Renault Malaysia starts sales campaign

                KUALA LUMPUR: Attractive deals are being offered on selected Renault vehicles as well as the chance to win exclusive Renault Sport Formula One Team prizes including Grandstand passes and a Renault Garage Visit at the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix.

Valid until Aug 31, the ‘Renault – Motorsports Is in Our DNA’ campaign to celebrate the brand’s over 115 years of passion in motorsports and return to Formula 1 as a full works team.

During the campaign period, those who buy the Renault Captur SUV will enjoy monthly instalments from as low as RM888, and a free three-year or 60,000km (whichever comes first) maintenance package.

TCEC is also offering a rebate of RM15,000 on selected Renault Fluence sedan variants in addition to a low monthly instalment plan that starts from RM788 per month.

The Captur is priced at RM117,200, while the Fluence sedan starts at RM108,888.

Those who buy any Renault model during this campaign period are also eligible for the exclusive Renault Sport Formula One Team Experience contest.

Three lucky winners will receive two passes each to the Grandstand and Renault Garage Visit at the 2016 F1 Malaysian Grand Prix in October.

Additionally, each contest participant will also receive a Renault Sport Formula One Team Merchandise Pack upon delivery of their new vehicle.

Furthermore, those who test drive a Renault vehicle at any Renault showroom will receive gifts.

30 lucky winners will take home an exclusive Renault Sport Formula One Team Scale Model.

“The Renault – Motorsports Is in Our DNA campaign aims to highlight the direct link between Renault’s innovation on the track and innovation for the road,” said Kuan Kim Luen, CEO, TC Euro Cars Sdn Bhd.

TC Euro Cars (TCEC) is the sole franchise holder of Renault cars in Malaysia.

The Renault Captur and Fluence come with a five-year full manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage. This warranty is fully backed by Renault and not undertaken by any other insurance companies, which means terms and conditions as well as parts covered are consistent from the first year of ownership to the end of the warranty period.

With a full manufacturer’s warranty, customers can rest assured that no additional charges would be imposed or selected parts initially covered excluded, as long as the warranty is valid. They will also save time and enjoy more convenience as warranty claims do not require verification from insurance adjusters and immediate action can be taken for relevant repairs and servicing.

The five-year warranty is also transferable to a new owner during the full coverage period.

Renault Fluence customers can also enjoy more cost savings and a hassle-free experience through Renault’s unrivalled ‘5inFluence’ package.

In addition to the five-year full manufacturer’s warranty, the ‘5inFluence’ offer also includes:

Free maintenance for five years or up to 100,000km, whichever comes first

One-year genuine parts warranty

Complimentary pick-up service for every scheduled servicing

A 48-hour Mobility Solution which provides a courtesy car when a customer’s Fluence stays in the service centre for more than 48 hours


Blast from the past - Triumph Bonneville T100

                Inspired by the iconic ‘59 Bonneville, the Triumph Bonneville T100 motorcycles have their own distinctive character aside from drawing some DNA of the original model as well as the current larger T120 models.

For this review, I was loaned the Bonneville T100 Black by Fast Bikes Sdn Bhd, the importer and distributor of Triumph Motorcycles in Malaysia.

The retro design and the full blackout on this bike can only be described in one word - sexy.

Visually the bike looks unassuming but beneath the unassuming demeanour lies a quick machine that will satisfy any speed demon.

Before I get into the performance of this bike, allow me to give you a guided tour on the aesthetics.

The T100 Black takes styling to a different level with fully blacked-out high-quality details, including wheel rims, engine finish and beautiful twin skin “peashooter” exhaust in a matt black finish for a truly distinguished look.

Also included in the treatment are the iconic sculptured Bonneville fuel tank with knee pads.

The brushed aluminium engine covers, chrome on the mirrors, dual face clocks and big headlight make the bike the centre of attraction whenever I park with other motorcycles.

Triumph designers and engineers had worked hard to give the T100 the classic look which is very appealing while equipping it with modern technology.

For example, the T100 is fuel injected where it is hidden under an aluminium cover and the liquid-cooled radiator is placed between the frame’s steel (very clever).

Bike comes with twin-pod with a large speedometer and tachometer.

There’s also an LCD screen displaying basic yet vital information like fuel level, distance to empty tank, gear-position, odometer, clock and two trip meters.

I was able to scroll down on the LCD screen and accessing all the data by pressing the “i” button on the left-side handlebar.

This Bonnie is fitted with ride by wire, liquid cooled, 8-valve and 270 degree parallel twin engine design which gives any rider plenty of power and torque.

The handlebar is slightly pulled back and offers a comfortable riding posture.

The centre-set foot pegs, with long and wide saddle make long distance riding more pleasant.

The long saddle, definitely gives more room to the pillion rider for a comfortable ride.

Once I thumbed the starter, the engine purrs with no vibration at all.

In first gear, the clutch and gear action required very little effort.

While commuting from home to work and back, the Bonnie is very at home on a slow speed.

When I was caught in the jam, I did not feel the heat from the engine.

The bike was also pleasant to run on first and second gear and its agility allowed me to zig zag in traffic.

On the highway, the bikes sweet spot is between 90kph and 100kph.

The five-speed gearbox is very slick and provides flawless gear shifts.

The 900cc engine has been designed to deliver much more power and torque where I need them - between 2,750rpm and 4,750 rpm - for a more exciting ride.

