and traffic flow would be improved. Volkswagen is testing its traffic optimisation system during the WebSummit technology conference here from Nov 4 to 8. During the conference, buses will carry thousands of passengers through the city traffic here.

The Volkswagen traffic management system includes two components – passenger number prediction and route optimisation by quantum computing. For predictions, the development team from Volkswagen is using data analytics tools to identify stops with especially high passenger numbers at certain times.

 A quantum computer from D-Wave.

For this purpose, anonymised geo-coordinates and passenger flow data are used. The objective is to offer as many people as possible tailor-made transport possibilities and to ensure optimum use of the bus fleet.

For the pilot project in Lisbon, 26 stops were selected and connected to form four bus links. For example, one of these runs from the WebSummit conference facility to the Marqués de Pombal traffic node in the city center.

The Volkswagen team intends to continue the development of this prediction component. The idea is that bus operators should add temporary links to their scheduled services to serve stops with the largest passenger numbers. This would be a meaningful approach for major events in the city area, for example.

The Volkswagen experts have developed a quantum algorithm for route optimisation between the stops. This algorithm calculates the fastest route for each individual bus in the fleet and optimizes it almost on a real-time basis. In contrast to conventional navigation services, the quantum algorithm assigns each bus an individual route. This way, each bus can drive around traffic bottlenecks along the route at an early stage and avoid traffic jams before they even arise.

The experts from Volkswagen expect this development to have a further positive effect. As the buses travel along individually optimised routes which are calculated to ensure that they can never cause congestion themselves, there will be a general improvement in traffic flow within the city.

Volkswagen intends to develop the system to market maturity.


Toyota to launch feature that prevents wrong pedal press

                NAGOYA: Toyota Motor Corp has developed an Acceleration Suppression function that uses big data collected from connected cars to help identify abnormal operation of the accelerator and control acceleration.

Toyota's newly developed function aims to control acceleration due to abnormal operation of the accelerator even when no obstacles are present.

In the development phase, the company first looked at actual accidents where the cause was determined to be pedal misapplication, particularly analyzing situations where the accelerator pedal was pressed fully.

The characteristics of these situations were then compared with big data collected from connected cars.

By eliminating instances where it was determined that drivers were genuinely required to rapidly accelerate intentionally, such as when turning right or accelerating from a temporary stop, Toyota was able to identify and compute instances in which the accelerator was operated abnormally.

In turn, this allowed for a function setting to control acceleration even in the absence of obstacles.

Toyota plans to install the function in new cars and introduce a new retrofit accelerator control system that will include the function for use with certain existing cars beginning gradually from this summer in Japan.

In its efforts to help deter serious accidents and reduce damage caused by misapplication of the accelerator, in 2012 Toyota introduced Intelligent Clearance Sonar (ICS).

At present, Toyota (26 models) and Lexus (6 models) or 83 percent of its line-up are, fitted with ICS.

More recently, in 2018, Toyota launched a retrofit pedal misapplication acceleration control system for certain existing vehicles.

The system can now be installed in 12 models, and 20,300 units have been fitted as of December 31, 2019.

However, these devices and systems only work when sensors detect obstacles such as other cars or walls.


Toyota year-end promos dangle up to RM10,000 in cash rebates

                SHAH ALAM: Yeah, it's that time of the year again. UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd is organising year-end sales promotions, which offers up to RM10,000 in cash rebates for various models in the 2016 Toyota range, from now until Dec 31.

The cash rebates in the "Year-end Sales Carnival" are applicable for purchases made at all Toyota sales outlets nationwide.

For those thinking of getting the new Innova and Corolla Altis, which will be launched soon, there’s a special "Early Bird" reward for those who put money down on the cars from now until the end of the year. The cash rebate for the Innova is RM5,000 while Corolla Altis customers would enjoy similar cash rebate plus free accessories worth RM5,700.

To receive cash rebates, customers must register the car by Dec 31.

All the models come with a 5-year warranty/unlimited mileage except for the Hilux, which has a maximum mileage of 150,000km. For the Camry Hybrid, the battery pack for the Hybrid Synergy Drive is backed by a warranty of up to 8 years.


Twin pleasures: Meet the AMG GT Roadster and AMG GT C Roadster

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-AMG is blowing even more fresh air into the AMG GT family.

Shortly after the world premiere of the AMG GT R, the sports car and performance brand from Affalterbach is presenting two exciting roadster variants of the two-seater sports car. Alongside the AMG GT Roadster, the AMG GT C Roadster enhances the portfolio with a completely new model variant.

With an output of 557hp and peak torque of 680Nm, the AMG GT C is the most powerful new Roadster variant and uses some of the technical refinements of the AMG GT R. These include active rear axle steering and the electronically controlled rear axle locking differential. In combination with the AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension, the AMG GT C Roadster guarantees dynamic performance at the highest level.

 AMG GT Roadster (left) and AMG GT C Roadster.

The top Roadster also takes its lead from the top AMG GT R sports car where muscular proportions are concerned: the wider rear wings create space for a wider track and wider wheels at the rear axle, allowing even higher cornering speeds and best traction. The variable performance exhaust system also ensures an authentic V8 sound from the AMG Roadster.

The new Roadsters make hallmark AMG driving performance an even more intensive experience. "With our two Roadster models, we are strategically expanding the AMG GT family by two exciting variants. With the AMG GT C Roadster, we are also introducing a new model variant to which we have transferred main performance-related components from our top sports car, the AMG GT R. The result: a highly dynamic driving experience in a very exclusive ambience, coupled with that pure roadster feeling," says Tobias Moers, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

The two AMG Roadster variants have adopted a special technical highlight from the AMG GT R: the active air management system. Vertical louvres located in the lower area directly behind the front fascia can be opened and closed by an electric motor in around one second. This ensures that the cooling performance is according to need. Always achieving the optimum position requires highly intelligent and fast control.

During normal driving with no increased cooling requirement, the louvres are closed to reduce aerodynamic drag and specifically conduct the air to the underbody. Only when certain components reach predefined temperatures and the air requirement is particularly high do the louvres open to allow the maximum cooling airflow to the heat exchangers.

With the two Roadster variants, the Mercedes-AMG GT family has now increased to five members. The two new sports cars with fabric soft tops likewise have the technical genes for which AMG is famous. These include e.g. the lightweight and torsionally rigid aluminium bodyshell plus powerful and efficient V8 biturbo engines. The entry level into the Roadster world is the AMG GT with an output of 350 kW (476 hp). The GT C Roadster adds a completely new output level. With 410 kW (557 hp) it is the more powerful of the two new open-top sports cars.

The AMG GT C Roadster not only delivers more output and torque, it also impresses with numerous technical highlights from the Mercedes-AMG GT R for even more dynamic performance. Like the AMG GT R, the AMG GT C Roadster is recognisable by its wide, muscular rear end and large wheels. Other technical measures include the wider rear track and active rear axle steering.

The AMG GT C Roadster is also equipped with a lithium-ion battery, and has more exclusive appointments. Standard features include a nappa leather interior, the AMG performance steering wheel in nappa leather/DINAMICA microfibre and the additional transmission mode RACE.

