Which driver assistance systems are the most important to have?

                BERLIN: According to statistics from the vehicle testing organisation Dekra, human error is the cause of more than 90 per cent of traffic accidents. So it’s for good reason that the automotive industry has long been installing and counting on driver assistance systems.

These systems are able to recognise critical driving and traffic situations at an early stage, warn against dangers and, if necessary, actively intervene. But which assistance systems are especially important?

"In addition to anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and electronic stability programs (ESP), the emergency brake assist system is indispensable, with pedestrian and cyclist recognition if possible," says Jens Koenig, head of accident analysis and accident research at Dekra.

Predictive emergency braking systems are based on adaptive cruise control systems, and are designed to prevent rear-end collisions or at least reduce the collision speed and thus the severity of the accident.

Accident investigations conducted in Germany have shown that more than half of motorists in rear-end collisions were either too hesitant when braking, or didn’t hit the brakes at all because they were distracted. Emergency brake systems can help by automatically applying maximum braking power, thus saving valuable centimetres that could make the difference between life and death.

Also useful are lane-departure warning systems, which alert drivers if they accidentally veer out of their lane on motorways. Especially on long and monotonous routes when the driver's attention might slip, this is a valuable helper.

The same applies to lane change and blind spot assistants. Vehicles approaching in areas that are difficult or impossible for the driver to see can be detected by sensors, which then alert the driver in order to prevent a collision.

Even so, checking over one’s shoulder is still essential to safe driving. Since the sensors can only detect objects a few metres on either side and to the rear, quickly approaching vehicles cannot be detected.

While other extras such as parking assistants, high-beam assistants, fatigue detection, traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control are often considered comfort features, they can also do a lot to improve traffic safety.

But no matter which electronic assistants are on board, it’s always important that drivers don't rely on them, and stay fully in control of their vehicle and their manoeuvres.

"Just as important as knowing about the functionality of assistance systems is for drivers to know and understand their performance spectrum and, above all, their limits," says Koenig.


Skoda takes the wraps off Kodiaq SUV

                BERLIN: With up to seven seats and the largest boot in its class, the Skoda Kodiaq is the brand’s first large SUV.

The long wheelbase and short overhangs point to the large interior and the wheel arches are slightly angular – a key element of Skoda’s SUV design language.

LEDs are used as standard in the C-shaped rear light design.

The Kodiaq is 4,697mm long, 1,882mm wide and 1,676mm tall (including roof rails); its wheelbase measures 2,791mm.

The Kodiaq is based on Volkswagen Group’s modular transverse matrix (MQB) in which strict lightweight construction plays an important role.

With the entry-level TSI engine and front-wheel drive, the large SUV weighs just 1,452kg (without driver), or 1,540kg with the 1.4 TSI engine and all-wheel drive.

With a volume of 720 to 2,065 litres (5-seater with the rear seats folded down), the Kodiaq offers the largest boot within its class.

Driver assistance systems include Trailer Assist: when the Kodiaq is towing a trailer, the system can take over steering when reversing slowly.

The Area View system is also a first for the brand: the surround-view cameras, which are located in the front and rear as well as the wing mirrors of the Kodiaq, come with wide-angle lenses and allow views of the area immediately surrounding the car to be displayed on the monitor.

Front Assist including City Emergency Brakecomes as standard and, using radar, can detect dangerous situations involving pedestrians or other vehicles in front of the car.

If necessary, the system warns the driver and, when required, partially or fully applies the brakes.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is also radar assisted and helps the driver to maintain the selected speed and the desired gap between the ŠKODA Kodiaq and the car in front.

Lane Assist, Blind Spot Detect and Rear Traffic Alert help the driver to stay in lane, make changing lanes safer using the rear radar and help when manoeuvring in reverse. If you have an accident, the Multi-Collision Brake, which comes as standard, prevents any further uncontrolled movement of the Kodiaq.

The camera-based Travel Assist with Traffic Sign Recognition displays speed limits and other road signs as images on the in-car computer as well as the navigation system.

Five powertrains, two TDI and three TSI engines, make up the engine range at the launch of the Kodiaq.

They have capacities of 1.4 and 2.0 l, and power output ranges from 125PS to 190PS.

Depending on the engine, there is a 6-speed manual gearbox or DSG transmissions with six or seven speeds.


VW Tiguan Allspace R-Line gets USB-C ports

                KUALA LUMPUR: The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace R-Line has received minor upgrades.

It is now fitted with USB-C data and charging ports and a new radio update which now comes with wireless App-Connect for Apple Car Play. Two USB-C ports are located in the centre console and one in the rear air conditioning vent.

The highest performance vehicle in its segment., the Allspace R-Line is powered by a 2.0TSI turbocharged direct injection engine mated with a 7-speed wet clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG) to produce 217hp and torque of 350Nm.

A key highlight is its 4MOTION all-wheel drive system which makes it ready for the rough and tumble of offroad travel.

In other Volkswagen news, owners who send their cars for service will enjoy 20% off Volkswagen genuine engine oil from now until June 13.

Owners who spend a minimum of RM1,200 will receive a complimentary car care kit that consists of wax polish, wax shampoo, glass polish, plastic care, and leather care solutions in 50ml bottles. Owners will also receive free Raya packets.


New design Shell Advance packs launched

                KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Advance is embarking on a Peninsular Malaysia-wide roadshow to promote its newly introduced, specially designed limited edition packs of its best-selling motorcycle engine oils.

From now till November, the Shell Advance mobile truck will be visiting more than 100 locations across Peninsular Malaysia to promote four variants of Shell Advance motorcycle engine oils that now come in limited edition packs – Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus Technology 10W-40 (1L) and 15W-50 (1L), Shell Advance AX7 10W-40 (1L) and Shell Advance AX5 Scooter 15W-40 (0.8L).

The roadshow will be visiting selected motorcycle workshops, Shell retail stations and even favourite bikers’ hangouts to promote the oils.

Those who purchase Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus Technology during the roadshow would get a free steam wash for their bikes.

They can also try out the virtual reality race simulator and have the opportunity to spin the wheel for prizes. For more information on the roadshow schedules, please go to www.shell.com.my/shelladvanceroadshow.

In addition to the roadshow, you could also be one of the 500 lucky customers who will win a pair of Main Grandstand tickets to the upcoming 2016 Shell Malaysia MotoGP at Sepang International Circuit.

From now till Oct 15, purchase any of the four Shell Advance variants or even the Shell Advance AX5 15W40 (1L), be it a normal or Limited Edition pack during the roadshow or at your favourite Shell station or workshop.

Complete the entry form by answering a simple question, attach your Shell Advance purchase receipt and submit it by hard copy at participating outlets. You can also submit your entry online at www.shell.com.my/motogp along with a photograph of your receipt.

The introduction of the limited edition Shell Advance packs, with four new designs to excite passionate bikers, celebrated Shell’s 125-year presence in Malaysia, its technology leadership and also strong association with the world of motorcycle racing.

The designs of the flagship Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus Technology 10W-40 and 15W-50, in particular, pay tribute to Shell’s 18-year partnership with Ducati on the racing tracks.

The fully synthetic Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus Technology is the only motorcycle engine oil in the market today with an ultra-clean base oil made from natural gas.

Shell’s patented PurePlus Technology is a revolutionary gas-to-liquid (GTL) process that converts natural gas into crystal-clear base oil. GTL base oil combined with the unique Active Cleansing Agent delivers higher levels of cleansing and superior wear and corrosion protection.

The upcoming 2016 Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix will see Shell Malaysia as the title sponsor for the second consecutive year, further cementing the company’s long-standing involvement at the forefront of world motorcycle racing.


Volkswagen roadshow at 1 Utama from Oct 13-17

                PETALING JAYA: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is organising a five-day Volkswagen Tour at the 1 Utama Shopping Centre (Centre Court, Old Wing) here from Oct 13 to 17.

Customers who book their next vehicle during the roadshow will enjoy RM1,000 event-exclusive rebate for selected models, as well as additional discounts of up to RM10,000, free one-year insurance, and 0% sales tax exemption.

Test drive is available at the event where interested parties may experience in-person the new Arteon R-Line 4Motion, Passat Elegance, Passat R-Line, Tiguan Allspace Highline, and Tiguan Allspace R-Line.

To ensure the health and safety of everyone, the roadshow will be organised in strict adherence to all Government standard operating procedures (SOPs) and #SafeHands measures.

Visit the Volkswagen event page for more information.


Leona Chin is a Waze voice but only for 3 months

                PETALING JAYA: Motorsport celebrity Leona Chin has added her voice to Waze in a long list of famous people who have been roped in to add some novelty to the app.

Chin had agreed to work with the community-based navigation app to help Malaysians stay safe during UN Road Safety Week, which runs from May 6-12.

Chin's Waze Voice option is only available in Malaysia and will be accessible for 3 months.

Chin would be giving Malaysian Wazers a dose of her bubbly personality as a new voice option to help Malaysians navigate more safely and efficiently while on the road throughout the country.

Dispelling the more serious and masculine bent in motorsports, Chin’s navigation voice prompts are cheerful to put drivers in a good mood as she informs about traffic conditions while offering drivers practical safety tips and reminders such as watching their speed and ensuring their seatbelts are on.

"I want all Malaysian drivers to remember never to take road safety for granted!”, said the professional racing driver who hails from Selangor.

You might recalled AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes also contributed his voice to Waze in September 2016. Other famous people or film characters who have worked with Waze included singer-songwriter Yuna, Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, and C-3P0 droid from Star Wars.

On a side note, you could even use your own voice in Waze. Find out how to turn on Leona Chin's voice in Waze or your own in this link.


5,000 Daimler buses equipped with active filters and protective driver doors

                STUTTGART: Daimler Buses is fitting active filters into its buses to protect bus drivers from infectious diseases.

The filters operate in conjunction with the air conditioning systems.

Over 5,000 buses of the Mercedes-Benz and Setra brands now have the multi-layer, progressively constructed high-performance filters on board as a retro-fit. The buses include those plying urban routes, touring coaches and long distance scheduled buses.