While riding on the trunk roads of Negeri Sembilan, the bike’s suspension handled well, whether I was taking a sweeping corner or climbing up a hill.

The front KYB suspension comes with 41mm forks with 120mm travel while the rear suspension is equipped with KYB twin shocks with 120mm travel.

The front and back suspension were decent enough giving me comfortable ride and did not struggle in corners and turns.

However, I did feel few shocks to my rear end when going over some potholes.

This harshness could be easily corrected if I had adjusted the preload setting after few rides but I was too lazy to get down to it, so I paid the consequences.

Even after 4,200rpm, I did not feel any vibrations but however few reviewers have commented about feeling them on the handlebar.

I guess the vibrations had been very mild for me to feel.

Although the T100 is not a race machine, it can clock serious speed on the highway, more than enough to get you into trouble with the law.

A Triumph fly screen is a must for a light rider weighing around 69kg like me to deflect the strong wind.

The bike’s liquid-cooled engine produces 54hp and 80Nm of torque that comes about at 3,400rpm.

The engine is torquey and thus overtaking other vehicles is easy.

Not only that, the engine does not show any strain when I using high gears while riding slowly.

The brakes offer adequate stopping power which is designed only for the T100.

The front brake comes with a single 310mm floating disc with Nissin 2-piston floating calliper and complemented by a 255mm disc at the back.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS) is also available in this bike, instilling confidence in novice riders by giving better control on slippery stretches.

Gentle reminder, as stated earlier - the T100 is not a sports bike and trying to chew corners with one knee skimming over the tarmac would not be easily executed.

However, if you ride with the intention to take it easy and occasionally tearing up the highways while admiring the beauty of the nature around you, then you must consider the T100.

Enough said…test ride it and you will fall in love with the T100.

And the people around you will surely will give you the thumbs up.

SPECIFICATIONS

Triumph Bonneville T100 Black

Engine: 900cc liquid-cooled eight-valve SOHC parallel-twin
Maximum power: 54hp at 5,900rpm
Maximum torque: 80Nm at 3,230rpm
Transmission Five-speed
Features: Ride By Wire, traction control , USB power socket, immobiliser and ABS
Front suspension: KYB 41mm forks, 120mm travel
Rear suspension: KYB twin shocks with adjustable preload, 120mm rear wheel travel.
Front brake: Nissin two-piston caliper and 310mm floating disc, ABS
Rear brake Nissin two-piston caliper and 255mm disc, ABS
Fuel capacity: 14.5 litres
Weight: 213kg
Price: RM 57, 900.00 (without GST)


New Mazda CX-9 reveal imminent as leaked pictures posted online

 One of the CX-9 pictures posted by Carscoop on its website.

LOS ANGELES: Mazda is about to introduce the all-new Mazda CX-9 three-row midsize crossover SUV at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show even as pictures purportedly of the vehicle were leaked online.

The design doesn't look as dramatic as what Mazda's artist sketch depicts. The cabin is expected to follow design cues set by the Mazda6 and CX-5 and from what we can see in the pictures showing what is believed to be a prototype, it certainly looks luxurious with generous use of leather and what looks like a soft top dash.

Mazda said the 7-seater will incorporate the latest SKYACTIV technologies and represents a move towards a more premium design.

There's a possibility a 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine could be added to the existing four-potter range, replacing the 3.7-litre V6. As before, the CX-9 will be offered in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variants.


DTOX: Car service on the go

                Serial entrepreneur Hendrik Tan says a lack of knowledge in the automotive sector wasn’t a barrier when he decided to launch Malaysia’s first drive-through vehicle service centre.

With urbanites living in the fast lane, they want everything to be done quickly. First, we had drive-through fast food outlets, then drive-through car washes, and now, almost everything has a drive-through alternative.

A first-of-its-kind in Malaysia, Drive-Thru Oil Change Expert (DTOX) by Lean Concepts Sdn Bhd provides customers with a 10-minute basic service for their cars in the same way that you grab a Big Mac from your neighbourhood drive-through McDonald’s.  Tan talks about how he hit on the idea.

How did the idea come about?

I have always been an entrepreneur ever since I left college. I was in the food and beverages industry for a few years, and I owned a PappaRich franchise. The idea for DTOX came about when I was vacationing in the US. I was with my brother-in-law, and right next to a Walmart (American departmental store), there was a drive-through oil-change centre. Coincidently, his car needed an oil change, and we just drove in.

The entire process took less than 10 minutes, and we remained in the vehicle the entire time. It was really impressive and I thought this would be perfect in the Klang Valley where people are always rushing.

Was it difficult bringing a brand new concept to Malaysia?

Yes, it was. There were many naysayers who told my partner and I that the idea would not work in Malaysia as we were not ready for something like that. In that sense, many claimed that Malaysians were still very traditional.

However, in the US, there are approximately 15,000 drive-through oil-change centres, and it is a US$15bil (RM54.4bil) industry. There’s definitely potential here given our busy lifestyle. It took us almost a year to find the right location, and as soon as we found one in Petaling Jaya, we opened up our service centre.

We began operations in August 2013 after investing close to RM400,000 in our flagship store.

How was it in the beginning?

It was a slow start for us. Most people thought we were expensive as they only saw us from the outside but we were priced very competitively. Our prices start at RM88 for the mineral oil package, going up to RM158 for semi-synthetic and RM248 for fully synthetic. Once those from the local neighbourhood started visiting us and word got out, customers started rolling in.