Both Roadsters are quickly transformed from coupés to open-top sports cars. The fabric roof opens and closes in around 11 seconds, and can do this at speeds of up to 50kph. The three soft top colours black, red and beige can be chosen to suit the 11 exterior and 10 interior colours. The three-layered fabric soft top is supported by a magnesium/steel/aluminium structure of low weight, which helps to keep the centre of gravity low. Additional rollover protection is provided by an integrated aluminium cross-member with rollover bars.

With the AMG GT C Roadster, Mercedes-AMG is introducing a further output level of the 4.0-litre V8 biturbo.At 557hp, the peak output is 47hp above that of the AMG GT S and 28hp below the Mercedes-AMG GT R. The maximum torque of 680Nm is available from 1,900 to 5,750 rpm. A sprint from zero to 100kph is absolved in 3.7 seconds, and this acceleration only ends at the top speed of 316kph.

The AMG GT Roadster has an output of 476hp and 630Nm of torque. This variant accelerates to 100 kph in 4.0 seconds, and has a top speed of 302kph.

The eight-cylinder engine is said to offer immediate response, a linear, finely controllable power delivery and powerful acceleration in all rpm ranges. The AMG 4.0-litre V8 comes with twin turbocharging, with the two chargers not located outside on the cylinder banks, but rather between them in the V of the cylinders. The advantages of the "hot inner V": a compact engine design, spontaneous response from the turbochargers and low exhaust emissions thanks to optimum air flow for the close-coupled catalytic converters.

The developers have also adapted the seven-speed dual clutch transmission in a transaxle arrangement at the rear axle to the new power level of the Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster by modifying the hardware and software. The first gear of the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sport transmission has a higher ratio, while seventh gear and the final drive have a lower ratio. This makes for even more agile acceleration and very fast responses to sudden accelerator movements.

The driver is able to set the AMG GT Roadster to his/her individual requirements using the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT controller. The three transmission modes "C" (Comfort), "S" (Sport), "S+" (Sport Plus) and the individually programmable setup "I" (Individual) allow a broad range of driving experiences from comfortable to very sporty.

The transmission mode "RACE" is additionally available for the Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster. This mode optimally adjusts the shift strategy of the dual clutch transmission to the needs of the racetrack – very fast shift speeds and highly emotive engine sound are included. By pressing the separate "M" button in the centre console, the driver can activate the manual transmission mode in any drive mode.

The AMG GT C Roadster is equipped with the AMG performance exhaust system as standard to obtain an even more emotive sound experience.


Ford's ‘Mustang-inspired' future electric SUV to have 600-km range

                AMSTERDAM: During the #GoElectric event here, Ford revealed its schedule for releasing 16 new electric models (light hybrid, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and 100% electric) for Europe by 2021.

One of the fully electric vehicles mentioned at the event is a Mustang-inspired performance SUV but the model remains largely shrouded in mystery.

The car manufacturer has been dropping hints about this new model since 2018.

It's set to be a 100% electric Mustang-inspired SUV and to be on the market by 2020.

While Ford has not yet confirmed any more information or released a photo of what it will look like, it did however announce that the SUV will have a 600-km range, which would place it for example slightly above the Tesla Model Y (482km announced for its "long-range" version in the US, 540km for the EU norm), just unveiled and whose first shipments are expected in 2020, in the United States.

The question, however, is what does "Mustang-inspired" mean for Ford?

Undoubtedly, the design of this brand-new SUV will highlight the typical features of the famous "muscle" car.

For the rest, Ford remains tight-lipped, which adds to the mystery of this future model including its name.

The other fully electric model which is currently in development at Ford is a variation of its utility Transit without emissions, that is expected to be on the market in 2021.


Long-delayed KL automated parking system likely to open in early 2019

                KUALA LUMPUR: The mechanical automated parking system (MAPS) here that was launched last year is only expected to open for business in early 2019.

The parking tower along Jalan Tun Razak, near the US embassy, was unveiled in October, 2017, but technical issues have delayed its operations. It is managed by M.A. Intelligent Parking (M) Sdn Bhd.

According to employees manning the entrance to the facility, "tests are still being conducted" and they expect it to open for business by February. M.A. Intelligent Parking group CEO Datuk Seri Dr Muhammad Isa Kasim was not available for comment at the time of this post.

The 24-level automated car park uses an integrated multilevel parking system from Japan and has a capacity of 199 cars. Six bays are underground and nine are so-called Puzzle bays, and all are equipped with hoists to move parked cars around. The Puzzle bays have nine slots and send cars up.

 Bay doors to the parking tower. The Puzzle parking bays has nine slots and sends cars up. These two bays move cars underground.

The main tower with its 184 bays has three entrances for cars and a fourth designed to accept larger vehicles that include multipurpose vehicles, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. The tower is designed to operate non-stop seven days a week.

At present, a promotional fee of RM13 per entry is being charged for those who want to use the facility’s open bays in front of the parking tower. In the interim period, it opens from 7am to 7pm from Monday to Friday only.

“The car park is partly opened, but I think no one really parks there because the fee is quite high,” said Sabrina Sim who works in an office building nearby.
READ MORE:First automated mechanical parking service for MalaysiaAutomated parking garages help ease congestion
When the parking tower is finally opened, the operator will offer three packages: a monthly season Pass (price to be announced), a daily Premier Pass (RM13) and a Prepaid Pass (top-up of RM50 required).

To use the facility, a driver will be issued an access card that needs to be tapped at the card reader and the vehicle's registration details entered. The vehicle's side mirrors must be folded in and other protrusions including long antennas must be retracted/stowed before moving the vehicle into the bay.

Once the vehicle is positioned properly, the driver alights from the vehicle and press the "Safety" button followed by the "Go" button. The bay doors will close and the car will be hoisted to an available slot in the tower.

To retrieve the vehicle, the driver must tap the access card at the reader of the exit gate. The system would then locate the vehicle and send it to the exit bay for the driver to collect and drive off. Retrieval time is usually around two minutes.

The vehicles side mirrors must be folded in and other protrusions including long antennas must be retracted/stowed before moving the vehicle into the bay.


Is an Audi pickup truck too farfetched? Maybe not

                INGOLSTADT: Audi CEO Markus Duesmann says the company is considering making a pick-up truck.

He said this in response to a question from Autocar recently.

"I can't promise that we will do one, but we are looking into it."

Duesmann suggested that Audi would present a vehicle of this bodystyle in the not-too-distant future, which could be taken to mean a concept truck is waiting in the wings.

If an Audi truck does eventually show up, it could be eyeing the US market, which is big on trucks.

It could be based on the VW Amarok featuring the use of a turbodiesel V6 or other combustion engine options.

But Audi has to tread carefully. Luxury brands and trucks seldom hit it off. Audi will have to take lessons from the Mercedes-Benz debacle with the X-Class, which was based on the Nissan Navara bones. The X-Class was axed in 2020 after less than three years on sale.

However, with parent VW AG going full throttle on electrification, Audi might actually be thinking of a fully electric truck ala Rivian R1T or the Ford F-150 Lightning. But with more European poshness baked in.


Long-lost Ford Mustang from Bullitt found in Mexican junkyard

                LOS ANGELES: Movie car chase fans will be delighted to learn that one of the original Ford Mustang cars used in the legendary cop film Bullitt has reportedly been found in a Mexican scrapyard.