They include an anti-viral functional layer that filters out up to 99 percent of the aerosols in the interior.

A clearly visible sticker in the boarding area identifies vehicles with this equipment in which the air can be completely renewed in one to four minutes.

In addition, Daimler Buses is also offering driver-protection doors with fully glazed partition walls made of safety glass or polycarbonate for new vehicles and as a retrofit solution.


As SUV madness rages, can Opel's new Sports Tourer revive the estate?

                BERLIN: While other manufacturers are getting rid of their estate models and focusing on SUVs, Opel is going in the opposite direction.

The German car maker is bringing out a new estate as part of the eleventh generation of the Astra with prices starting at €27,750 (RM124,000).

At 4.64 metres, the Sports Tourer is almost 30cm longer than the basic five-door model and costs €1,100 (RM4,907) more.

Opel realises that estate cars are out of fashion so it has done everything it can to defy that stuffy image.

The designers have given the body a decidedly sporty cut with sharp contours and crisp proportions. With its black plastic Opel Vizor grille framed by narrow headlights, the car has a self-confident and modern appearance.

The Astra also has this modern look inside. The centrepiece is the Pure Panel where the digital instruments appear as a uniform display element above the steering wheel and centre console.

The instruments can be configured individually. The system works much more simply and unerringly than the interior technology of a VW Golf and looks a lot more appealing than the old-fashioned dashboard of a Ford Focus.

But the Sports Tourer doesn't live on its modern image alone, it has other worthwhile qualities. Developed with the aim of becoming the load master of the compact class, it offers plenty of space.

The rear seats are a little more spacious than in the five-door model and it’s also easier to get in. The boot provides 608 to 1,634 litres of storage space, and there are a number of clever details in addition to the many storage compartments.

For example, the boot floor can be adjusted to two different heights or tilted to 45 degrees to prevent boxes and suitcases from sliding around.

Just as with the general look and feel, Opel is also fighting the dusty image of estate cars with the powertrain options.

That's why the Sports Tourer will be one of the first estates to be available with an electric drive. Until that goes on sale next year with 100 kW/136 hp and a range of around 400 kilometres, a plug-in hybrid will be available.

This will initially be available with 165 kW/225hp and an electric range of around 60km, and later also with 132 kW/180hp and the same range.

The Sports Tourer can hit 100kph in 7.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 225kph. At the same time, it’s surprisingly economical with an average consumption of 1.1 litres per 100km.

There are also two petrol engines with a displacement of 1.2 litres and 81 kW/110hp or 96 kW/130hp, as well as a 1.5-litres diesel with 96 kW/130 hp. All three are cheaper than the hybrid, but their moderate performance will bring less excitement.

All in all, the Opel Sports Tourer looks good, is equipped with modern features, and will soon even be fully electric.

It shows that there's still life in the estate and that the best family car in the compact class doesn't always have to be an SUV — especially when that car is cheaper and uses less fuel.


500,000th Mercedes-Benz G-Class rolls off production line

                STUTTGART/GRAZ: The 500,000th Mercedes-Benz G-Class has rolled off the production line in Graz, Austria, 44 years after its market launch

The veteran off-roader, which has won many awards as the “best off-road vehicle in the world”, has been writing its very own success story since 1979. The G-Class owes its cult status among its growing fan community primarily to its unique combination of distinctive design and outstanding off-road capability.

The anniversary vehicle recalls the origins of the off-road icon: the model for the vintage look of the one-off is the 280 GE from the 1986 model year, from which the 500,000th descendant incorporates iconic design elements such as the exterior colour and the seat pattern.

The G-Class is approaching its 45th production anniversary, which is coming up in 2024. It will also remain true to itself in the associated model update. The motto will continue to be: technical development with unchanged character.

The 500,000th “G” is inspired by a G-Class from the early years. It features some striking design features from its historic predecessor, which has long enjoyed the status of an automotive classic.

The historic paint in agave green, one of the first paint colours available for the G-Class, is a real eye-catcher.

Among the more subtle details of the exterior design are the turn signals. Their shape has remained the same to this day, but not their colour: on the anniversary vehicle, the covers of the direction indicators feature a shade of orange no longer used today, i.e., the look typical of 1970s automobiles.

The historic spare wheel cover with the Mercedes star, which is significantly larger than on today’s models, the brand badge on the rear door and the 5-spoke sterling silver wheel also evoke the early days of the G-Class.

The interior of the 500,000th vehicle is also inspired by the 280 GE. For example, the middle section of the seat is upholstered in the chequered fabric typical of the time, while the grab handle on the passenger side features the lettering “No. 500,000” in agave green.

The “Schöckl” door sill trim, on the other hand, is an integral part of the G manufaktur’s current customisation range. This also applies to the door knob with logo embossing: in the logo package available today, however, this is available in silver — in the anniversary model it is black.

Alongside the S-Class and the E-Class, the G-Class is one of the longest-produced and longest-established passenger car model series in Mercedes-Benz history.

Even with the first G model, the development team designed a vehicle that combined superior off-road capability with on-road driving comfort and high safety standards.

At the market launch in spring 1979, customers could choose between four engine variants with a power range from 53 kW/72 hp to 110 kW/150 hp. Both short-wheelbase cabriolets and short- or long-wheelbase station wagons were available.

Over the course of the past four decades, the G-Class has established itself from a pure commercial vehicle to a lifestyle object.

However, it has retained its distinctive character and typical appearance to this day. All-wheel drive, differential locks with 100 per cent locking effect and the robust ladder frame have been part of the G-Class since the beginning.

Iconic design elements such as the round headlamps, the exposed spare wheel on the side-hinged rear door and the clear, angular silhouette ensure that the off-road vehicle icon is still recognisable today as a direct heir of the first G model.

In terms of performance and technology, the G-Class has been continuously developed over the years.

The greatest technological leap in the model’s history came with the new run of the G-Class, which celebrated its world premiere at the Detroit Auto Show in 2018: headlamps with LED technology, modern driver assistance systems, a fundamentally redesigned, modern interior and a new chassis provide more safety and comfort as well as improved driving characteristics both on and off the road.

An all-electric G-Class will roll off the production line in 2024 alongside the combustion engine models.

The all-electric version, which remains fully in the design tradition of the series, will set new standards with its off-road capabilities: four individually controlled electric motors close to the wheels enable unique driving characteristics, while the batteries integrated in the ladder frame ensure a low centre of gravity.

The electric motors provide their maximum torque practically with the first revolution and deliver tremendous power, controllability and responsiveness. All of this makes the off-road icon optimally prepared for the adventures of the future.


2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed: Maserati Levante GTS world premiere

                LONDON: Maserati had a world premiere of its V8 engined Levante GTS at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed held at West Sussex, England.

The new Levante GTS is essentially a sibling of the Levante Trofeo, billed as the ultimate Maserati of SUVs.

To get an idea of what the Levante GTS offers, let us look at the Levante Trofeo which had its world premiere earlier in March at the 2018 New York International Auto Show.

 Maserati Levante GTS.

The Levante Trofeo is simply a slightly faster and more aggressive-looking sibling of the Levante GTS.

READ MORE:

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Maserati updates 2019 Levante with new styling and kit

Both the Levante Trofeo and GTS have an exciting Ferrari-built 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox.

Like all Maserati petrol engines, this V8 is assembled by Ferrari in Maranello and in the top-of-the-line Levante Trofeo, it delivers an incredible 590hp at 6,250rpm and 730Nm of peak torque at 2,250 – 5,000rpm.

In the Levante GTS, the same V8 engine is tuned to deliver 40hp less (with 550hp), with peak torque reached at a slightly higher 2,500rpm.

What this means is that the Levante GTS is just marginally slower than the Trofeo version.

 Maserati Levante GTS.

The Levante GTS completes the 0-100kph sprint in 4.2 seconds, onwards to a top speed of over 292kph (compared with the Levante Trofeo which can do the 0-100kph sprint in only 3.9 seconds, onwards to a top speed of over 300kph).

Meanwhile, to underline its king-of-the-hill status, the Trofeo version gets an exclusive Sport Corsa driving mode (Levante GTS only gets a Sport mode) with Launch Control functionality in addition to the existing Normal, I.C.E., Sport and Off Road modes.

The Corsa driving mode further improves engine response and opens exhaust valves in acceleration, as well as provides faster gear shifting, lower air suspension height levels, sportier Skyhook damping and optimised Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive settings and interacts with Traction Control and ESP systems to maximise driving pleasure.

 Maserati Levante GTS.

Also, in terms of looks, the Levante Trofeo has a muscular street fighter bearing with ultralight, high-gloss carbon fibre material for the lower splitter, side skirt inserts and the rear extractor - giving it a polished racing look.

The Trofeo also stands out for its sportier engine bonnet, featuring two heat extractors for better cylinder head cooling.

The 22-inch Orione forged aluminium wheel – the largest ever created by Maserati – is exclusively available for the new Levante GTS and Trofeo.

 Maserati Levante GTS.

And if you aren't bored with reading just how fast and powerful Maserati has made the flagship versions of its only SUV, try and accept the fact that the bigger, heavier Levante GTS has a better weight-to-power ratio than a two-door Porsche 911 Carrera sports car.

A 3.0-litre 6-cylinder, twin-turbo engined Porsche 911 Carrera weighs 1,525kg and outputs 370hp; thus giving it a weight-to-power ratio of 4.1kg per hp.

Whereas the Levante GTS has a kerb weight of 2,170kg and outputs 550hp; thus giving it a weight-to-power ratio of 3.94kg per hp.

Maserati isn't exaggerating when it says the Levante GTS is a supercar disguised in a high-end SUV body.

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Nissan to colour up Versa Note

                NASHVILLE: Nissan returns to the Los Angeles Auto Show to debut an expansion of the Nissan Color Studio, which now includes the 2016 Versa Note.

As with the JUKE Color Studio introduced a year ago in Los Angeles, the Versa Note Color Studio allows owners to "make it yours" through an a la carte selection of 13 exterior and interior accent accessories, each available in a choice of six vibrant colors. For example, a Super Black Versa Note exterior can be trimmed in orange-accented 15-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and orange front lip finisher, mirror caps, door handles, rear hatch accent and rear roof spoiler. Inside, the owner might choose to apply orange kick plates, speaker rings and air vent rings.