About 80% of our clients are repeat customers. The car-servicing industry is dependant on repeat customers. On average, we service 12 cars on weekdays and 30 cars on weekends. We are extremely busy during lunch hour and just before long holidays.

What gave you the confidence despite not having an automotive background?

I was always a car enthusiast. I used to fix my car myself and, of course, maintain it as well. I believe as long as you have good business sense, you would be able to do something, even if you don’t have a strong background in that particular field. I employed top-of-the-class mechanics and they are doing a very good job. At the end of the day, we are just providing customer service.

If we provide good service, people will surely hear about us and they will come to us. Right now, we are even getting customers from Klang, and that is a testament to the service we provide. We just have to be true to ourselves and follow the best business practices.

What are your plans for the brand?

We are looking to grow. We will be opening another outlet in the Klang Valley by end of the year and within the next five years, we hope to establish some 20 DTOX centres. However, it will not be the same size as our flagship store. Our business model is all about convenience, so we do not need a big space. We want to make easy for customers to get their cars serviced. We are looking for potential partners.

What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs?

It is all about taking calculated risk and just going for it. Of course, we all are afraid when we are taking the plunge but if an idea works in another market, we can tweak it to make it work for Malaysians. Business is all about how you build it up. If you invest your time and dedicate yourself to hard work, you will be able to see the benefits.


MINI dazzles at the 85th Geneva Auto Show

                GENEVA: Seeing its world premiere at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the new MINI Countryman Park Lane embodies the strengths of the five-seater all-rounder more impressively than ever with its four doors, large tailgate and optional all-wheel drive system ALL4.

With the new MINI Countryman Park Lane, MINI has entered a new phase of its success story by venturing into the premium compact segment.

The characteristic MINI agility in terms of drive response is experienced in a new way due to the raised seating position.

The edition model's exclusive design and equipment features highlight the variable space concept of the MINI Countryman as well as its athletic flair on all types of terrain.

The MINI Countryman Park Lane boldly accentuates its classic athletic character with 18-inch light alloy wheels in Turbo Fan Dark Grey design and the MINI ALL4 Exterior visual package including silver body elements for the front and rear apron as well as the side sills.

Emblems on the side scuttles and cockpit surface bear the inscription "Park Lane" as do the entry sills.

 MINI John Cooper Works.

Another new member of the MINI family enriches everyday traffic with a dash of irresistible driving fun: the new MINI John Cooper Works unleashes pure passion for performance – not least thanks to 55 years of motor racing experience and an engine which is more powerful than any ever used in one of the brand's serial production models.

Its completely new 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology mobilises a peak output of 231hp, making it the most powerful engine ever to be installed in one of the brand's serial production models.

The overall package for extreme performance includes a sports suspension with Brembo sports brake system, exclusive John Cooper Works light alloy wheels, the John Cooper Works aerodynamics kit, particularly large air inlets and a model-specific interior in sports-car style.

The new MINI John Cooper Works sprints in 6.3 seconds from standing to 100km/h.

With the 6-speed Steptronic transmission available as an alternative to the 6-speed manual transmission, this sprint takes just 6.1 seconds.

 MINI John Cooper Works.


Hey Volvo car owners, only call 1-800-88-1728 for breakdown service from now on

                PETALING JAYA: Volvo Car Malaysia announced today that Volvo car owners only need call 1-800-88-1728 if they are in need of any roadside assistance nationwide.

Its secondary toll free number — 1-800-80-6060 — has been discontinued. All calls made to this number would be forwarded to the primary toll free number throughout the month of November to ease the transition.

Volvo Car Malaysia said the use of one helpline was "part of our efforts to streamline our operations."


Hyundai Motor, SK On plan US$5bil EV battery plant in US

                WASHINGTON: Hyundai Motor Group and SK On Co. will spend as much as US$5 billion in North America for the production of electric car batteries as President Biden’s green bill encourages companies along the EV supply chain to make investments there.

The South Korean firms will have an equal shareholding in the plant, to be constructed in Bartow county, Georgia. It’s expected the facility will produce EV battery cells starting in the second half of 2025.

The new plant should have an annual production capacity of 35 GWh of EV battery cells, enough to produce 300,000 all-electric vehicles.

The joint venture "further accelerates the group’s electrification efforts and bolsters its position as an EV leader in the US market with a stable battery supply,” Hyundai said in a statement.

The carmaker signed a memorandum of understanding with SK On to secure battery supply for North America last November.

Affiliate Hyundai Mobis will assemble battery packs using cells from the planned plant, then supply them to Hyundai Group’s US manufacturing facilities for the production of models including the Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6 and the Genesis GV60.

Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act enacts large-scale subsidies for low-carbon industries, particularly through production tax credits.

It’s seen a slew of global automakers and EV battery makers step up investment plans in the US, where certain electric cars will be eligible for up to US$7,500 in credits if they meet requirements that battery components or critical minerals are sourced from North America or US free trade partners.

Hyundai was among automakers excluded from that US$7,500 credit because it failed to meet a critical requirement of having an operational EV plant in the US.

Hyundai is planning to start operating its EV plant in Georgia in the US as early as the end of 2024.

Separately, Hyundai Motor announced first-quarter profit that beat analyst estimates.