The rusty, beaten-up car, which had a white paint job over the original Highland green, was spotted by a car buff, according to Fox News. He had planned to convert it into a later model until he saw the vehicle identification plate (VIN).

The numbers stamped on the 1968 Mustang Fastback GT 390 match up with one of two cars bought by Warner Brothers for the 1968 action film, which starred Steve McQueen as a detective Frank Bullitt charging up and down the hilly streets of San Francisco.

The cat-and-mouse chase against a Dodge Charger is regarded by cineastes and petrol heads as the definitive movie car chase.

"I'm 100 per cent sure it's authentic," Ford expert Kevin Marti told Fox News. Marti went to Mexicali, capital of Baja California Sur state, to inspect the car.

The report said the re-discovered Mustang had been used mainly for stunt scenes in the movie and had been out of sight for nearly 50 years.

Some body parts had been beefed up for road action and extra holes drilled for electric cables needed for filming, according to the report.

Meanwhile the other 1968 Mustang used in the Bullitt film is in perfect shape and resides in a private collection.

The Mexican-found Mustang's new owner, named by Fox as Hugo Sanchez, plans to have the car restored to its original condition with some help from Ford.

Should Sanchez decide to sell, experts say the ex-Bullitt car could fetch US$1mil (RM4.4mil) at auction, especially with the 50th anniversary of the film coming up next year.


Betting on flexibility, China's Nio will only rent cars in new EU markets

                BERLIN: Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio will only lease its cars when it launches in four European markets this year, its CEO said, betting that flexibility will be a key selling point as drivers switch to the new technology.

Users will be able to lease a car with a 75 gigawatt hour battery for €1,199-€1,295 (up to RM5,843) a month depending on the length of the subscription, which can be as short as a month.

The plan is the latest unconventional move by the company, which already allows customers to rent rather than buy the battery — the most expensive part of an electric vehicle (EV).

Rather than charging their cars at home, Nio owners can also drive them to a battery swapping station to have a new powerpack installed in minutes to save time.

Now, as it prepares to launch in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, Nio plans to operate its businesses there on a corporate leasing and subscription model, offering all three models available in China — the ET7, ET5 and EL7, with the latter renamed in Europe from its Chinese name of ES7 because of a branding dispute with Volkswagen's Audi.

"We will not be selling cars," CEO William Li said in an interview at the company's new 'Nio House' showroom in central Berlin, the first of nine new members club-style venues to open for Nio fans in Europe this year.

"Flexibility is the new premium."

Nio has sold just under 250,000 vehicles in China and Norway since starting production in 2018. Prices range from around €50,000-€70,000 (up to RM316,000), depending on the car's range and whether customers buy or rent the battery.

It has so far operated on a make-to-order basis, creating bespoke products for customers and keeping inventory low.

Nio will stick to direct sales in existing markets in part due to less attractive taxation on subscription models in Norway and restrictions around licence plates in China, Li said.

Battery swap

Nio is facing competition in China from a growing number of EV startups from Xpeng to Hozon and Leapmotor as well as larger manufacturers like China's BYD and Tesla.

In Europe, it will be chasing after Tesla and Volkswagen for the top spot on EV sales.

The plan is to install at least 120 battery swapping stations in Europe by the end of next year, Li said, adding it was not so much a matter of the financial investment but of the time and bureaucracy required to get it done.

The company opened its first plant to manufacture swapping stations in Hungary last month, and would consider producing batteries in the region once it reaches battery sales in Europe equivalent to around 10 gigawatt hours, Li said.

"The advantage of our business separating the car from the battery is that we may reach economies of scale for the batteries faster than the cars," Li said. "When we reach 10 gigawatt hours, we will consider localising production."

In China, where that target has already been met, a team of around 700 people is working on in-house battery production, enabling the company to take control of its battery supply.

In the meantime, Nio is seeking further partners beyond its current supplier, CATL, Li said, adding it aimed to have new partnerships secured next year.

"In the long-run we believe any top company in the automotive industry will soon have in-house battery production," Li said.

Nio’s revenue grew 22% in the second quarter from a year ago while its net loss more than quadrupled to the equivalent of US$410 million.

It delivered just under 32,000 vehicles in September, up 29.3% year on year. Supply chain troubles in China due to Covid-19 lockdowns in August eased faster than expected, Li said.


Russian car sales collapse as isolation hits once-hot industry

                MOSCOW: Russian car sales plunged 84% in May, as sanctions and international isolation brought an industry that had once been a showcase for foreign investment to a near standstill.

Fewer than 25,000 vehicles were sold last month, according to the Moscow-based Association of European Businesses, the lowest since at least 2006 and less than a tenth of the monthly levels seen in peak months in the past.

President Vladimir Putin’s Feb 24 invasion of Ukraine spurred a wave of sanctions from the US and its allies, as well as disruptions of supplies from a broader range of countries.

The isolation hit the foreign-dominated auto sector especially hard, with the exodus of overseas producers worsened by the industry’s heavy dependence on imported components.

“A few suppliers still haven’t sold out all their stocks, so that’s what’s selling,” said Azat Timerkhanov of consultant Avtostat. “But they’re running out rapidly.”

Only two of Russia’s more than 20 auto factories are operating now, a locally owned one and a Chinese plant, he said. European and most Asian producers suspended shipments of cars, while even companies from countries that didn’t join the sanctions were faced with logistics problems.

“There’s a search under way for alternative suppliers - usually Chinese,” he said, but there’s no certainty yet that it will succeed.

The Russian government has taken over some major plants from foreign companies that left, including the legendary Moskvich factory in Moscow. They’ve already announced plans to sell stripped-down models without imported safety and emissions technologies.

“Our auto industry relied on foreign components,” said Georgy Ostapkovich, a specialist on the sector at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics.

“There were practically no factories that didn’t work on foreign platforms. Russia was just an assembly line.”

“We’re facing primitivisation and we’ll fa


BMW M2 CS Racing class for ambitious teams to break into racing

MUNICH: BMW has carved out a new entry-level racing class with the M2 CS under the M Customer Racing programme, allowing ambitious teams and drivers to break into racing.

In addition to the BMW M240i Racing Cup, in which the predecessor, the BMW M240i Racing, competes, the M2 CS Racing is the second BMW-only class in the Nürburgring Endurance Series.

With the BMW M2 CS Racing, BMW M Customer Racing continues the tradition of production-based customer racing cars. Like the BMW M235i Racing and the BMW M240i Racing,

The first appearances under race conditions in last year’s Nürburgring Endurance Series season came after initial test runs at Miramas (France) and Portimão (Portugal). At the 2020 opener last weekend, the M2 CS Racing also made its first appearance for a customer. The Walkenhorst Motorsport car crossed the finish line second in the SP8T class.

The next event of the season is to be held on July 11-12.


Nio opens trial for high-speed EV battery swapping stations

                SHANGHAI: Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio Inc began trial operation today of faster, more efficient battery swapping stations in China in its push to make battery swapping a viable alternative to rival EV makers' rapid-charging technology.

With capacity to store up to 21 battery packs each, Nio's Power Swap Station 3.0 can speed up battery swapping to less than five minutes and lower the service cost per swap, Shen Fei, Nio senior vice president for power management, told reporters at an event here last Thursday. The comments were embargoed for release today.