The Color Studio accessories are offered for all 2016 Versa Note grade levels, including the sporty Versa Note SR, as well as available for retrofitting on 2014 and 2015 Versa Notes.

"The expansion of the Color Studio program to the active lifestyle Versa Note builds on the success of last year's JUKE Color Studio," said Pierre Loing, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. "As we found with JUKE, a little color – or a lot – dramatically changes the look of a vehicle and there's no easier way to make a ride stand out than the convenient, affordable Color Studio process. We believe Versa Note owners are going to embrace the concept just as much as JUKE owners do."

As with JUKE Color Studio, the cost of the accessories can be added to the Versa Note purchase or lease costs and rolled into the payment of the vehicle. Dealer labour charges apply if installation is done at the dealership.

The Versa Note Color Studio palette of available accessory colors includes Black, White, Red, Black-Purple, Orange and Carbon Fiber Look. The full list of available accessories is:

> Exterior: Aluminum-alloy wheels (15-inch), wheel centre caps, front lip finisher, door handle covers, side mirror caps (with and without turn signal), and rear roof spoiler
> Interior: Floor mats, kick plates, speaker rings, air vent rings, rearview mirror interior cover and interior trim appliques

Another feature of the Color Studio program, available for both Versa Note and JUKE, is a special website (NissanUSA.com/VersaNoteColorStudio) that offers a full 360-degree view of the vehicles with all colors and combinations of parts for configuration.

The site is available for viewing on smartphones and sharing on social platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest and Google+, as well as in Nissan dealer showrooms. The Versa Note section of the Color Studio site goes live on Nov 17.


Attempt to vacuum out petrol from diesel car leads to blast

                HAMBURG: A motorist in Germany set off an explosion at a petrol station after he attempted to extract super grade fuel from his diesel vehicle using a vacuum cleaner.

A passenger was slightly injured in the incident in the western German town of Witten, police said on Monday.

All those involved fled the petrol station.

Police believe the motorist accidentally filled up with petrol late last Saturday and then, realising the error, rolled the car to the gas station's automatic vacuum cleaner.

"He inserted the hose of the stationary vacuum cleaner into the tank nozzle and switched on the device to suck out the petrol," police said.

As a result, he triggered an explosion, they said. One of two women accompanying the man was injured in the incident, they said.


Japan's Renesas, India's Tata Elxsi partner in EV design centre

                TOKYO: Japanese chipmaker Renesas Electronics Corp announced on Thursday it will set up a design centre with India's Tata Elxsi Ltd to jointly develop electric vehicle (EV) technology as appetite for the EV market continues to grow.

The centre in Bangalore will be a new hub for the two companies to develop crucial EV systems, such as battery management systems and motor control units.

In a statement announcing the move, Renesas Electronics said that it will strive to provide practical solutions sought by the EV market, and hopes to eventually spread the rewards of the development partnership across the globe.


BMW unveils latest Z4 (G29) bound for US market

                DETROIT: BMW has officially unveiled its upcoming Z4 (G29) sDrive30i Roadster that's due to arrive in the US in March with the Z4 M40i Roadster following suit next year.

BMW says that it paid close attention to two-seater body, powertrain and chassis to ensure it arrives with genuine sports car performance pedigree.

This means that the German carmaker has made it larger at 4,336mm-long (+97mm), 1,864mm-wide (+74mm) and 1,306mm-tall (+15mm).

Although larger, it sits on a shortened 2,469mm (-26mm) wheelbase - still with a claimed perfect 50:50 weight balance, with the front and rear tracks significantly widened to 1,618mm (front) and 1,613mm (rear) from the older E89's at 1,511mm (front) and 1,562mm (rear).

The more powerful M40i Roadster will sport a closer 1,595mm (front) and 1,582mm (rear) track.

The sDrive30i will roll on 18 x 8.0inch (front) and 18 x 9.0 inch (rear) wheels with a staggered setup of 225/45 (front) and 255/40 (rear) tyres.

The M40i will use wider 18 x 9.0inch (front) and 18 x 10inch (rear) wheels and will be fitted with 255/40 (front) and 275/40 (rear) tyres.

Optional front 18 x 9.0inch wheels with 255/40 tyres and rear 18 x 10inch wheels with 275/40 series tyres can be had for the sDrive30i.

As for the M40i, the wheels can be upgraded to front 19 x 9.0inch with 255/35 tyres and rear 19 x 10inch with 275/35 tyres.

Regardless of tyre size, the Z4 will have a cruising altitude of 119mm off the ground.

Powerwise, the 1,491kg (kerb) SDrive30i, that will be arriving first, will have a standard 50-litre fuel tank feeding the 2.0-litre (1,998cc) B46 four-cylinder turbocharged mill.

With a compression ratio of 10.2:1 and higher pressure injectors (350bar / 5,076 psi), the engine is now capable of producing 255hp (+15hp) from 5,000 to 6,500rpm and 400Nm (+47Nm) of torque from 1,500 to 4,400rpm.

The heavier M40i at 1,562kg (kerb) will use a 3.0-litre (2,998cc) B58 inline-six engine with a higher compression ratio of 11.0:1 that have been fitted with a more reactive turbocharger, water-cooled exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head and the same higher pressure injectors.

The result is 382hp from 5,000 to 6,500rpm and 500Nm of torque from 1,600 to 4,500rpm. Hence the wider tyres.

Both engines will be managed by an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with paddle-shifters and launch control to allow the Z4 to sprint from standstill to 100kph in 5.3 seconds (sDrive30i) / 4.0 seconds (M40i) before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250kph.

The same transmission fitted in the M40i will be configured with M-specific shift-characteristics to complement the straight-six engine’s power delivery.

For handling, the Z4 has been fitted with a newly designed double-joint spring strut suspension at the front and a new five-link suspension in the rear, a first for a BMW Roadster.

The Munich-based carmaker says that this chassis combination offers the best balance between sports car handling and ride comfort.

The front suspension subframe and control arm mounting points are extremely rigid, which lends to precise cornering characteristics as well as having a beneficial effect on the drivetrain’s acoustics.

The sports car tuning of the front suspension dynamics aids the new Z4 Roadster’s steering precision. Aluminum control arms and swivel bearings reduce unsprung weight resulting in superior agility and efficiency.

The new rear suspension also employs a lightweight aluminum/steel design. The large supporting base and very rigid structure of the rear axle subframe as well as the bracing used for connecting it to the body result in extremely precise wheel guidance.

Another standard feature is the sport steering with variable power assist and ratio. This particular version of the power steering system is designed to promote not just straight-line stability, but also precise feedback during cornering and low-speed maneuvering.

The Adaptive M Sport suspension, M Sport brakes and M Sport differential are all standard on the M40i and as an added upgrade option for the sDrive30i.

Driving modes will include COMFORT, SPORT and SPORT+ modes and the two latter modes will drop the roadster's ride-height by 10mm with the Adaptive M Sport suspension which includes electronically controlled dampers.

The electronically controlled M Sport rear differential is said to give the handling of the new BMW Z4 an even sharper sporting edge.

An electric motor generates a locking effect in the differential that equalizes torque distribution between the inside and outside rear wheels when cornering, making it possible to power out of bends with greater momentum.

The active differential lock also works effectively in reducing both understeer and oversteer.

The list of options includes Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Lane Change and Lane Departure Warning systems, as well as a Parking Assistant including Back-Up Assistant.

The new BMW Z4 is also the first Roadster to be made available with an optional BMW Head-Up Display.

Lookswise, there are a number of signature details that forms the defining features of the new Z4.

Firstly, the Z4 possesses a sculpted front end with large air intakes, a low, broad BMW kidney grill and headlights positioned at the outer edges to showcase the carmaker's new design direction.

The new mesh-design BMW kidney grill combines a track-inspired honeycomb pattern with a three-dimensional structure, whose elements have a vertical arrangement reminiscent of traditional BMW kidney grill bars.

The design of the headlight units are a first for the brand, with the two light sources positioned one above the other.

The vertical design is cut off at the top by a diagonal accent strip with integral direction indicator.

The new Z4 is equipped with LED headlights as standard and Adaptive LED headlights available as an option.

The long hood with arrow-shaped contour lines directed at the kidney grill straddles the wheel arches in a “clamshell” style characteristic of classical sports cars of the past.

An upper character line runs from the bottom of the hood to the tail lights, while a second, lower character line emerges from the large air vents behind the front wheel arches - all of which mimics the flow of air sweeping along the new Z4.

The 280-litre boot has a lid with an integrated spoiler and the slender, horizontally arranged light assemblies in the BMW brand’s customary L-shape help to give the tail of the new BMW Z4 Roadster a wide appearance.

The rear end’s look is strengthened by the side surrounds and the trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes flanking the diffuser.

There is a choice of eight colors for the exterior, including Frozen Grey for M Sport models.

The powered soft-top roof can be opened and closed in 10 seconds at speeds of up to 50kph and comes in Black as standard or Anthracite with silver effect as an option.

The Z4 sDrive30i arrives with Sport Line as standard with added performance enhancements that include the optional M Sport or Track Handling packages.

The highlights of the M Sport package include a three-section air intake for the front apron, prominent side skirt contouring, a rear apron with highly distinctive side surrounds, 19-inch M light-alloy wheels, M Sport or Adaptive M suspension, an M Sport steering wheel and Active Driving Assistant.

The Track Handling package includes M Sport brakes, Adaptive M suspension and the M Sport differential.

The Z4's driver-centric cockpit can be upholstered in SensaTec and Vernasca leather with a special Vernasca/Alcantara upholstery available for M Sport vehicles.

Features and fittings include a push-start button, a standard 205-watt 10-speaker hi-fi audio system, electric sports seats featuring integral head rests, cup holders under the center armrest cover (which folds open in two sections) and larger door pockets.