Operating profit for the three months ended March 31 increased 86% year-on-year to 3.6 trillion won (RM12bil), beating the 2.8 trillion won (RM9.3bil) mean estimate compiled by Bloomberg. Revenue rose 25% to 37.8 trillion won wihle the carmaker’s gross margin was 20.4%, ahead of the 18.2% the market was looking for.

"The strong sales mainly stemmed from the improvement of production as chip and component supplies stabilised worldwide,” Hyundai said.

It added it sees "persistent external factors, such as expanding inflation and fluctuation of raw material costs and interest rates due to geopolitical issues.”

Analysts are forecasting a record profit for Hyundai for 2023 as easing global supply chain pressures work to free up shipments of deliveries that were delayed during the pandemic.

Hyundai is expanding its market share particularly in Southeast Asia with its lineup of electric cars and sports utility vehicles, according to Kota Yuzawa, an analyst at Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

While Southeast Asia’s car market "has been dominated by Japanese carmakers historically, a lack of competitive Japanese EV models until 2025 will pose opportunities for Hyundai,” Yuzawa said.


Australian Hyundai NEXO travels over 880km to break world distance record

                SYDNEY: An Australian team driving a Hyundai NEXO fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) has broken the world record for the longest distance travelled in a hydrogen-powered vehicle on a single tank.

Australian Hyundai rally driver Brendan Reeves drove a production-spec NEXO for the record attempt, starting from the Essendon Fields in Melbourne. After 807km of efficiency-focused driving, Reeves arrived in Broken Hill with plenty range still showing on the vehicle's trip computer.

The journey then continued to Silverton, an outback town on the outskirts of Broken Hill, best known as the setting for 1980s post-apocalyptic action film Mad Max 2 (aka 'The Road Warrior'), and the car then travelled some 60km beyond before the NEXO's hydrogen tank was depleted on the Wilangee road beyond Eldee Station.

The total distance driven was 887.5km, according to the NEXO's own trip computer, exceeding the previous world record of 778km set by French aeronaut Bertrand Piccard, also at the wheel of a NEXO, on his journey across France from Sarreguemines to Le Bourget.

A representative from the RACV was on hand to seal the NEXO's tank at the start of the journey, and an NRMA representative confirmed the validity of the tank seal at the end.

The distance measured by an isolated GPS unit on board the NEXO registered 903.4km, while the Google Maps distance showed 905km travelled. However, for the purposes of the test, the NEXO's own trip computer is used as the official distance recorder.

"Being a rally driver, I've always wanted to achieve a world record, but I could never have guessed it would come about this way," said NEXO pilot, Brendan Reeves.

"As we set out from Essendon Fields in the early morning, I found NEXO immediately familiar and easy to drive - the controls are intuitive and easy to use, the driving position excellent and seats very comfortable.

"NEXO is in its element on the open road, with its long range, peaceful and refined cabin, and smooth, near-silent fuel-cell electric powertrain," he said.

"I was constantly checking the NEXO's efficiency readout to maximise the distance I was getting per kilogram of hydrogen. I found that by using techniques from rally driving, such as looking as far down the road as possible, as well as tips I have learned from my dad for driving a truck efficiently over long distances, it's actually possible to go way beyond NEXO's official range."

The trip took 13 hours and six minutes at an average speed of 66.9kph. The NEXO's low fuel warning first lit up at 686km, with over 200km of range left from that point. The fuel light started flashing after 796km, with 90km of real range remaining.

During the trip the NEXO consumed a total of 6.27kg of hydrogen, at a rate of 0.706kg/100km. It purified 449,100 litres of air on the journey - enough for 33 adults to breathe in a day - its plastic exhaust pipe emitting only water in vapour and droplet form throughout the trip. It emitted zero CO2, where a standard Internal Combustion Engine vehicle would have emitted about 126kg of CO2 over the same distance.

Hyundai recently imported the first 20 zero-emissions NEXO FCEVs into Australia, which are now deployed in a variety of roles with the ACT Government.

At the same time, a new Canberra hydrogen refuelling station has become the first commercial H2 station in Australia, joining the private hydrogen refueling station commissioned at Hyundai Motor Company headquarters in Sydney in 2014 and Toyota's private station at Altona, Melbourne.

A hydrogen refueller in Brisbane is expected to be completed by the end of 2021, with new stations also planned for other states and territories.

NEXO is Hyundai's second-generation mass production fuel-cell electric vehicle and offers a range of 666km (WLTP) with a refuelling time of three to five minutes, in a futuristic SUV package.

Hyundai's NEXO is the first hydrogen-powered car certified (ADR) for sale in Australia. It is also the first fuel cell electric vehicle to be awarded the maximum five-star overall safety rating by Australia's ANCAP.

With NEXO as the technological flagship of a diverse portfolio of green vehicles, Hyundai is the only brand in Australia to offer hydrogen fuel-cell electric, hybrid (IONIQ), battery electric (IONIQ and Kona) and plug-in hybrid (IONIQ) vehicles.


Car theft syndicate crippled, six men arrested

                KUALA LUMPUR: Police busted a syndicate involved in stealing multi-purpose and four-wheel drive vehicles with the arrest of six members in an operation carried out around Subang Jaya and Bentong, Pahang.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said apart from the arrest of the suspects, aged between 35 and 50 on May 9, the police also seized two vehicles, believed to have been stolen and various equipment.