Tesla's rapid-charging Supercharger allows EV users to top up vehicles to a range of 320km in 15 minutes.

Battery swapping allows drivers to replace depleted packs quickly with fully charged packs, rather than plugging the vehicle in to a charging point. Swapping could help to ease the strain on power grids at peak times when drivers recharge, but industry analysts and executives expect it would only become feasible if batteries become more standardised.

Nio is among only a handful of EV makers betting on battery swapping as a major power option for electric cars. Rival Tesla has dismissed battery swapping as "riddled with problems and not suitable for widescale use".

Nio, which has set a target of 2,300 battery swapping stations globally by year-end, had 1,323 in operation as of March 23, Shen said. It aims for 900 of the latest power swap stations to be operating this year, he added.

Nearly 60% of the power replenished for Nio cars in February was via battery swapping, while another 23% was from home chargers, Shen said.

Fewer than 10% of Nio users used public chargers while 80.5% of the power charged from Nio's 14,000 chargers nationwide was for non-Nio users, including Tesla and BYD vehicles, he added.


Old Saab shares limelight as 'Drive My Car' wins Oscar award for best international film

                LOS ANGELES: The emotional epic from Japan "Drive My Car” won the Academy Award for best international feature film Sunday night.

Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi's film became the fifth from Japan to win the Oscar, the first since "Departures” in 2008.

The win for the three-hour journey through grief, connection and art also relied heavily on  an old Saab 900 Turbo, where much of the character development took place. The iconic Saab 900 was avantgarde for its time and was in production from 1978 to 1994.

Although the original story on which the film was based used a yellow 900 Cabrio, a red Saab was chosen as the director wanted a bolder colour to set it off against a Hiroshima backdrop that spans several seasons.

The awards night spawned its own mini-drama when Hamaguchi took the stage at the Dolby Theatre to accept it. He paused for applause, and the show’s director then started the music to cue him to leave the stage, but he objected.

"I’d like to thank all the members of the academy for having us here,” Hamaguchi said, then thanked the distributors of the film for bringing it to the United States.

"Just a moment," he said, to laughs from the audience. He then thanked his actors, "especially Toko Miura, who drove the red Saab 900 beautifully in the film," and paused again for applause.

Another musical cue followed, and Hamaguchi tried to restart yet again, but he was led off stage.

Many on social media decried what they regarded as the disrespectful treatment of the director in the moment.

With four Oscar nominations, including the first best picture nomination for a Japanese film, and several early wins in awards season that made it appear to be a best picture frontrunner, no one was surprised by Sunday's win for "Drive My Car.”

But it beat a strong field of critics' favourites and crowd pleasers, including Italy’s "The Hand of God,” Denmark’s "Flee,” Bhutan’s "Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom," and Norway's "The Worst Person in the World,” which some observers predicted might pull of an upset.

"Drive My Car" based on a short story from novelist Haruki Murakami, centres on a theater actor, Yûsuke Kafuku, played by Hidetoshi Nishijima, directing a multilingual production of Chekhov’s "Uncle Vanya.”

Still mourning the death of his wife, Kafuku leads the cast in rehearsals where the actors sit and read their lines flatly, ingesting the language for days before acting it out.


VW teases 'high-tech' eighth-gen Golf GTI designed for the digital age

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen announced that the eighth-generation Golf GTI will be making its world premiere in a few weeks at the Geneva Motor Show.

With just a few weeks to go until the conference kicks off, VW teased the front end of the hatch revealing just a hint of the updated design.

Over four decades after the very first Golf GTI was launched at the Geneva show, for old times' sake, Volkswagen will be debuting the eighth generation of the model at the same show.

Based on the digital sketch and a few statements from the company about the exterior, it's been confirmed that the new GTI will have an open front bumper featuring a honeycomb-style grille and an optionally illuminated radiator grille.

While retaining characteristically GTI components like the petrol engine, checkered seat covers, and red stripe on the radiator grille, this rendition will also be gaining a handful of new tools and features surrounding the digitalization of the vehicle.

This is the first GTI generation to have "a completely digitalised interior landscape of displays and controls". Furthermore, the model can communicate with others via Car2X technology and drive moderately autonomously up to 210kph using Travel Assist.


In just six years, you might be flying in this airborne taxi

                MUNICH: Forget sitting in traffic, breathing in fumes while you stare longingly through the window at the cyclists whizzing past you. The future of taxis is much more - well, futuristic.

German company Lilium has successfully tested a five-seater electric air taxi, joining a list of companies vying to commercialise air-taxi travel.

The 1.5 ton Lilium Jet prototype launched vertically and held its place in the air during the test, which took place outside of Munich. The next phase will be to engage in manoeuvres in the air, the company said.

Lilium hopes to introduce air taxis in at least two cities by 2025. The plan is for customers to be able to book them through its own booking platform.

The Lilium Jet, which has 36 electric jet motors, runs quietly and is being designed to fly 300kph for up to one hour at a time.

Chinese technology company Tencent and others have so far invested US$100 million in Lilium.

Other rivals in the field include Airbus, which tested a four-seater City-Airbus on May 1, while another German startup, Volocopter, has already obtained a license for its two-seater and flew a test run in Dubai in 2017. US rival Boeing has also completed a test run with an autonomous air taxi.

Lilium operates from Oberpfaffenhofen airport near Munich and employs 300 people.


Top Chinese carmakers plot major push into India

                NEW DELHI/BEIJING: China's top carmaker SAIC Motor Corp and Great Wall Motor, its biggest maker of SUVs, are spearheading the country's first major push into India, one of the world's fastest growing auto markets, as growth at home stagnates.

The entry is late and risky - global carmakers like Volkswagen AG, Ford Motor and General Motors  have struggled to push sales in the cost conscious Indian market despite being here for more than a decade. Chinese cars also suffer from perceptions of poor quality in India.

While they plan to woo Indian buyers with their no-frills cars and cut-price SUVs, Chinese manufacturers will compete head on with established carmakers like Suzuki Motor and Hyundai Motor that dominate many markets in Southeast Asia.

Even so, India offers one of the last frontiers of growth - by 2020 the country is likely to become the world's third-largest car market, from fifth place, with annual sales nearly doubling to 5 million vehicles from 2.7 million in 2015.

SAIC and Great Wall are in separate talks with the state government of Maharashtra in western India to set up a factory in the auto hub of Pune city, the state industries minister told Reuters.

A source close to SAIC said the company is considering Pune city among other locations. The automaker plans to set up a factory in India within the next three years and is in the early stages of researching such a move, the person said.

"The market potential of India is huge," said the source.

For SAIC, the maker of marquee MG and Roewe cars, India is next on the agenda after entering Indonesia and would happen before they try to enter Russia, other European nations or the United States.

SAIC is also in discussion to buy a plant currently operated by GM in western Gujarat state, according to people familiar with the matter. The Detroit automaker plans to stop production at the Halol plant in Gujarat by end-June as it consolidates operations at one location.

"We are examining a number of options in relation to the Halol factory ... including the sale of the site," GM said in a statement. The company declined to elaborate on how it plans to sell the factory and said there was nothing further to announce about Halol at this point.