Under the options list, owners can opt for dual-zone automatic climate controls, automatically dimming and folding exterior mirrors and a keyless-entry system with soft-top operation via key FOB.

Also included are the instrument panel LED fiber-optic accent strips, 12-speaker 464-watt Harman Kardon surround sound system with digital amplifier, M sports seats with electro-pneumatic backrest width adjustment and a boot-through loading system to help with handling longer items,

Safety comes with the standard availability of Anti-lock Braking System, Dynamic Traction Control, Cornering Brake Control and Dynamic Brake Control, Forward Collision Warning and Daytime Pedestrian Detection with City Braking function and Lane Departure Warning system as standard.

This can be further bolstered by Driving Assistance Package that includes Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Speed Limit Info system, Active Blind Spot Detection, Rear Collision Protection and Cross-Traffic Alert.

The range of functions also includes the Back-up Assistant, which offers the highly convenient option of automated reversing in situations where there is little margin for error or the driver does not have a clear view.

To do this, the system stores the steering movements for the section of road the car has just driven forward.

It then traces these last forward movements when reversing and keeps the car on exactly the same path for a distance of up to 150 feet.

All the driver has to do is operate the accelerator and brake pedals and keep an eye on the area around the car.

The BMW Live Cockpit Professional in the all-new 2019 BMW Z4 combines a new display and control concept

The latest-generation of the iDrive comprises of a high-resolution digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster display and a 10.25-inch centre display.

The system offers many hardware upgrades including new haptic controls on the iDrive controller and a tablet-like touch interface.

The seventh incarnation of iDrive, which runs the latest BMW Operating System, has a fully digital design that has customizable widgets of information.

This new level of personalization is then stored in the BMW Cloud and can follow the customer to other BMW vehicles.

Various information from categories such as driving, entertainment, navigation, connectivity, and the vehicle info itself, can be selected in nearly any combination in any of four layouts on the Center Display.

To maximize the capabilities of the large 12.3” digital instrument cluster, the traditional circular gauges have been finessed into an all-new design pushing the speedometer and tachometer gauges to the outer edges of the display as geometric bands.

This new design opens space in the middle for routing and navigation, if desired.

Information from the center display can also be shown within the tachometer. Additionally, the chosen driving mode will determine the visual display style.

Other elements of the BMW Live Cockpit Professional are the Navigation Professional system, a hard-drive-based multimedia system with 20GB of memory and two USB ports, plus Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay interfaces.

The driver can be automatically identified and personal settings activated either using the traditional key FOB or by downloading the driver’s personal settings from the BMW Cloud.

Drivers can enjoy the full benefits of the car’s intelligent connectivity capabilities through vehicle apps such as news, weather, office and online search.

Other capabilities include Intelligent Emergency Call – which automatically summons swift assistance in an emergency – and regular updates for the navigation system’s maps.

The Connected Package Professional includes Remote Services, Concierge Services, On-street Parking Information, and Real Time Traffic Information and is standard on the all-new Z4 for a duration of four years (US Market).

Customers can continue to download various new digital services individually as they become available or renew existing services via the ConnectedDrive Store.

With regards to BMW Connected, it is an all-embracing concept designed to seamlessly connect the driver and their smartphone with their vehicle.

At the heart of it all is the Open Mobility Cloud, which allows the app to connect the car with the customer’s digital devices.

These could include the iPhone and Apple Watch, smartphones and smartwatches running the Android operating system, Alexa-compatible smart devices and Google Home.

For instance, the BMW Connected app can import appointments and addresses from the customer’s calendar entries straight into the navigation system to begin route guidance.

The system calculates the optimum departure time based on real-time traffic information and notifies the driver with a message on their smartphone when it is time to leave.

As the vehicle is linked up via the Open Mobility Cloud, it is able to access the calculated route directly when the navigation system starts up.

Lastly, the Z4 is Remote Software Upgrade capable, which is a feature that helps keeps the vehicle up to date with the latest software.

All updates can be loaded over the air, similar to smartphones and the upgrades can be loaded onto a smartphone via the BMW Connected app when connected to a Wi-Fi network or imported directly via the BMW’s built-in SIM card.


How you should specify your 2017 car

                LONDON: With so many new features available on new cars as options, bundles or standard equipment, it can be difficult if not impossible to understand what all of the jargon means, know what systems do and, most importantly, whether you need them.

As 2016 becomes 2017, everything from Emergency Autonomous Braking to Active Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and more are about to become available on even the most mundane new automotive models.

"What once seemed like something only for 'The Jetsons' is quickly becoming everyday reality in the automotive landscape," said Brian Moody, executive editor for Autotrader. "And it's not just vehicles with a high price-point; now many mainstream family cars are equipped with technology features only seen on top-of-the-line luxury vehicles just a few short years ago."

According to Moody, in terms of safety, security, convenience and comfort, a host of these latest features are going to be must-haves for the year ahead.

For example, even if you don't need semi-autonomous assistance when it comes to parallel parking, picking a car that offers the feature could ensure that it attracts a resale premium when it comes to trading up again.

But when presented with a new car and its options list, what do all the names mean and which boxes should be left unchecked?

Self-driving features

Current systems - such as on the latest BMWs Mercedes, Volvos and Teslas - can handle highway motoring, keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front and automatically slowing as traffic increases and can even follow the bend of a road. If you regularly commute and take the highway to do so, the benefits will become immediately clear.

Autonomous safety features

It doesn't matter how you use your car - if features that can actively mitigate the risk of a serious accident are offered, take them.

Specifically, autonomous emergency braking, which can automatically bring a car to a halt before it hits another vehicle at lower speeds or can slow the car down significantly before impact at highway speeds.

Other features worth consideration are Blind Spot Monitoring, adaptive cruise control, which can automatically alter the pre-programmed speed based on the speed of the vehicle in front, and Lane Keeping Assist.


California becomes first US state to hit 1 million plug-in cars

                SAN FRANCISCO: California has become the first US state to register more than a million plug-in cars, with almost one-quarter of them arriving in 2021 alone, as electric vehicle sales finally accelerate after years of slow growth.

In California’s case, reaching the 1-million milestone took 11 years.

As of Dec 31, California drivers had registered 663,014 purely electric cars and 379,125 plug-in hybrids, which use gasoline when not running on electricity.

Of those, 183,933 battery-electric cars and 63,141 plug-in hybrids were bought or leased in 2021, according to data from the California Energy Commission.

Together, they accounted for more than 12% of all light-duty vehicles sold in the state last year.

Electric vehicle sales in several key markets around the world are now showing rapid growth, as the number of available models expands and consumers become comfortable with the technology.

BloombergNEF estimates that the inflection point where EV sales take off can happen once they represent at least 10% of new car sales, with China and Europe already passing that mark.

The first of the current wave of plug-ins — the Nissan LEAF and the Chevrolet Volt — began deliveries in California at the end of 2010 in response to a state regulation forcing automakers to sell zero-emission vehicles in the state or buy credits from companies that did.

 Ford's car-to-car charging.

Tesla started building its Model S electric sedan in the San Francisco Bay area in 2012 and soon dominated California’s EV sales, making almost 75% of all battery-electric cars sold in the state last year.

And the state’s eco-conscious, tech-obsessed population proved the perfect US market for EVs, which at first encountered indifference or outright hostility in some parts of the country.

By the end of September, California had more than eight times as many battery electric and plug-in hybrid cars as the next closest state, Florida, according to data from an auto industry trade group.

California governor Gavin Newsom in 2020 signed an executive order to end sales of new, gasoline-powered vehicles in the state by 2035.

The state also offers drivers rebates to buy many battery electric or plug-in hybrid models. And in a land renowned for bad traffic, California EV drivers get a coveted perk — a decal that allows them to drive solo in carpool lanes.

READ MORE: US to detail US$5bil plan to fund EV charging network


US NTSB chief raises safety concerns about heavy electric vehicles

                WASHINGTON: US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chair Jennifer Homendy on Wednesday raised concerns about the increased risk of severe injury and death from heavier electric vehicles on US roads.

She cited a General Motors GMC Hummer EV that weighs over 9,000 pounds, up from about 6,000 pounds for the gasoline version, and the Ford F-150 Lightning EV, which is between 2,000 and 3,000 pounds heavier than the non-electric version.

The heavier weight "has a significant impact on safety for all road users," she said Wednesday in a speech. "We have to be careful that we aren't also creating unintended consequences: more death on our roads."?

GM said "safety is at the cornerstone at everything we do. All GM vehicles are engineered to meet or exceed all applicable motor vehicle safety standards." Ford did not immediately comment.

Homendy's comments come as the US has seen a sharp rise in traffic deaths since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and US vehicles get keep getting larger on average.

The Environmental Protection Agency said last month average new vehicle weight and horsepower both hit new records in 2021 with average vehicle weight hitting 4,289 pounds in 2021 as SUV and truck sales rise and both are forecast to hit new records in 2022.

US traffic deaths jumped 10.5% in 2021 to 42,915, the largest number killed on American roads in a year since 2005, after rising 7% in 2020, and declined slightly in the first nine months of 2022 but remain high.

Acting NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson told reporters Monday that the agency was studying the impact of vehicle size on roadway safety. Carlson said the agency was "very concerned" about the "degree to which heavier vehicles contribute to greater fatality rates."

She noted that some subscribe to the "mantra that bigger is safer" but that did not necessarily take into account other factors.

"Bigger is safer if you don't look at the communities surrounding you and you don't look at the other vehicles on the road," Carlson said. "It actually turns out to be a very complex interaction."


Google’s Waze app to alert kidnappings in LA

                LOS ANGELES: Alerts about hit-and-runs and kidnappings in Los Angeles will soon pop up on traffic app Waze, along with road closure information, the West Coast city’s mayor said Tuesday.

The agreement is part of a data-sharing partnership between LA and the Google-owned tech company announced by Mayor Eric Garcetti.

The app has already begun showing street closures and will start including hit-and-run alerts and so-called Amber Alerts sent out for kidnappings in the coming months.

“This is going to be updated in real-time, every two minutes, giving motorists the information they need to... get home for dinner in time,” said Garcetti.