"Preliminary investigation found that this syndicate will leave the stolen vehicle in remote areas before it is taken over by another syndicate to be sold abroad or dismantled and sold as used spare parts in the local market," he told Bernama on Saturday.

Ayob Khan said police are still tracking the mastermind and the other syndicate members, who are believed to be active in Klang Valley, Pahang, Johor and Penang.

All the suspects have been remanded until tomorrow.

The case is being investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code.


Bosch show car as a concept living space

                SUZHOU: Bosch presented its full range of innovative mobility solutions at the 2nd Bosch China Automotive Innovation Day, held in November 2016 in Suzhou.

The leading global supplier of automotive technologies and services unveiled its core strategies for future urban mobility.

“Transformation in the automotive industry is being driven by global trends such as the aging population, urbanisation, tightening emission regulations and the spread of the Internet. By grasping the unrivalled opportunities provided by these trends, Bosch is painting a blueprint for urban mobility and formulating our own strategies,” said Bosch (China) Investment Ltd executive vice president Dr Xu Daquan.

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

 Bosch ebike.

Focusing on a localisation strategy, Bosch showcased innovative and tailor-made solutions for connected and automated driving as well as powertrain systems.

Contributing around 16 percent to the global revenue of the Bosch Group, China continues to play an important role.

“2016 saw a robust Chinese market with the production and sale of passenger cars both growing by over 13 percent in the first 10 months. Benefiting from this vigorous market, Bosch’s Mobility Solutions business in China has registered above-average, double-digit growth in 2016,” said Dr Xu.

Third living space (Bosch Show car)

In addition to home and the workplace, Bosch sees the car as becoming the third most important living space for people by 2021.

In the Bosch show car, the dashboard and center console have been transformed into an electronic display.

The information shown on this giant display changes depending on the vehicle’s current surroundings.

Drivers' preferences as well as appointments in their diary are also taken into account.

Drivers will be able to activate the autopilot to free up even more time and make their journey more relaxed.

A connection to the smart home makes it possible to operate such household functions as heating or security systems at any time.

The Bosch show car also has different interaction technologies like touch, gesture, haptic, eye gaze control for the driver.

Future urban mobility layout

Bosch estimates that by 2020, the car ownership per thousand people in China will increase to 153 from 95 in 2015, and issues such as traffic congestion, parking, and the last mile's walking distance from subway station to workplace will become even more difficult to resolve.

 Bosch ABS safety system for motorcycle.

Finding new urban mobility solutions has become the top priority for China’s automotive industry.

As traditional automotive technologies can no longer be enough to meet future demand, intelligent and connected cars will be a key solution to problems including energy shortage, pollution and traffic jams.

Meanwhile, the mobile-Internet-based sharing economy and individualised micro-transport tools will become other important elements in the future urban mobility layout.

Bosch show car (Gallery)


Michelin looks beyond tyres to help drive growth

                PARIS: France’s Michelin plans to add about 14 billion euros to its annual revenues by 2030, by recovering from a pandemic-induced slowdown and diversifying beyond its tyre-making heritage into new activities including hydrogen power and medical devices.

The firm said in a strategy presentation on Thursday that it anticipated revenue in 2030 of 34 billion euros, compared to 20.5 billion last year.

It expects the fastest growth to come from its business making hydrogen power systems for vehicles. It said that would grow from a forecast 200 million euros in 2025 to 1.5 billion by the end of this decade.

It said it also hoped for rapid growth in the new fields of 3D metal printing and medical devices.

“While staying true to our DNA, the company’s profile will evolve greatly by 2030, with a bigger role for new, high-value activities around, and beyond, tyre-making,” chief executive Florent Menegaux said in a statement.

In its traditional tyre business, it said it would achieve growth by shifting some production to lower-cost locations and focusing on higher-margin tyres.

Like many other businesses linked to the auto industry, Michelin has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, which led to a global slump in demand for cars.

The company forecast that it would recover fully from the effects of the pandemic by the end of 2022.

Michelin and French auto parts manufacturer Faurecia together own a business called Symbio, which makes hydrogen fuel cell systems for light vehicles, utility vehicles and trucks.

Hydrogen has been touted for decades as an alternative to fossil fuels, but attempts to commercialise it for use in vehicles and industry have faltered.

Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp, Honda Motor Co and Hyundai Motor are to date the only major carmakers selling hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to consumers. Sales are modest.

Neverthless, the European Union, Britain, Japan and South Korea, as well as leading oil and gas companies such as Royal Dutch Shell, BP and Total have set out plans to invest heavily in hydrogen power.


Ford presents home-delivery robot

                DETROIT: Ford has unveiled "Digit," a two-legged, almost human-like robot capable of making home deliveries.

Designed in collaboration with Agility Robotics, Digit can walk, go up and down stairs, and carry packages of up to 18kg, like a human.

The robot can, for example, collect parcels from a driverless autonomous vehicle and deliver them to the homes of end clients. The robot is also designed to fold up tightly for easy storage and transportation onboard a self-driving vehicle, until it is needed again.

The aim is to make car and robot communicate, so that the car could, for example, share delivery details and mapped pathways with the robot. Digit is equipped with cameras and a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor so as to avoid obstacles and reach home doors without dropping its wares.