In February, 12 executives from Great Wall attended the India Auto Expo car show to survey the market and understand government policy on diesel engines and emissions, an industry source in India said.

Great Wall's board of directors on March 7 voted unanimously in favour of a motion to establish a subsidiary in India, according to a stock exchange filing. A spokesman said there were no further details on the automaker's plans there, including when it would set up a subsidiary.

Chongqing Changan Automobile, China's fourth biggest automaker, launched a search in January for an advisor in India to help form an entry plan, according to an email from the company to a consultant that was seen by Reuters.

Company president Zhu Huarong told reporters in November that Chongqing Changan saw India as one of its three strategic foreign markets for investment and planned to start making cars there by 2020.

A spokesman for SAIC and a spokesman for Changan declined to comment.

Global carmakers like Toyota Motor Corp and Volkswagen have struggled to push sales in India in part due to the lack of a portfolio of feature-rich, compact cars priced at about US$5,000-US$7,000, a segment where demand is high.

Equally essential in the Indian market is having a wide-spread service network and keeping car maintenance costs low.

"If the Chinese carmakers are able to overcome the quality perception, they have a huge cost advantage," said Amit Kaushik, country head at consultant JATO Dynamics.

SAIC is evaluating what models to launch in India and is considering vehicles less than four metres in length because of favourable policies - sub-compact cars attract lower taxes - the source close to the company said.

It is also looking at modifying existing models to offer stripped down versions, as India is more price sensitive and regulatory requirements are lower, the person said.


European Commission to propose more ambitious emissions limits for autos

                BRUSSELS: The European Commission will propose that the European Union further tighten its auto emissions limits, according to a draft document seen by Reuters, prompting a pushback from Germany’s car industry, the region’s biggest.

Under the proposal, by 2030 the average carbon dioxide emissions of new cars should be 50% below 2021 levels. The bloc’s current plan calls for a 37.5% reduction over that period.

A spokesman for the commission declined to comment.

Germany’s auto association VDA said it would firmly reject a further tightening of the targets, which the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung first reported.

The draft document, due to be published this week, sets out the commission’s broader plan for the EU to set a 2030 target of cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% against 1990 levels, and how it can achieve this goal.

The bloc’s current 2030 target is for a 40% cut in emissions from 1990 levels.


Toyota's Corona — still a coveted classic despite the name

                FRANKFURT: The name is on the tip of everyone's tongue and yet hardly anyone remembers the car they once called Corona.

The moniker stands for one of the worst viruses the world has ever experienced, but before then it was a Mexican brand of beer and a fairly ordinary saloon from Nippon.

The Corona was once one of the best-selling cars from automotive giant Toyota and at the vanguard of exports from the Far East which swamped the European market, as Toyota press spokesman Thomas Schalberger recalls. Today it is a daily driver classic although good examples are elusive and not cheap to buy.

The Corona story began in 1957 when the four-door car named after the Spanish world for "crown" was slotted into the Toyota line-up below the actual Crown model – the range-topping flagship from the Japanese maker.

The first generation of the mid-range Corona was designed for domestic consumption and it quickly took up cudgels against the popular Nissan Bluebird. The Corona arrived in Germany in 1971 along with the Corolla and Celica.

In 1973, the Japanese were proud of a title story in a German car magazine which tested the Corona alongside an Opel Rekord before pronouncing it the top car in its range. "When are the Japanese going to overtake the Gemans?” the gazette asked prophetically. The Corona was a hit in the United States too and in 1969 it was voted imported car of the year.

Figures show just how well the Japanese car went down with buyers.

For many years the Corona was the most successful model on the Japanese market and by 1971 overall production had reached three million units. The car topped the company’s sales chart for years. It was only in the 1980s that the Corona began to lose its lustre and in 1996 the model was dropped after 40 years and 10 million cars made.

In Germany and many other European countries the Corona vanished from the showrooms even earlier. Sales in the land that invented the motor car were modest and in 1973 the Corona was replaced in Germany by the Carina which means the car is a rare sight on today’s roads.

Taking a seat at the wheel of a Mark II example from 1973 is a trip down memory lane to an era when streamlined TransEurope Express trains criss-crossed the continent and sushi bars were unheard of in European cities.

The Corona Mark II was a modest-looking car although its twin headlight arrangement at the front and contemporary "coke bottle" styling with sweeping curves set it apart from the competition.

The dashboard, with its easy-to-read triple dials, was progressive at the time but the steering wheel was too large by today's standards and the lanky gearstick seemed to be constantly out of reach.

With hindsight, the Corona emblem was a sign of darker things to come. It depicts a large C with a stylised star as background which bears an uneasy resemblance to the Covid-19 virus animations everyone is used to seeing these days on the internet and television.

The drivetrain is unassuming, with a four-cylinder engine turning out a workaday 89hp. Opting for the six-cylinder engine meant stepping up a notch in luxury and style. The quality was good too at a time when many European cars were let down by shoddy build and lacklustre equipment. Reliability was a byword for the Corona which makes it attractive proposition as a cherished car.

Other Toyota models may offer more but the Corona has a certain fascination – indeed driving one for longer is an infectious experience.

Without stretching the virus comparisons too far, it would be fair to say that treating a Corona properly is as fraught as dealing with the health crisis and arduous at the same time. Used Coronas are as rare as the anti-Covid vaccine for which the world is waiting for with bated breath.

Anyone who tracks down a half-decent Corona will probably have to pay a five-figure sum for the pleasure of owning one and travel to Britain to Portugal to pick it up.

Standard wear parts such as clutches, brake pads, or a new set of brake drums for the Mark II are happily easy to find and reasonably priced. Model-specific part are more challenging to locate.

Items such as window regulators and tail-lamp lenses are virtually unobtainable. Fortunately, there is a dedicated community of vintage Toyota enthusiasts out there to help with tracking stuff down.

For Toyota fans who need a quick fix, a trip to the company’s heritage collection in Cologne is a good idea. It opens to enthusiasts once a month – but only when the health crisis permits. Germany is currently in semi-lockdown.


Reuss, 35-year GM veteran, to succeed Ammann as president

                DETROIT: General Motors Co said on Thursday that Mark Reuss (pic) would succeed Dan Ammann as president, effective immediately, as part of the automaker’s ongoing shift to electric and self-driving vehicles in North America and China.

Reuss remains focused on rebuilding the Cadillac brand and streamlining GM’s product development operations, while doubling the resources, mainly engineering hours, allocated to electric and self-driving vehicle programs in the next two years, the company reiterated.

GM has budgeted US$8 billion for the development of electric and self-driving vehicles, with SoftBank Group and Honda Motor Co pledging to invest US$5 billion in GM’s Cruise self-driving unit.

Ammann became chief executive officer of GM Cruise, the self-driving car unit, on Jan 1. The appointment of Reuss, a 35-year GM veteran, comes as the No. 1 US automaker cuts back on producing traditional sedans.

In the United States, GM remains strong in pickups and utility vehicles, which accounted for two-thirds of the company’s sales in 2018.


Singapore drivers can soon go to independent workshops without voiding warranties

                SINGAPORE: Singapore drivers will soon be able to service their cars at independent workshops without having to worry about voiding their warranties.