The agreement to add notifications about hit-and-run and kidnapping alerts was reached Monday “in a very good meeting” between Waze and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck,” the mayor said.

In January, it emerged that Beck had sent a letter to the tech company’s CEO lamenting that the Waze application posed a danger to police because of its ability to track their locations.

The LAPD chief said at the time that the shooter in a recent double murder of two New York police officers used the application to track the location of cops.

Waze is a traffic and navigation application to which users contribute information in order to share real-time road information.


Shell Malaysia expands online offerings

                PETALING JAYA: Shell Malaysia officially launched its Shell Malaysia Official Online Store on 11street (www.11street.my/promotion-page/shell-official-store), making it convenient and easy for discerning car owners across Malaysia to purchase genuine Shell Helix oil change service packages (inclusive of your choice of Shell Helix oil, oil filter and labour charges) online.

Consumers in Peninsular Malaysia, and soon in Sabah and Sarawak, can now purchase e-vouchers for genuine Shell Helix oil change service packages online, call ahead to schedule an appointment and redeem them via the 11street mobile application at their preferred workshops from a list of more than 45 participating Shell Helix-branded workshops.

To celebrate the collaboration, Shell Helix and 11street has announced the Spend & Win! contest.

From April 16 till 29, 2018, consumers who purchase an oil change service package using either Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology, High Mileage or HX7 motor oil on 11street stand a chance to win RM500 in shopping credit.

According to Shell Lubricants Marketing General Manager, May Tan, the collaboration with 11street would enable the company to tap into the fast-growing online shopping trend and deliver genuine Shell Helix products and value-for-money services to a wider market across the country.

“Shell Helix is all about enabling drivers to overcome daily challenges and keep their passion for driving alive. Working with 11street, one of the largest and more innovative online marketplace brands in Malaysia, we are able to inspire them to ‘drive on’ by offering unprecedented convenience when it comes to maintaining their cars,” she said.

Consumers who purchase Shell Helix oil change service packages on 11street are also eligible to register for the Shell Advantage and Rewards (SHARE) loyalty programme.  A simple online registration at www.shell.com.my/share opens the doors to a world of rewards with SHARE.  These include a generous buy-3-free-1 offer for purchases of Shell Helix Ultra, oil change reminders and seasonal promotions.

Those with cars below eight years old and 150,000km on the odometer also qualify for the free Shell Helix Engine Warranty (SHEW) when they service their cars with Shell Helix Ultra, High Mileage or HX7.


Car maintenance on a 'Netflix' plan appeals to younger drivers

                LONDON: Even car maintenance have a subscription plan.

British automotive servicing and repair company Kwik Fit today announced the launch of its motoring maintenance subscription service. It's not unlike paying for your Netflix fix every month.

Kwik Fit is trialing the format this week in the North West and Yorkshire regions, with a national roll out to follow this summer.

A new research study for the company found that some 17.7 million UK drivers say they would be interested in a pay monthly scheme for their motoring maintenance, a figure which has grown by 15% since 2018. The concept is especially appealing to drivers aged 18-34 (67% of this group would be interested), mirroring their greater take up of subscriptions in other sectors.

The company’s research showed that drivers opting for subscription services would alleviate a significant motoring worry. Facing an unexpected repair bill is the third biggest motoring concern for drivers, only behind being in an accident or breaking down. With the new Kwik Fit Club subscription service, maintenance costs are spread evenly throughout the year, avoiding big single bills.

More importantly for other drivers, Kwik Fit’s research indicates that maintenance subscriptions could also improve safety on the roads.

Two in five drivers (40%) say they have put off car repairs or maintenance, rising to 55% of drivers aged 18-34.

The most common reason for motorists doing this is that they could not afford it at the time, stated by some 5.8 million drivers. Worryingly, the average length of time these drivers used their car before getting the work done was 58.7 days or nearly two months. Based on current average mileage, in that time their car could have travelled 1,900km while needing repairs or maintenance.

With Kwik Fit Club membership, drivers pay a monthly subscription which covers all their tyre wear, including repairs and premium tyre replacement, wheel alignment and six monthly health checks.

They also have the option to include their MOT and servicing costs. Drivers can join the programme and keep track of their subscription through an app, and although they can nominate a "home garage", their membership can be used at any of Kwik Fit’s 600-plus centres across the country.

The monthly subscription cost is tailored to a driver’s personal circumstances, based on the car they drive, the mileage they cover and the condition of their tyres when they start their membership. Reflecting the fact that many households have more than one car, members can opt for a multi-car membership to cover all their vehicles.

A driver can get an estimated cost based on the information they provide on the app and following a visit to a Kwik Fit centre, a confirmed quote will be offered and their membership can be activated.

Subscriptions have clear appeal to younger drivers (18-34) who have regular income but don’t always have the financial reserves to cover larger one-off costs.


2017 Detroit auto show: Diesel-powered Ford F-150 to join the ranks

                DEARBORN: Ford's new upcoming F-150 is due to make its debut at this year's Detroit Auto Show with an added 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine to join the lineup.

Ford isn't revealing much details at the moment, only that its 3.0-litre Power Stroke diesel engine will be mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

It will also come fitted with an automatic start-stop system as standard and looks to hit the markets during the second quarter of this year.

The new F-150 will be built at the Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Michigan, and the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri.

In terms of updates, the F-150 will be receiving newly designed grille, headlight, bumpers, tailgate and rear light clusters as well as six new 17 to 22-inch wheel designs for choice.

Depending on variant, they will also come equipped with adaptive cruise control with start-stop functionality, pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection, embedded 4G LTE modem for a Wi-Fi hot spot (connect up to 10 mobile devices) and a new B&O PLAY audio system.

These will be accompanied by the usual inclusion of SYNC and SYNC 3 with FordPass, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 360-degree camera, lane-keeping system and blind spot information system.


Mazda gets in on Japanese vintage road rally

                LOS ANGELES: Mazda is collaborating with Japanese Nostalgic Car as a title sponsor for the upcoming 200-mile (324km) Touge California all-Japanese vintage road rally held in the US on April 2.

The rally is expected to see 28 rare and original Japanese cars built during the 1960s to early 1980s and will have their starting point begin in San Diego before winding up the coast and ending at Mazda's R&D facility in Irvine, California.

Out of the 28 cars, the participating vehicles are 11 Mazdas including a 1975 Rotary-Engine Pickup (REPU), a 1978 GLC compact hatchback and 1985 RX-7 GSL-SE from Mazda's own heritage collection.

Touge California was founded in 2015 by Hsu and rally master Patrick Strong after seeing many famous vintage rallies like Targa Florio or Carrera Panamericana for European cars, but nothing exclusive for Japanese makes.

According to both Hsu and Strong, the event have seen a substantial increase in the number of participants even with a limited age requirement of 40 years or older for the vehicle to be deemed eligible.

The Japanese word "Touge" translates directly as "mountain pass," but in this case, the term is now associated with celebrating vehicles that were both mainstays sold in the the US and rare or exclusive sedans and sports cars that were forbidden from sale in the US for many years until they became legally importable.

The participants of the rally arriving at Mazda's facility will be treated to an exclusive tour of Mazda's heritage collection, which a working garage that houses more than 50 race cars, concepts, historically significant and one-off cars.

"Our heritage cars aren't just museum pieces; they're meant to be driven. This is a rare chance to see all of these beautiful vintage cars where they were meant to be — on the road," said Mazda North American Operations senior VP Robert Davis.


Maserati MC20 super sports car to debut in May

                MODENA, Italy: The new Maserati super sports car will be named MC20, and will have its worldwide debut at the end of May in Modena.

MC20 means Maserati Corse 2020 and celebrates that the brand will return to racing.

The MC20, developed at the Maserati Innovation Lab, will be built at the Viale Ciro Menotti Plant in Modena.

The first racing car to wear the Trident logo was the Tipo 26, where the number indicated the year of manufacture, and in the same way, the MC20 will be the first car born in the new Era of the Modena firm.

The super sports car is the natural evolution of the highly successful MC12, the car that in 2004 marked Maserati’s return to racing after 37 years.

The MC12 won 22 races (including 3 victories in the 24 Hours of Spa) and 14 Championship titles across Constructors’ Championship, Drivers’ Championship and Teams’ Championships in the FIA GT from 2004 to 2010.


Horus Detailing Studio offers one-stop solution for luxury car owners

                PETALING JAYA: Horus Detailing Studio in Malaysia is looking to cater to the needs of luxury vehicle owners with its one-stop solution.

Products range from coatings, car care products, anti-bacterial solutions, window tints and paint protection films

The company says that its coating is of a hybrid Nano Technology that combines the use of ceramic and quartz minerals to provide a "wet" look that not only shines but also repels dirt.

The coating is accompanied by a five-year warranty that includes free yearly maintenance washes.

Also available is the company's photochromic reactive window tint that darkens itself to reduce glare from the sun's rays and once the sun goes down, the tint reverts back to a clear film.

The company's paint protection film, while providing high durability against stone chips and scratches, also helps to provide a high gloss finish for the paintwork.

The areas of focus include headlamps, spotlights, door inserts, door sills as well as boot linings in addition to the car's body panels and comes with a three-year warranty from yellowing, peeling, cracking and adhesive failure.

Its car care range is a collection of organic and biodegradable automotive products which includes an automotive shampoo.

There are also other specific detailing products such as a tyre detailer and an all-in-one leather cleaner and conditioner for self-application.

The company says that its anti-bacterial solution is non-toxic and can last up to three months after applying it inside the cabin and airconditioning vents and can kill up to 98% of bacteria.

"At Horus Detailing Studio, our quality premium products are not just seen as market leaders but are also highly affordable and we put our pride in our service because we want our customers to have the best for their luxury ride," said Horus Premium Tints & Detailing Studio managing director Mark Wee.

The company's car care products and anti-bacterial solution are available on its Lazada online-store that cater to both sides of the causeway - Malaysia and Singapore.


Here comes the world's first diesel-powered Bentley

                LONDON: Proving that a diesel engine can be an object of desire, Bentley on Wednesday unveiled its first ever production car without a gasoline engine.