Ford's technology, research and development department is full of surprises. In recent months, it has presented a smart bed to keep space-hogging sleepers in their own "lanes," a prototype noise-cancelling dog kennel and a shopping cart that can brake on its own.


Audi E-Tron 50 Quattro enters

                LONDON: The new entry level Audi E-Tron 50 Quattro has a range of up to 190 miles and 30-minute charging capability (to 80 per cent capacity) with new Technik, Sport and S line specification options that sit below the most lavishly equipped Launch Edition.

Externally, lead-in Technik models feature 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps and contrast finish bumpers, and inside offer heated and electrically adjustable front seats upholstered in Twin leather, MMI Navigation Plus and the Audi Smartphone and Audi Music interfaces, among many other fixtures.

Sport models are distinguishable by their 20-inch five-arm contrast grey alloy wheels, and inside gain features such as sport seats upholstered in Valcona leather, additional Audi Music Interface access for rear passengers and Audi Phonebox wireless charging.

At the top of the rankings in equipment terms, the Launch Edition model is identifiable by way of its black styling elements taking in the Singleframe, window trim strips and front and rear bumper, by its exclusive 21-inch alloy wheels from Audi Sport and, probably most strikingly, by its virtual door mirrors, which replace the conventional door mirrors and use cameras to project images of the e-tron’s surroundings onto OLED displays in the cabin.

The Launch Edition also incorporates a comfort remote preconditioning system, which is a higher functioning version of the remote preconditioning system fitted as standard elsewhere in the range.

Where that enables the driver to use the myAudi app to remotely activate the primary heating and ventilation system so that it reaches the temperature that was programmed when the vehicle was last driven, the more advanced version also permits remote adjustment of the desired temperature and can also control seat heating and ventilation, steering wheel heating (if fitted) and window heating.

Like its e-tron 55 counterpart, the e-tron 50 is a product of the carbon-neutral Audi Brussels plant, and its approach to efficiency is no less holistic.

Its battery has a 71 kWh capacity, and delivers its energy via a newly calibrated drivetrain incorporating an electric motor on each axle with a combined output of 230kW (313PS) and 540 Nm (398.3 lb-ft) of torque.

In the WLTP test cycle a range of up to 190 miles has been proven to be achievable, and up to 80 per cent of this total can be restored in as little as 30 minutes at fast-charge stations thanks to the electric SUV’s 120kW charging capability.


Tata marks return with Xenon and Prima

                SHAH ALAM: Tata Motors, exclusively distributed by DRB-Hicom Commercial Vehicles Sdn Bhd (DHCV), has re-entered the Malaysian market with the introduction of the Xenon pickup truck and the Prima Prime Mover.

With the unveiling of the Xenon, its official launch was indicated to be in March with an unconfirmed price range of RM60,000 to RM80,000, while being offered in three colours of white, black and silver.

The Xenon is currently being produced in Thailand and looks to appeal to those seeking a medium-sized workhorse for both commercial and individual applications.

The Xenon comprises of six variants, starting with the entry-level single cab (4x2 or 4x4), the mid-range space cab (4x2 only) and the double cab pickup truck (4x2 - Standard, 4x4 - Basic and 4x4 Premium).

The pickup truck was showcased in both 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains with a five-speed manual transmission mated to a 2.2L Direct Injection turbo-diesel engine producing 138bhp at 4,000rpm and 320Nm of torque from 1,700 to 2,700rpm.

The Xenon in single or space cab form features a drop-side load body to allow for easier cargo loading/unloading and all variants will be able to accept a payload of up to 1.2 tonnes.

In addition, Tata also launched its Prima prime mover trucks in two variants – the 4x2 Prima 4038.S (RM270,000) and 6x4 Prima 4938.S (RM320,000).

The trucks feature an 8,849cc turbo-diesel Cummins ISLe 375 Euro-III engine producing 370hp and 1,550Nm of torque while mated to a nine-speed (with crawler function) transmission.

“It is indeed an honour that Tata Motors has chosen to partner with DRB-Hicom to start this new chapter in their engagement with the Malaysian market,” said DRB-Hicom group managing director Tan Sri Mohd Khamil Jamil

Previously, DRB-Hicom assembled, distributed and sold Tata's commercial vehicles in Malaysia via 70% owned Scott & English (M) Sdn Bhd, before the agreement lapsed in 2008.

In 2012, DRB-Hicom also signed a cooperation agreement to develop, promote and market Tata's military vehicles.

The project to revive the brand in Malaysia started in September 2013, upon the signing of the Importation, Distribution and Technology License Agreements between Tata Motors and DHCV.

Tata XenonTata XenonTata XenonTata Prima (4x2) prime moverFrom left: Tata Xenon single cab, space cab and the Prima (6x4) prime mover.


Kia teases D-segment concept

                SEOUL: Come March 3 in Geneva, Kia will show off a new concept car that previews what is widely believed to be the next-generation Optima.

This new D-segment model is the 11th concept car created by Kia’s European design studio in Frankfurt.

With flowing lines which sweep elegantly from Kia’s hallmark ‘tiger-nose’ grille towards the rear of the vehicle, Kia’s new concept car embodies modern design and refined, understated energy.

According to a Kia statement, the concept "has been created as a spacious and versatile accessory to an active lifestyle, as a purposeful, energetic design study for the style-conscious, and as a sanctuary from the stresses of the modern world."