The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) said in a statement on Monday that it has worked with the major car dealers to remove the warranty restrictions from January 2018.

“All the major car dealers have agreed to make the relevant changes to the warranty terms identified by CCS. CCS expects all agreed changes to the warranty terms for existing warranties in force and new warranties to be retrospectively implemented by Dec 31, 2017.”

With the changes, car dealers may void car warranties or reject claims only if they have determined that the damage or defect to be claimed under the warranty is caused by the independent workshops.

READ MORE: Singapore to halt car population growth from 2018

Independent workshops are often sought after by car owners as they sometimes offer far lower prices than the authorised workshops dictated by the dealers.

Current limitation deter car owners from using independent workshops, curbing the workshops' ability to compete effectively with authorised ones, said the watchdog.

This limitation may, in turn, allow authorised workshops to charge customers higher prices for servicing, repair and parts, it added.

The CCS said it has learnt that authorised workshops can charge two to three times as much as independent workshops for comparable parts and servicing.

For example, an oil filter change at the independent workshop could cost around S$100, but an authorised one will charge about S$200, said an industry source.

"The removal of the warranty restrictions will facilitate a more competitive market for car repairs and servicing, with more choices for car owners, and opportunities for existing and new independent workshops,” said CCS chief executive Toh Han Li said.

The Singapore Motor Workshop Association said the country has around 2,500 motor workshops, of which over 700 are its members.

The association’s spokesman, Joey Lim, told The Straits Times that independent workshops will now have to beef up their technical know-how to service newer car models, which are typically those still under warranty.


Petron presents Alif Satar Mini Showcase Tour

                KUALA LUMPUR: Popular Malaysian singer Alif Satar kicked off his Mini Showcase Tour at hard Rock Cafe, Kuala Lumpur last weekend (Sept 14) to a crowd consisting of Petron Miles members and fans.

The exclusive event presented by Petron featured a meet and greet with Alif's fans, activities and a chance to win exclusive merchandise.

Also, those who attended the concert will automatically be part of Petron and Malaysia Airlines' Enrich latest contest, Fuel & Fly to New Zealand with Alif Satar.

 Singer Alif (right) performs during his Mini Showcase Tour at Hard Rock Cafe, Kuala Lumpur.

"We are very pleased to be working with Alif Satar to give his fans and some of our most loyal customers the chance to get to know one of Malaysia's popular performers. We are all about treating our customers to the best experience and making their journey with us even more rewarding," said Petron Malaysia Head of retail and Commercial Business, Choong Kum Choy.

The Alif Satar Mini Showcase Tour will continue to other states such as Penang (Sept 28), Kota Kinabalu (Oct 12) and Melaka (Oct 20).

To earn an exclusive VIP pass to the Alif Satar Showcase, Petron MIles' members need to spend an accumulated RM250 worth of fuel and submit their receipts together with their personal details and contest form.

The Fuel & Fly promotion will run until Oct 15 and the winners and their companions will be spending a spectacular 6 days and 5 nights in New Zealand with Alif.


New 'Fast and Furious' movie prompts warnings about street racing

                LOS ANGELES: A car barrelling through the air in a high-speed action movie does not follow the same laws of physics in the real world, and law enforcement officials hope to drive home that point in a new anti-street racing campaign unveiled this week.

In the US, the California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies launched the campaign by staging a baby blue Lamborghini crashed into a light pole on Melrose Avenue here.

The effort to deter street racing arrives just as "Fast X" is released nationwide Friday, in what promises to be the last entry in the "Fast and Furious" car-racing action franchise starring Vin Diesel.

Street racing in movies can influence copycats in the real world who think they too can drive on surface streets like a stunt driver, Los Angeles Police Department chief Michel Moore said during a news conference in May.

"The popularity of movies such as the 'Fast and Furious' series and their upcoming latest release we believe is likely to influence copycats because of the movie glamourising this very dangerous activity," Moore said. "Movies like this are fantasies."

It makes sense for law enforcement agencies and others to take advantage of the movie's release to remind the public about the dangers of street racing, said Lili Trujillo Puckett, founder of Street Racing Kills, an advocacy group that shares testimony from survivors and relatives of street racing victims.

"Some people know it's movie magic, but there are some people who seek that thrill from speed after they watch a movie," Puckett said in an interview in May, as "Fast X" was hitting cinema screens around the world.

Puckett founded Street Racing Kills after her 16-year-old daughter, Valentina, was killed in a car crash in 2013 after the driver giving her a ride tried to race the car and wrecked it.

When she founded the group the following year, Puckett felt alone and didn't see many resources from law enforcement or lawmakers put into combating street takeovers and racing.

On Thursday, she joined the law enforcement chiefs on Melrose Avenue to add her voice to the efforts.

"It really feels amazing to see the California Highway Patrol, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and the LAPD coming together," Puckett said.

"We've seen an incremental increase in task forces to fight street racing, not just here in Los Angeles, but we're talking everywhere in the United States going after racing."

The "Fast and Furious" franchise had its humble beginnings in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Angelino Heights. The first movie, released in 2001, prominently featured the neighbourhood, which over the years has become a sort of mecca for street racers and movie fans who race through the streets and perform donuts with their cars.

During the filming of "Fast X" in August, protesters marched around the neighbourhood demanding more efforts by the city to combat copycats.

Rene Favela, a resident of the neighbourhood, was angry about black tyre marks on the street outside his home at the time.

But the city recently re-engineered the street, adding traffic bollards and other barriers that narrowed a large intersection in front of Bob's Market, an iconic location in the "Fast and Furious" movies.

"It's not as bad as it was before," Favela said Friday. "The work they did made it a little more challenging if anyone wants to try and do donuts in front of the store."

He's also noticed an increase in police patrolling the neighbourhood and ticketing speeders.

"What you're not going to change in that particular neighbourhood are the fans and the tourists, because the movies really popularised street racing," Favela said.

Illegal street races and takeovers spiked during the first few months of the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 and have spread across the country, according to law enforcement agencies.

The CHP responded to more than 7,300 reported incidents across the state in 2021, with nearly 123,000 people participating. The number of reported incidents dramatically dipped in 2022, according to the CHP, but the problem still poses a risk to the public.

"Our freeways, railways and bridges have been shut down illegally, causing in some cases folks not being able to make it to the emergency room, and in others just being flat-out late for work," California Highway Patrol Deputy Commissioner Troy Lukkes said during the news conference.

"These illegal and dangerous activities put people's lives at risk, damage public and private property, and in some cases even resulted in the death of innocent people." — LAT


Mercedes-Benz sold 477,400 cars in first quarter

                STUTTGART: Daimler AG announced that it recorded a good start to the year in January with its Mercedes-Benz brand ending the first quarter with worldwide retail unit sales of 477,378 cars - a reduction of 14.9% compared to the same period of last year.

It surged past BMW by a comfortable margin, outselling its Munich rival by 65,569 vehicles. BMW sold 411,809 vehicles in the same period, which was a year-on-year decline of 20.1%.

Daimler said that for its smart brand, the phase-out of predecessor models and the switch to solely battery-electric driving had a strong impact on sales during the same period.