However, it's not any old production car, it's the epically exclusive Bentayga SUV and it's not any old diesel. It's a triple charged 429bhp V8, and when the two come together the result is the world's fastest and most powerful luxury diesel SUV - 0-100kph in 4.8 seconds, a top speed of 270kph and a whopping 900Nm of torque.

"The Bentayga Diesel represents a moment of immense significance in Bentley's history, by giving the world its fastest luxury diesel SUV. Immense power, grand touring capabilities and superb refinement - this is a true Bentley," said Wolfgang Dürheimer, Bentley's chairman and chief executive.

To deliver these impressive figures plus a fuel economy of 7.9l/100km (uncharted territory for a Bentley) the engine uses the same technology found in the latest Audi Q7S sports SUV.

The powerplant has two variable-geometry, twin-scroll turbochargers that function like standard turbos found on all cars - i.e., via exhaust gases passed through an intercooler. But added to that is a third electronically powered supercharger that spins up within 30 microseconds regardless of exhaust gases to force more air into the block and cut out any turbo lag. As such it works like a very mild hybrid.

What's more with a diesel rather than gasoline engine under the hood, the car's range is significantly greater. Bentley says you can drive the Bentayga Diesel from London to Verbier or Bordeaux on a single tank.

To mark out the new model from its W12 gas-powered sibling, this Bentayga gets a unique radiator grille treatment and tail pipe arrangement as standard while options exclusive to the diesel include new Mulliner-designed 21-inch alloy wheels.

However, the cabin is exactly as luxurious and open to bespoke treatment as any Bentley currently in production. For instance it can be specified with a Mulliner Hamper set with an integrated refrigerator, a set of crystal glasses and Linley china crockery. And in terms of trim, a new Liquid Amber finished veneer has been developed to coincide with the new model's launch.

The order books open Wednesday and Bentley says that customer deliveries to European clients will start in early 2017.


Land Rover Defender 110 earns 5 stars from Euro NCAP

                LONDON: The new Land Rover Defender 110 has earned another five-star review – this time from the safety experts at Euro NCAP.

Land Rover’s most capable and durable model ever has been awarded the maximum five-star rating in the latest round of test results.

The test unit was a right-hand drive Defender 110 2.0 diesel SE.

It combines advanced assisting technologies with an ultra-stiff aluminium-intensive body construction engineered to cope with rugged landscapes.

Clever technologies available on Defender include Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist and Rear Collision Monitor†.

Six airbags are designed to protect the driver and passengers, while up to three ISOFIX mounting points are available. New Defender scored 85 per cent for Adult and Child Occupant protection, 79 per cent for Safety Assist and achieved a 71 per cent score for Vulnerable Road Users on its way to a five-star overall rating.

The tough 4x4 family also includes the compact Defender 90 and a pair of practical Hard Top commercial derivatives, which feature a fixed bulkhead behind the front seats and provide 2,059 and 1,355 litres of cargo space respectively.

Following its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2019, Land Rover has experienced strong demand for the new 4x4. This has been matched with critical acclaim – the new Defender has already won 28 international awards.

Since its debut, Land Rover has also introduced its fuel efficient range of in-line six-cylinder Ingenium diesel engines with mild hybrid technology and its advanced P400e plug-in hybrid.This provides an all-electric range of up to 43km and CO2 emissions as low as 74g/km.

Land Rover has also introduced the X-Dynamic specification, available on both Defender 90 and 110. It provides a selection of exterior and interior design elements reflecting the 4x4’s broad capability and ensuring it stands out from the crowd.

The 110 starting at £45,315 (RM243,000) OTR in the UK.


Grab Malaysia’s new tipping feature: Some praise it, some blast it

                PETALING JAYA: Malaysians today responded to the news of Grab's new tipping feature with mixed feelings, with some expressing their displeasure on Facebook.

Facebook user Hiu Chee Keong felt that the feature would cause drivers to expect tips: "Bad idea, this make(s) driver(s) expect tips and make(s) those who don't give (tips) look bad."

Another user, Jimmy Tan, commented on the increased Grab rates, saying: "(Grab) already increase rate (and) you expect (the) public to tip. The perk(s) of a market monopoly."

Not all responses to the feature were quite so negative, with other Grab users chiming in that the feature is a good way to show appreciation to good drivers.

Other users like Lee Jia En, a 21-year-old student, were a little more sanguine.

"It's a nice feature to add for passengers to show support to drivers, and it's great for instances if you inconvenienced your driver by doing something like spilling your drink in their car," she said.

Multimedia designer Jason Yeap said that he feels the feature being there would make drivers step up their game with passengers.

"I'm not the type to tip, but I feel that the option to tip will motivate drivers to put in more effort because there's a way for riders to show appreciation to them," said the 21-year-old.

Grab drivers also chimed in on the new tipping feature, revealing that some of them were already getting tips from their passengers.

The president of the Grab Drivers Malaysia Association, Arif Asyraf, said that the Grab app previously already had a tipping function, but it was then removed.

"Passengers were already able to give tips back in 2015, but Grab removed the feature," said the 36-year-old.

Arif also acknowledged that not everyone will be willing to tip since that's not expected in Malaysian culture, but said that he has had foreign riders who wanted to tip him and that some locals would also tip by letting drivers keep the change.

Student and part-time Grab driver Shahradzman Jalaluddin likes the addition of tipping in the app.

"Before this I would get tips from passengers in cash, so it's a good idea for Grab to allow passengers to also tip via GrabPay," said the 22-year-old.

Former Grab driver Adrin Shamsudin, 40, said that tipping is a nice-to-have feature and the tips were fixed at a good amount.

The feature is currently available in the app after passengers give drivers a five-star rating, with tipping options fixed at RM2, RM4, or RM6.

"Tipping is a good feature, before this passengers were already giving tips to drivers," he said, adding that the tipping amount set by Grab is about the typical amount he would receive from passengers.

Arif also said that there is a possibility of Grab adding an option for the tip amount to be customisable, allowing for riders to give smaller or larger tips to their drivers.

"The specified tipping amounts could act as a trial, if response from riders is good and they want to have an option to give customisable tips, I think Grab would allow for it later on."


The Boxster that saved Porsche 25 years ago is a modern classic

                FRANKFURT: The silver two-seat Porsche Boxster sports car grabbed the limelight at the Detroit Motor Show in 1993 but no one realised at the time that this was a game-changer for the premium German carmaker.

In fact without the mid-engined Boxster, Porsche may never have survived at all. Times were hard for Porsche as the 1990s dawned. While customers were still buying the 911, the lack of an entry-level model was hurting the Stuttgart company.

The Audi-powered 924 had been dropped in 1988 after years of being derided as the "housewife’s Porsche". It never managed to convince the purists.

Cheaper sports cars like the Mazda MX-5 were wooing away the punters so Porsche came up with a car that cost half the price of a 911 but offered plenty of thrills. It also came with the marque’s legendary engineering and quality.

The Boxster went on sale in 1996 for 76,500 deutschmarks at a time when fresh men were taking over at the top. Wendelin Wiedeking was the CEO, Horst Marchart head of development, and designer Harm Lagaay penned a car that would have appealed to one of the brand's most famous patrons, US film star James Dean who was killed in a road crash decades earlier.

The styling was a genuine throwback to Dean’s 550 Spyder and the looks were so good that the Boxster was only mildly retouched until the model was facelifted in 2004.

The current fourth generation made its debut in 2016. It seems Porsche just adopted the motto of never change a winning formula and the orders have been rolling in ever since

Providing the necessary grunt and growl expected by Porsche drivers, the Boxster used a water-cooled six-cylinder engine mounted amidships. This provided a low centre of gravity and limpet-like handing. Fans loved the car.

Any doubts that the Boxster might not be a real Porsche are blown into the weeds behind the wheel. With just over 200hp on tap, the engine makes literally light work of the drophead which tips the scales at 1,250km.

Some die-hard 911 fans may smile wearily at a top speed of 240 km/h and sprint benchmarks of 6.9 seconds from 0 to 100: But in this compact, lightweight sports car, with the wind in your hair and the powerplant under the seat of your pants, it all feels much faster, more intense and more authentic.

The Boxster generation got more oomph with a 2.7-litre engine in 1999 (228 hp) and the Boxster S later pushed the envelope to 260 hp.
The Boxster also begat the Cayman Coupe in 2005 which uses much the same technology.

It all adds up to a good buy and with 25 years of production and some 357,000 Boxsters sold there are plenty of second-hand ones to choose from.

The car gets the seal of approval from cherished car expert Frank Wilde from the Classic-Analytics price watching organisation. He thinks it is still one of the most attractive Porsches for fans of the brand.

"The Boxster and its closed sibling, the Cayman are more authentic than the 911, because they have not become such bloated cars for the affluent“ said Wilke.

Prices for a well-handled older Boxster start at 17,000 Euros (20,200 dollars) which is much less than any used 911 would cost. "I would say get one now – if you don't you may bitterly regret it in five years' time.“

Be aware though that the Boxster needs tender loving care and a poorly-maintained one will just eat money. An example with a full service history is to be preferred, especially if the owner can produce genuine repair bills.

Engine failure is not unknown with these cars and timing belts and tensioners can cause problems. Gearboxes can get notchy and they are also prone to misshifts while brake discs will inevitably rust.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia hosts service excellence awards

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the coveted Mercedes-Benz Service Excellence Award Program (SEAward), recently hosted hundreds of dealer representatives from South East Asia and Sri Lanka.

The SEAward brought together 250 representatives from 85 dealerships and the two-day celebration highlighted the importance of the after-sales business to Mercedes-Benz.

"The SEAward is a testament to ‘going the extra mile’ not just today or tomorrow, but every day. As a pioneer and leader in the automotive industry, Mercedes-Benz has a lifelong commitment to the pursuit of excellence in providing the ultimate lasting experience for our customers,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia president and CEO Roland Folger.

The SEAward has gained momentum in the years since its establishment by Daimler AG in 2005 to evaluate the performance of service centres.

It also serves as a motivating factor towards excelling in customer service.