We will have more details on the concept once the Geneva Motor Show gets under way. The show runs from March 5-15.


BMW creates data hub with Amazon to boost efficiency

                LONDON: BMW has developed a data hub with Amazon’s cloud computing division, in a sign of how companies are increasingly using “big data” to try to boost efficiency.

“We want to switch from gut-driven decisions to data-driven decisions,” said Kai Demtroder, vice president of data transformation at BMW. “We have a few hundred data scientists at BMW, but the aim is to make the data accessible to everyone.”

Demtroder said BMW’s “cloud data hub” proved its value as the Covid-19 pandemic began to affect auto production in the spring, as data from Amazon Web Services (AWS) enabled the German carmaker to see which supplier plants had problems.

“This was a clear case where we had all the data and we could use it immediately to respond to the crisis,” he said.

BMW and AWS have been working together since 2015 and have spent the last year and a half jointly developing the carmaker’s data hub.

Up to 5,000 BMW employees will also be trained to use AWS technologies to make better use of data.

The hub will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict consumer demand for BMW vehicles so the carmaker can order the right parts from suppliers, comply with regulations across different markets and automatically check requirements needed to design new vehicles.

The global market for cloud storage services is expected to grow from US$50.1 billion this year to US$137.3 billion by 2025, according to market research firm MarketsandMarkets.

Last week, Canadian technology specialist BlackBerry and AWS said they had developed a cloud-based software platform designed to help automakers and suppliers standardise vehicle data.


JPMorgan to buy majority stake in VW's payments business

                LONDON: JPMorgan has struck a deal to buy a majority stake in German car giant Volkswagen's payments business ahead of a planned rollout of in-car technology that allows drivers to automatically pay for fuel or toll.

The US bank has agreed to buy close to 75% of Volkswagen Payments S.A. for an undisclosed sum, subject to regulatory approvals.

The Luxembourg-based business was founded in 2017 and operates across 32 countries. It offers car purchase and leasing, in-vehicle payments, fuelling and electric vehicle charging and subscription services such as insurance and in-vehicle entertainment.

JPMorgan said it plans to invest in and rebrand the payments business and expand its mobility-focused payments to other industries.

"One of the fastest-growing platforms is the connected car marketplace, whereby the car acts like a wallet for purchasing goods, services or subscriptions," said Shahrokh Moinian, EMEA head of wholesale payments at JPMorgan.

Non-finance companies, including car manufacturers, have stepped up expansion into financial services in recent years.

Volkswagen's financial services division will retain a 25.1% stake in the payments business, JPMorgan said. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2022.

Volkswagen Group did not provide a breakdown of earnings for the payments business in its half-year results in July, but said sales at its financial services arm were €22.6 billion (RM111bil), up 18% on the prior year.


BYD expected to sell EVs in S. Korea in two years

                JEJU (South Korea): China's new energy vehicle maker BYD is planning to sell its electric vehicles to the South Korean market before the end of 2015, according to a senior company executive.

According to China's Xinhua news agency BYD, a rising Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has brought its popular BYD e6 electric taxi and SUV to an international electric vehicle (EV) expo which opened here Friday in the renowned South Korean tourist attraction.

Liu Xueliang, BYD's general manager of the Asia-Pacific Region who leads the company's team at the show, believes that South Korea is an ideal country for developing EVs due to its favourable policies and strong public environmental awareness, as well as their understanding of the automotive industry.

BYD is the only Chinese EV producer at the expo, which also attracts world big name automakers including BMW and General Motors.

Liu told Xinhua they paid great attention to the EV expo, which runs through March 15.

"It is not only a good chance for BYD to know more about the South Korean market, but also a great opportunity for South Korean customers, media and the government to know more about the development of EVs in China."

According to him, BYD plans to sell its electric bus to South Korea first.

"Public transportation tools consume more energy than private cars, but electric bus will help reduce most of the harmful exhaust emissions."

BYD is also considering selling its electric taxi E6 to South Korea, which has run in China's southern city of Shenzhen for five years. This car is also seen on the streets in Hong Kong.

Earlier this year, BYD supplied a Japanese bus company with five electric buses K9, which can travel about 250 km after a single charging. This is the first time a totally made in China motor vehicle entered the Japanese market.

"Now we are already here in South Korea. We will take solid steps to development the South Korean market," said Liu, adding that BYD is contacting with some local partners to look for ways to promote its EVs in South Korea.

The company is also making efforts to shorten the process of entering the South Korean market as much as possible, and Liu expected that South Korean consumers can enjoy BYD's EVs before the end of 2015.

By the end of 2014, BYD had sold its EVs to more than 100 cities in 35 countries and regions around the world. In 2014 alone, the company sold a total of 3,560 E6 taxis and 2,500 K9 buses.

"As a EV producer who owns core technology including the battery and others, BYD wishes to show a brand-new image of 'made in China' to the world," said Liu.

He said the close relationship between China and South Korea has greatly promoted bilateral trade, believing the China-South Korea free trade agreement will also give Korean consumers more opportunities to know Chinese brands.

China and South Korea initialled the free trade pact on Feb 25. The two countries began talks on the deal in May 2012.


Daimler seeks €1 billion in savings at Mercedes-Benz by cutting jobs

                FRANKFURT: Tougher emissions rules will hit Daimler’s profits in 2020 and 2021, prompting the German carmaker to seek more than €1 billion (RM4.6bil) in savings from cutting staff costs at its Mercedes-Benz business by the end of 2022, it said on Thursday.