Internationally, 5,863 units of the smart brand were delivered to customers (-78.3%) with its commercial vans unit sales (Citan, Vito and Sprinter) recording good sales in January with a total of 64,588 units delivered in the first quarter (-14.9%).

The Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and vans were reported as having started the year with a significant increase in global deliveries even though the current Covid-19 pandemic sweeping through Europe and the US have caused temporary closures of retail businesses to cause a significant impact on unit sales in March.

Despite the conditions, the Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans divisions sold a total of 547,829 units in the first quarter.

“The year 2020 started well and we were able to increase sales of our core model series especially in January. The impact of the corona crisis seriously weakened our unit sales already in March, and we, therefore, did not achieve our target numbers in the first quarter,” said Mercedes-Benz Vans head Marcus Breitschwerdt.

In Europe, it was reported that 188,963 premium automobiles with the three-pointed star were delivered to customers in the first quarter (-15.9%).

Particularly in Germany, the brand sold 64,332 cars from January to March (-8.8%) to become the premium brand with the most new-car registrations in the first quarter.

Within the Asia-Pacific region, the Stuttgarter company managed to end its first three months of the year with 198,849 premium vehicles sold (-17.1%).

Specifically for the China market, there were 138,960 units with the three-pointed star sold in the same period to record a -20.3% compared to the same period in the year before.

First-quarter deliveries in North America amounted to 78,501 vehicles, of which 67,746 were of the Mercedes-Benz brand in the US alone. This means that 4.8%-less cars were sold in the same period of last year.

"The repercussions of the coronavirus affect us all and will continue to stay with us in the coming weeks. We took measures to protect our customers and employees at an early stage," said Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG member of the board of management responsible for marketing and sales Britta Seeger.

"Together with our global retail partners, we have further strengthened our online activities. Through our digital platforms, we are always available for our customers, especially in the current situation. In China and South Korea, our dealerships are fully open and we see a significant increase in demand there. That gives us confidence,” he added.


Fresh convertibles breeze into town in what may spark new trend

                FRANKFURT: The coronavirus has already ruined the early season for car manufacturers and since they are so busy putting lots of money and resources into electrification, niche models like cabriolets are apt to get neglected.

Fortunately, there are some affordable and some exotic open-air models breezing into town - enthusiasts will just have to search a little harder for them in the showrooms.

Volume maker Volkswagen hopes to start a new trend towards open mooring this year with its neat, chopped version of the funky T-Roc compact crossover.

Wolfsburg dubs the four-seat car an "extrovert and emotive design" and it replaces the defunct Beetle and Golf cabriolets, which enjoyed great popularity.

The T-Roc drophead is the only crossover with a fully retractable roof and it plugs a gap that should ensure lively sales for one of the world’s largest makers.

It is ideal for fresh-air fans who cannot afford a luxury car since there is currently little choice of cabriolets in the mainstream market.

The T-Roc's roof goes down at the touch of the button and it takes just nine seconds to retract. Prices start at 27,496 euros (RM131,000) in Germany and buyers will have a choice initially of two petrol power plants, turning out 115hp or 150hp. The upmarket version will touch 205kph which should be more than enough to get the hair swirling.

The Italians are going through a hard time with the potentially-deadly Covid-19 virus but they still plan to launch an open-top Fiat 500 a little later this year. The car was due to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show before the event was postponed.

The one-pedal electric with a fabric top comes with a powerful 118hp motor and a 42Kwh battery which will enable 320km between fast charges. It is all new under the skin but the looks of this cheeky runabout have hardly changed since the car made its debut in 2007.

A well-equipped version will cost around 38,000 euros (RM180,000) but prices are expected to fall by as much as 20 per cent as sales of the car pick up.

Apart from these two debuts, the cupboard is bare as far as affordable open-toppers are concerned. Those with more money to spend have a larger choice.

The Mercedes-Benz E Class is set to appear as a new cabriolet later this year and Porsche is aiming to crown its range of 911 sportsters with a convertible version capable of topping 330kph.

Over at BMW, the open M8 with 625hp is entering the fray and Aston Martin is also building the V8 sports car Vantage – providing the British maker survives an existential crisis caused by lower-than-expected demand for its high-class products.

The all-new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is the eighth generation of the legendary US sports car and its comes with a removable Targa centre roof panel as standard. A convertible, fresh air version of the mid-engined C8 is imminent.

While Chevy enters a new era with the radically revamped Corvette, dyed-in-the-wool open top carmaker Morgan is still building cars much as it did around 100 years ago.

The new Plus Four, which is largely hand-built in central England at prices starting at 79,900 euros (RM378,000), looks like a 1930s roadster and is bound to become a modern classic. It only comes in drophead from.

The significant update here is a very capable new engine from BMW to give the two-seater performance to match its rakish looks.

The unit will be offered with turbocharging for the first time and extracts a heady 258hp from 2.0-litre displacement. This makes the new Plus Four much more powerful than its predecessor with similar fuel consumption and it allows a top speed of 240 km/h.

The maker says the real-world performance and dynamics of the new Morgan Roadster “have been taken to a completely new level.” The car sits on a new aluminium chassis but looks almost identical to the model it replaces.

The Morgan is a very physical man’s car and is designed to be driven with the roof down whenever possible. The top is not power operated, and it requires some effort get it in place. Pop fasteners are the old school way of keeping it from flapping in the wind.

The Morgan is certainly a bargain compared to the latest open sky offering from Bentley.

The Bacalan is a barchetta – a convertible without a top to put up - which means it is not really designed for inclement weather either. The car is based on the Continental GT Cabriolet and offers space for the driver and one passenger only.

The price is still secret but expect to pay around US$2 million (RM8.8mil) for the pleasure. Only 12 examples are being made. Power comes from a 12-cylinder engine churning out 659hp. Bentley’s exclusive Mulliner coachworks division is responsible for all this extravagance.

Soothing the conscience of Bacalan buyers are sustainable materials in the cabin like British wool and the 5,000-year-old wood for the dashboard "sourced from the ancient Fenlands of East Anglia."


Sirim to test automotive brake pads soon

                SHAH ALAM: Sirim Bhd will set up a special laboratory for automotive component manufacturers to test the endurance level of brake pads, said its Research and Innovation Technology Division vice-president Dr Mohamad Jamil Sulaiman.

He said, at present, Sirim was in the process of acquiring the necessary equipment for the laboratory to be set up next year. "We want to make sure that the brake pads function in accordance with the stipulated standards," he said.

Mohamad Jamil said brake pads purchased from workshop operators must meet the stipulated standards to reduce brake system failure which often resulted in road accidents. He said Sirim already has laboratories providing measurement and calibration services including photometric testing of LED lights.


Largest Audi dealership to be in Setia Alam

                KUALA LUMPUR: Audi Malaysia has appointed Rimau International as the latest authorised dealer to represent the Audi brand in Malaysia.

Having begun operations from a temporary facility in Setia Alam since the fourth quarter of 2016, this newest dealership marks the ninth exclusive Audi retailer in Malaysia.

As a full service albeit interim dealership, Audi Setia Alam’s temporary showroom is also equipped with two service bays and a growing team of 15 sales and aftersales consultants.

Sridheevan (Dave) Sivanantham, director of sales at Audi Malaysia shares, “We at Audi Malaysia are truly delighted to welcome Rimau International into the fold as our newest dealer partner. They bring with them a wealth of experience from Japan, where they also operate a number of Audi dealerships in Kyoto.”