Winning dealers are judged according to an after-sales Customer Satisfaction Score (CSI) and Net Promoter Score (NPS).
Other activities for the dealer representatives included the opportunity to visit a past SEAward winning Autohaus, Hap Seng Star and a Kuala Lumpur city tour.

The conference culminated with a celebratory dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.


F1: Verstappen wins final Malaysian Grand Prix

Verstappen.
SEPANG: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen gave himself a perfect 20th birthday present by winning the last Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, while Lewis Hamilton stretched his Formula One world championship lead to 34 points.

Hamilton, who had started on pole position, finished second for Mercedes with his Ferrari title rival Sebastian Vettel limiting the damage by racing from last place on the grid to fourth.

Verstappen’s Australian team mate Daniel Ricciardo, last year’s winner at Sepang, finished third.

“Super, super job Max. Welcome to being a 20-year-old. Great start to a new decade for you, well done,” team boss Christian Horner said over the radio after his driver took the chequered flag 12.7 seconds clear of Hamilton.

The victory was the second of Verstappen’s grand prix career, after a first in Spain last year, and came a day after his birthday.

“Straight away the car felt good and I saw Lewis was struggling a bit with traction... of course he has more to lose than me in the championship so I went for it in turn one,” Verstappen said of his overtake on lap four.

“And from there on, I could do my own race. The car was unbelievable. I had pace. If I needed to speed up, I speeded up,” he added.

“It’s amazing, a very tough race but incredible to win.” Vettel, whose team mate Kimi Raikkonen failed to start after qualifying second, was involved in a bizarre collision after the finish when the Williams of Canadian Lance Stroll ran into the back of the Ferrari.

The German’s car was badly damaged in the incident, limping along on three wheels, with Vettel then hitching a ride back to the pits on compatriot Pascal Wehrlein’s Sauber. Stewards decided to take no further action.

“I think he just didn’t look,” said Vettel, who set the fastest lap of the race, a day after he failed to complete a timed lap in qualifying due to an engine issue.


Tesla working to combat cold weather effect on batteries

                SAN FRANCISCO: There are still a number of issues to be ironed out with electric cars before they become a genuine alternative to those powered by conventional fossil fuels for the mass-market.

One problem is the efficiency of batteries in cold weather, which obviously becomes particularly apparent at this time of year in the United States when even the batteries in regular cars have their challenges.

So, if your vehicle relies solely on battery power for everything, it can be even more serious. But according to reports coming from Electrek, Tesla is making a move to combat the problem with a new pre-heating system for its EVs.

The problem with batteries in cold weather is the chemical reactions are more sluggish, which, when coupled with heating the cabin, powering the lights and heating the battery itself to its optimum operating temperature, means the driving range can be dramatically reduced. As range is still an issue for most electric cars anyway, something needs to be done.

What Tesla is reportedly doing isn't a cure-all, but it should help to some degree.

The new feature would allow its customers to pre-heat the battery of their vehicle through the mobile phone app while it's still plugged in to the mains supply. In the same way as the BMW i models and the Chevrolet Volt, the app already allows customers to pre-heat the cabin, but this new feature is thought to be part of a recent Tesla vehicle software update, and will be completed with a forthcoming update for the phone app.

With the interior and the battery already fully warmed before disconnecting from the charging supply, it should go a long way towards alleviating the potential for a loss of available range for Teslas during the cold weather.

As vehicle battery technology advances and ranges push through the 320-km barrier on a more common basis, the effect of cold weather on battery efficiency will become less relevant.


Sime Darby Auto Selection and myTukar team-up to enhance used car experience

                PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Auto Selection (SDAS), the pre-owned car subsidiary of Sime Darby Motors in Malaysia, has signed on an exclusive partnership with online car bidding platform myTukar to revolutionise the pre-owned car trading experience for customers.

The collaboration with myTukar will expand SDAS’ network nationwide, enabling access to a wider procurement grid which would present more choices to SDAS’ customers, and an online
used car transaction database which would provide them with transparency and improved accuracy on actual market transactions.

SDAS began as a certified BMW Premium Selection dealer and is today a multi-brand dealer for pre-owned vehicles, with three branches in Klang Valley and one in Johor Bahru.

Sime Darby Motors managing director of retail and distribution, Malaysia, Jeffrey Gan said the company aimed to become the country's largest and most trusted certified pre-owned car dealer.

"The digitalised process that myTukar provides ensure that our customers will receive the highest trade-in value, through a seamless and transparent experience for peace of mind in selling their cars and buying used cars. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with myTukar, and to finding more ways to make the pre-owned car trading experience a breeze for our customers,” he said.

SDAS' collaboration with myTukar is also expected to enhance SDAS’ management of its inventory by anchoring on myTukar’s proprietary big data analytics of used car transactions.

"This partnership will reinforce our mutual vision of giving customers a seamless and transparent process of purchasing and selling their cars,” said myTukar CEO Fong Hon Sum.


VW targets US$7.1bil for North America, could build ID.Buzz there, says US chief

                WASHINGTON: Volkswagen AG plans to invest at least US$7.1 billion (RM30bil) over the next five years in North America and add 25 new electric vehicles there by 2030, including a recreation of VW's classic Microbus, a top executive said on Monday.

The latter model, called ID.Buzz, is a centrepiece of the plan. It will be imported initially from VW's Hanover plant in Germany, but ultimately could be assembled in the United States or Mexico, according to Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.

US demand for the ID.Buzz is "through the roof," Keogh said at a media briefing on Monday. The upshot is that "there could be an opportunity" to build the vehicle in North America, he said.

VW's North American investment plan is part of a broader five-year global spending plan, announced in December, that earmarks US$98 billion for "e-mobility, hybridisation and digitalisation," including construction of battery plants and partnerships with battery material suppliers.

The North American figure does not include a provision of US$1.8 billion or more for additional local battery production to supplement battery cells that VW is buying from SK Innovation's Georgia plants, Keogh said. VW aims to establish dedicated cell production to support its ambitious electric vehicle rollout in the region, he said.

The German automaker expects at least 50% of its US vehicle sales to be fully electric by 2030, Keogh said. That compares with a 70% target for electric vehicles in Europe by 2030.

VW will begin to phase out its gasoline-powered models in North America, with the aim of exiting sales of combustion-engine vehicles early in the next decade.

VW has begun pilot production of the ID.4 electric crossover at its Chattanooga plant in Tennessee, in preparation for a fall launch, and is upgrading its Mexican plants in Puebla and Silao to starting building electric vehicles, motors and related components by mid-decade.

Keogh said VW expects to add as many as four electric SUVs to its US portfolio, starting in 2026, that would cover the same segments now served by gasoline-powered models, including Taos, Tiguan and Atlas.


BMW 330e Sedan (G20) celebrates its market launch

                MUNICH: The latest generation of BMW eDrive technology teams up with a four-cylinder petrol engine to significantly enhance the sporting prowess of the new BMW 330e Sedan and deliver an even richer electric driving experience.

Making its debut appearance in a BMW, the standard-fitted XtraBoost raises the system output of the plug-in hybrid to a maximum 292hp and an electric range of over 50% more than its predecessor at 66km.

Fuel consumption and emissions are down by more than 15% over its predecessor - from 1.9 to 1.6 litres per 100 kilometres and 43 – 37 grams of carbon dioxide (Co2) per kilometre.

The plug-in hybrid system pools the abilities of a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with 184hp and an electric motor that generates 113 hp. Together, the two drive sources produce maximum system torque of 420Nm.

A brand-new feature – and included as standard in the new 330e – is XtraBoost and come quickly into play by activating Sport mode via the Driving Experience Control switch.

A vigorous stamp on the accelerator uncorks an additional 40hp (for up to 10 seconds) on top of the combined 252hp already generated by the combination of the electric motor and combustion engine while being managed by an eight-speed Steptronic transmission including engine-braking downshifts and a specific shift program.

The instant-impact XtraBoost delivers a significantly more intense experience of acceleration than a conventionally powered vehicle with comparable output could offer.

For example, if the driver suddenly puts their foot down hard from 20kph, in as little as a second the 330e accelerates with around twice the vigour of a car powered solely by a combustion engine.

Within three seconds, it opens up a car’s length gap and the XtraBoost can still be accessed with the high-voltage battery at a minimum charge, as well as in kickdown and with the transmission selector lever in M(anual) or S(ports) position.

The new 330e sprints from 0 to 100kph in 5.9 seconds before reaching a top speed of 230kph.

The driving experience is accompanied by a drive system note, which finds its way into the interior.

In Hybrid driving mode, the new 330e can reach speeds of up to 110kph in pure electric mode – an increase of 30kph over its predecessor while Electric mode allows for speeds of up to 140kph - up from 120kph.

Hybrid-specific standard features of the new 330e include acoustic pedestrian protection. When driving in electric mode, an exterior speaker system generates a sound created specifically for electrified BMWs.

At low speeds, the drive system’s bespoke note exudes aural presence, without impinging on the acoustic comfort of those on board.

The new 330e's electric motor is integrated into the eight-speed Steptronic transmission to saving space just as before and also comes equipped with braking energy recuperation.

With a gross energy content of 12kWh, the lithium-ion (li-ion) high-voltage battery mounted under the rear seats allows for an increase in electric range of more than 50% over its predecessor of 59 to 66km.

Meanwhile, the second generation of the plug-in hybrid sports sedan cuts fuel consumption and emissions by over 15 per cent to 1.9 – 1.6 litres per 100km and the combined-cycle electric power consumption resides at 15.4 to 14.8kWh per 100km.

The battery limits the boot capacity of the 330e to 375 litres which can be expanded via the 40:20:40 split-folding rear backrests.

The new 330e can be had in four trims that include Advantage, Sport Line, Luxury Line or M Sport as an alternative to the basic specification and can be further kitted with optional equipment such as an Adaptive M suspension system with variable sport steering and M Sport brakes.

From November, the 330e will be made available with a trailer coupling with electrically pivoting hitch ball that has a maximum trailer load of 750kg.

Standard specification for the new 330e includes preconditioning of the interior with the heating or air conditioning while optional equipment includes Driving Assistant Professional with steering and lane control assistant and Parking Assistant including reversing assistant is also available.

The Energy stored in the high-voltage battery is used to power the auxiliary heating. During low external temperatures, the interior can be warmed up prior to entering the car - even when the battery charge is low. This interior preconditioning function also allows the interior to be cooled during higher ambient temperatures.

New digital services will be presented which makes charging the battery during a journey even easier and more attractive.

Selecting a public charging station prompts the navigation system to come up with recommendations on nearby hotels, restaurants, cafés and sights or cultural centres as well as check the locations of other charging stations via the display and control system.

The driver can likewise check the predicted availability of public charging points at the time of arrival as well as reserve a charge point for a limited time, should it be offered by the charging infrastructure operator.

The same powertrain can be had in the upcoming 330e Touring (wagon) by mid-2020 - a first for a BMW Touring model.

The new BMW 330e Sedan is ready to take advantage of low-emission zones designated by cities exclusively for zero-emission driving.

With the new BMW eDrive Zones function (which will be part of standard equipment for BMW plug-in hybrid models from 2020 and can be retrofitted), geofencing technology will make it possible to detect low-emission zones automatically.

When entering these zones, the vehicle switches into pure-electric driving mode automatically, from which point it behaves like a fully-electric vehicle and can, therefore, enjoy equal access rights (subject to local regulations).

The increase in the proportion of journeys driven on electric power not only plays a role in optimising efficiency but can help to reduce operating costs for customers.

This applies to driving in urban areas, in particular, where an electric drive system delivers a higher level of efficiency across the board than a petrol or diesel engine.

The “real” environmental impact of plug-in hybrid vehicles has been questioned on occasion, especially in markets where the proportion of green energy used by the public energy grid remains small.

BMW Group conducted a full-cycle CO2 certification for the new 330e – from raw material procurement, supply chain, production and use phase, all the way to recycling.

This revealed its CO2 footprint is now 20% smaller than the new 330i Sedan when running on average European power in the use phase. When charging the car with green energy, its CO2 footprint is reduced by as much as 60%.


JPJ issues 13,096 traffic summonses in just five days after Awas launch

                KUALA LUMPUR: It’s full speed ahead, literally, for Malaysian drivers under a newly launched system to nab traffic offenders, with 11,556 summonses being issued for speeding.

Awas – a combination of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) and traffic offence demerit system (Kejara) – began last Saturday to nab those who speed or beat a red light.

Within five days of its launch, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) has issued 13,096 traffic summonses; 11,556 for speeding and 1,540 for beating the red light.

“As shown by the nature of offences in the summonses, many Malaysians still find it difficult to change their attitude while on the road despite the implementation of the system,” Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Saripuddin Kasim said.

(This latest statistics confirmed Malaysians’ love of speeding. The Ops Selamat during Chinese New Year saw 140,139 summonses being issued, out of which 128,903 were for speeding.)

Awas, which is aimed at reducing the number of road accidents and deaths, will impose demerit points against offenders.

They will be given incremental penalties for every 20 points picked up, which range from a warning to having their licences suspended.

Fourteen surveillance cameras have been installed nationwide to record the recalcitrant ones.

Ten cameras are on highways, with two more at traffic lights in Jalan Ipoh and Jalan Klang Lama, and another two at traffic lights in Putrajaya.

Bernama quoted Saripuddin as saying that the ministry would increase the number of cameras eventually.

“Road users need to give their cooperation. This is important for the safety of road users and not just to avoid demerit points,” he said.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said Bukit Aman would discuss soon with JPJ on the possibility of integrating Awas with the traffic police system.

And it was reported yesterday that JPJ wanted Awas to be linked to the traffic police for more comprehensive enforcement.

Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research director-general Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon was supportive of the plan to integrate Awas with the traffic police.

Otherwise, it was not viable for both the JPJ and police to process the same traffic violations with different punishments, he said.

“A person who gets a JPJ summons will be penalised differently from those with a police summons,” he said, noting that offenders under JPJ would get a fine and a demerit point, while those who get a police summons would pay just a fine.

Traffic offenders might not take their summonses seriously if they were not slapped with demerit points, he added.

“If only one type of summons involves the Kejara demerit system, the summons without demerit points may not be taken seriously enough by traffic offenders,” he said.

Dr Wong urged the police and JPJ to find ways to incorporate the two systems to avoid this situation.

To ensure the effectiveness of Awas, he suggested its enforcement must be “sure, swift and severe”.

“Awas already has the ‘sure’ factor because it can provide strong evidence of traffic offences. But it must also be ‘swift’ where summonses are issued as soon as possible.”

The “severe” factor would refer to the seriousness of the consequences to those who violate traffic laws, he added.

However, Dr Wong said Awas should not be seen as punishing offenders.

“Authorities are looking to change the behaviour of road users. There is only so much advising and educating people that can be done before penalties have to be put in place.

“We cannot be waiting around for traffic offenders to be involved in accidents before they see our point,” he said.


BMW backing US metal 3D printing startup

                SAN FRANCISCO: BMW is funding a startup that aims to bring metal 3D printing within reach of all design and manufacturing teams.

BMW i Ventures will be investing in Desktop Metal, a Burlington-based company in Massachusett that has a team of 75 experts in hardware and software, materials scientists, and designers

BMW i Ventures managing partner Uwe Higgen said Desktop Metal is shaping the way cars are being imaged, designed and manufactured. He said the startup has the potential to offer rapid prototyping and printing quality parts for end-use production, design and mass customisation.

"Just as plastic has redefined rapid prototyping, metal 3D printing will make a profound impact on the way companies manufacture rapid prototypes and mass produce parts across all major industries,” said Ric Fulop, CEO and co-founder of Desktop Metal.


Kia reveals fourth-gen Carnival ahead of official launch

                SEOUL: Kia Motors Corporation has revealed images of its new fourth-generation Carnival multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) and it's all dressed up in South Korean specifications.

Also known as the Sedona in other markets, the South Korean carmaker uses the Carnival to take aim at young families looking for a good combination of practicality and style.

Presented with futuristic looks combined with a sports utility vehicle's design elements, this mid-sized MPV has shortened its front overhang while the A-pillar has been moved slightly rearward to create a longer hood.

The Carnaval also boasts of a longer wheelbase that's contributed to a more spacious interior while simultaneously giving this MPV a longer, slightly more athletic silhouette that's combined with larger wheel arches and a character line that runs the length of it.

The new model also features a unique 'island roof' design, with blacked-out A and B-pillars that support the body-coloured roof.

From the side, one of the new car's stand-out features is an eye-catching new C-pillar signature design, inspired by that of the new Sorento.

The chrome fin, which wraps beneath the tapered rear windows and extends towards the tailgate, is finished with a subtle diamond pattern that's also reflected throughout the inside of the car.

The Carnival features a new 'tiger face' which extends across the width of the vehicle with the grille and lamps are defined by a chrome trim located above the grille.

The castellated edge of the upper grille is paired with perpendicular creases which extend straight up the hood, creating a more purposeful look when viewed head-on.

The Carnival's headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights (DRLs) has had its high-beam lamps integrated into the corner of the tiger-nose grille while the low-beam lamps sitting separately, at the outer edges of the front of the car.

Between them, the DRLs wrap around the Carnival's turn signal lamps, then plunge downwards, merging with the grille's lower chrome border.

Beneath, the sculpted bumpers and lower air intake are matched with metallic trim and a black lower bumper, presenting the Carnival's robust, SUV-inspired appearance.

At the rear, the Carnival boasts of a wide, distinctive new design which uses full-width lines that connect the combination lamps to emphasize the car's solid width while the light bar extends downwards and wraps around the license plate area.

Above the light bar is a chrome line, which started at the base of the new signature C-pillar and wraps around the base of the rear screen.

Further enhancing its SUV-inspired design, the Carnival is finished off with a metallic lower skid plate that gives it an elevated look.

Other than that, Kia is keeping from divulging more details about the Carnival's which is due to go on sale in its domestic market sometime during the third quarter this year and global sales following soon after.


March 9-15: Fuel prices unchanged yet again

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail prices of RON97 and RON95 petrol and diesel will remain unchanged for the period from March 9-15.

The Finance Ministry, in a statement today, said that RON97 petrol remains at RM3.35 per litre, RON95 (RM2.05) and diesel (RM2.15).

The weekly retail prices of the products were set based on the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.


Rare first USA-spec McLaren F1 to be auctioned

                SAN FRANCISCO: Let's be honest; there's really no such thing as a regular McLaren F1, is there?

Any version of this truly ground-breaking car in good condition goes for seven figures, and there's little prospect of prices going in any direction other than upwards for the foreseeable future.

After all, it was the fastest road car in the world for a number of years, thanks to the 627 horsepower produced by its BMW M V-12 engine. Another fact about the McLaren F1 is that each one was a very individual car in its own right, but there are some that are more individual than others.

When it comes to the 1995 model that's about to go up for auction by Bonhams at its Quail Lodge, California event on August 18, its unique selling point is the fact it was the first one imported to the USA and made fully street-legal. And if that isn't enough to bump up the eventual hammer price, the car has also only had one owner from new.

Bonhams has revealed the car is number 44 of 64 made, it was originally purchased by its current owner in 1996, and immediately after taking delivery of it at McLaren's factory in Woking, Great Britain, he took it on a grand road trip across continental Europe.

When the road trip was concluded, the owner had the McLaren shipped back to America for a company called Ameritech to do what was needed to be done to meet US safety and emissions regulations for it to be certified street-legal. In the 22 years since the owner took delivery, he's put just 15,450km on the clock so it's every bit your genuine low-mileage, one-owner used car. Well, perhaps not quite.

Anyone familiar with buying and selling used cars will be pleased to learn the original tool roll, the tool box for maintaining the McLaren, and the bespoke luggage are still with the car.

After importing the car though, the owner had it returned to its original European specification but all the parts are still there for returning it to US-spec should the new owner want.

The auction company hasn't issued a guide price for this car, but it could fetch as much as US$10,000,000, or possibly even more.