Yasuhiko Osada, managing director of Rimau International mentions, “Back in Japan, we have represented the Audi brand for over 25 years. We have seen the brand with the four rings take on a leading position in the premium automotive segment, and I am very happy that our partnership has been able to bear fruit outside of our home market. Audi is known around the world as a progressive and aspirational brand and we are looking forward to combining our Japanese omotenashi (hospitality) approach with German Vorsprung durch Technik engineering to provide the definitive automotive retail and customer service experience in the Klang Valley.”

As the ninth official Audi sales outlet in Malaysia and the first from Rimau International, the upcoming Audi Setia Alam 4S centre will be a landmark 4-storey location, greeting motorists entering Setia Alam from the first quarter of 2018.

Once completed, this will be the largest Audi dealership in Malaysia, occupying an area of just over 100,000 sq ft, featuring a showroom floor with display capacity of up to 12 new cars, up to an additional 8 pre-owned cars at the Audi: approved plus section, a total of 20 service bays, as well as a premium reception area and lounge.

In line with the official opening of Audi Setia Alam, this dynamic new dealership will be organising the Audi Setia Alam Bonanza Weekend from 12 – 14 May 2017, showcasing all of the latest Audi A4 variants and the rest of Audi’s progressive range of vehicles, with fantastic promotions and exciting gifts.

For more information on the Audi Setia Alam Bonanza Weekend, please contact the dealership at 03-3362 6224.


BMW to build electric MINI in China

                MUNICH: BMW says it would build fully electric models of its MINI cars at a new plant in China, as it kicked off a joint venture with Chinese partner Great Wall Motor.

Some 160,000 cars a year are set to roll off the assembly line at the planned factory in the city of Zhangjiagang in Jiangsu province, which will eventually employ 3,000 people.

Construction of the plant is slated to last from 2020 to 2022, BMW said in a statement on Friday.

Both partners are together investing €650 million in the project.

Alongside BMW's all-electric MINI, the Chinese company will also build some of its own brand models at the plant.

"This is another important step towards the MINI brand's electrified future," the statement said.

The BMW group had already announced it would start making the first fully electric version of the iconic compact car at its MINI plant in Oxford, England this month.

Those first MINI E models are set to come to market early next year.

The Chinese tie-up comes as BMW joins other global carmakers in accelerating the shift to electric and hybrid vehicles, spurred by environmental concerns.

The costly pivot to the cleaner, smarter cars of tomorrow is hitting automakers hard at a time when the global industry is battling headwinds from a darkening economic outlook.

China is the world's largest car market but after years of strong growth, car sales there fell last year for the first time since the 1990s.

A slowing economy, US-China trade tensions, and a Chinese crackdown on shady credit practices have all weighed on demand.

BMW board member Nicolas Peter said the Chinese joint venture, known as Spotlight Automotive Limited, underscored "the enormous importance of the Chinese market for us".

Worldwide, BMW has set itself the goal of having more than one million fully-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids on the roads by the end of 2021.

Demand for its flagship BMW i3 electric car has jumped by around 20 percent this year compared with 2018, it said.


Innovative mobility solutions from Bosch

                SUZHOU: At the 2nd Bosch China Automotive Innovation Day, Bosch showed a range of innovative mobility solutions including the Bosch Generation 9 ABS (antilock braking system) for motorcycles.

The leading global supplier of automotive technologies and services also presented core strategies for future urban mobility at the event held in November 2016 in Suzhou.

The event, held by Bosch every two years, is the company’s largest technology experience in Asia-Pacific.

In the field of two-wheelers, Bosch provides solutions in drive systems and driving safety for eScooters, motorcycles, eBikes, and self-balancing cars.

Solely for the two-wheeler business, Bosch aims at global sales of one billion euros per year by 2020.

The company also developed active safety technologies for China in particular, including the motorcycle ABS which can prevent up to 48 percent of accidents resulting in casualties.

Bosch ABS for motorcycles

The Bosch Generation 9 ABS for motorcycles is the first antilock braking system to have been developed especially for motorcycles.

At a volume of 0.5 litre and weighing 700 grams, it is much smaller and lighter than previous systems that were based on car systems.

Thanks to its modular design and various degrees of functionality, this technology can be applied in every performance class – from low-cost entry-level motorcycles to supersport models.

Meanwhile, Bosch's motorcycle stability control (MSC) is the world’s first system to offer support in all riding situations: during both braking and accelerating, and while riding straight as well as while cornering.

The motorcycle’s handling – and thus all the pleasure of riding – remains unchanged.

The system is fitted in the 2014 models of the KTM 1190 Adventure and Adventure.

Bosch Automatic Park Assist Bosch Automatic Park Assist.

Bosch Automatic Park Assist uses 12 ultrasonic sensors and multi-camera systems, and enables automatic parking for pulling into and out of selected parking spaces.

Drivers have the option to remain in the car or get out ahead of time while the vehicle parks itself.

In extremely tight parking spaces, drivers can get out of their car, and remotely control the parking manouevre via their car key or smartphone.

The vehicle then parks and pulls itself out of the space on its own, without the need for anyone at the wheel.

Electric Power Steering

Bosch developed Servolectric with the servo unit on the steering column specifically for vehicles with lower steering effort.

It is therefore the ideal electric power steering solution in the entry-level segment and is suitable for use in compact and subcompact cars as well as in mid-size vehicles.

The servo unit and its electronic control unit are integrated in the steering column.

Software developed by Bosch allows the electric power steering system to be programed to the vehicle maker’s requirements.

The electric power steering system, due to its lower power consumption, reduced weight and less maintenance costs, is rapidly replacing the hydraulic power steering.


Aston Martin unveils 2022 F1 challenger

                LONDON: Aston Martin became the first team to show off their 2022 Formula One car in real life, when they took the wraps off their latest challenger on Thursday.

Christened the AMR-22, the new car has been designed to Formula One’s radical new rules featuring revised aerodynamics aimed at improving wheel-to-wheel racing and bigger 18-inch wheels.

The car continues to sport a similar British Racing Green livery to last year with the addition of Aramco branding, the Saudi energy giant the team unveiled as a title partner last week.

“The 2022 regulations are like no other that have gone before," said chief technical officer Andrew Green in a statement.

"A radical change of direction in both concept and application, probably the most significant change of chassis regulations ever implemented..."

Aston Martin are the third team to launch their 2022 campaign after Haas and Red Bull.

Haas kicked off the launch season, showing off a digital rendering of their new car, while Red Bull’s was more of a livery launch, featuring new title sponsor Oracle, on a show car.

Green said the AMR-22 displayed at the launch would evolve rapidly over the next few months as teams begin racing and testing the new-look cars.

Aston Martin, owned by billionaire Lawrence Stroll, finished seventh out of 10 teams in the overall standings last season.

But the Canadian, who bought the team out of administration in 2018 when they were known as Force India and rebranded them Aston Martin last year, wants them to be fighting for the championship in five years’ time.

The team hired four-time champion Sebastian Vettel last year to drive alongside Stroll’s son Lance.

They are also building a new factory and have hired top names from other teams.