Management positions will be cut by around 10%, and the company said it would also seek more than €300 million (RM1.38bil) from cutting personnel costs - plus another €250 million (RM1.15bil) in fixed costs - at its trucks business.

Daimler said it needed to sell more electric vehicles to meet tougher European Union rules which force carmakers to cut carbon dioxide emissions from cars by 37.5% by 2030 compared with 2021 levels, and following a 40% cut between 2007 and 2021.

The company said it expected to achieve a return on sales from operating activities at Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans of at least 4% in 2020 and at least 6% in 2022.

Mercedes-Benz expects car sales to grow by around 3% in 2020, but said potential trade tariffs and Brexit could depress the return on sales by up to 1%.

Earlier this year, Daimler had said it hoped to achieve a return on sales of 3% to 5% at Mercedes-Benz Cars.


Bentley Residences to spring up in Miami, come 2026

                LONDON: Following in the footsteps of Aston Martin, Bentley Motors plans to develop its first ever Bentley-branded luxury residential tower in the world: Bentley Residences.

South Florida-based property developer Dezer Development will partner with Bentley to design and build the tower, working with architectural firm Sieger Suarez Architects.

Construction would only start in early 2023 and be finished in 2026.

It is being designed in accordance with the Florida Green Building Council (FLGC) certification to ensure maximum protection of the local environment and its wildlife.

Bentley Residences would contain more than 200 luxury apartments. The building would stand at 749 feet and over 60 stories high - a prominent figure on Miami’s Sunny Isles Beach coastline and the tallest residential tower on any US beachfront.

Not by sheer coincidence is another car-themed condo project, also in Miami. Aston Martin made the first move with its Aston Martin Residences  in 2017 ; it is due for completion in 2022.

Bentley said environmentally-safe building materials would be used, and reduced coastal lighting implemented to protect endangered sea turtles. The building will be built to reduce energy consumption.

Each unit would include a multi-car garage – the ultimate statement in exclusivity and privacy. Every apartment would offer unique ocean and bayside views, thanks to the building’s cylindrical form and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Homes would also have a private balcony, pool, sauna and outdoor shower. Interior amenities would include a gym, spa, whisky bar and restaurant.


Proton opens new 3S centre in Klang

                KLANG: Proton has opened a new 3S (sales, service and spare parts) centre in Klang after having oficially opening the doors to a 4S centre last month.

The new facility, operated by Pantai Bharu Corporation, is located at Jalan Kapar, Klang.

To Officiate the event was Proton chief executive officer Dr Li Chunrong who was accompanied by deputy chief executive officer Datuk Radzaif Mohamed, vice president of sales and marketing Abdul Rashid Musa and the company's senior management members.

Additionally, the new facility has been equipped with 12 service bays, eight hoists, three delivery bays and 70 customer parking bays.

Inside, the facility also possesses enough space to seat 35 customers, a dedicated children's play area, coffee and gadget charging area as well as free access to Wifi.

As at June 30, the local carmaker has accomplished 87 outlets ready for upgrade to 3S and 4S, ahead of its scheduled time by two months, which is 80% of the targeted 109 outlets set to be completed by October.


Roof, boot or rear? The pros and cons of each way to transport bicycles

                BERLIN: On the roof? In the car? At the back? If you want to take your bicycle with you on a road trip, you’ll probably have to choose one of these three options.

"It’s impossible to make a blanket statement about which type of carrier system is the best," says Rene Filippek of German bicycle club ADFC.

The least elaborate method is to transport the bike inside the car. "However, this only works with estate cars or vans," says bicycle specialist David Kossmann. “In normal cars, you often have to remove the wheels from the bike,” he says.

Rear-end racks: Handier, but won't always fit

Rear-end carrying systems are mounted on the tailgate of estate cars, but there are also models for saloons and even convertibles. “But the vehicle must also be approved for it,” notes Kossmann. Using one on a car with a glass tailgate, for example, is out of the question.

"A disadvantage of the rear carrier is also the limited rear visibility – and you shouldn’t use the rear window wiper.” Most of these systems are mounted such that the bikes are perpendicular to the car, but there also some in which they run parallel. “The advantage of this is that the vehicle is not widened,” says Kossmann.

The roof: Cheaper, but more complicated

The classic method for transporting bikes is on the roof, which is one of the cheapest kinds of mounts. The advantage? With these systems, you still have full access to the boot and no reduced rear visibility.

The list of disadvantages, however, is long.

You'll notice the first one as soon as you have to mount the bike. Doing so on your own is tricky at best as you'll need to lift the wheels up onto the roof. A heavy electric bike will only make things harder. What's more, this can quickly scratch the paintwork.

On top of this, driving characteristics will change, especially when there's crosswinds.

Driving into a garage, meanwhile, can also mean the end of your bike if there's not enough height.

The high wind resistance leads to increased fuel consumption, while the mounting height of roof racks are usually awkward and uncomfortable. But with prices starting at around US$250 (around RM1,100), roof systems are also among the cheapest options on the market.

Roof racks, however, tend to do poorly in tests. “On the slalom course, which simulates an evasive manoeuvre we’ve seen some bicycles on the roof snap right off,” says industry reporter Holger Ippen. In rear-end collisions, poorly secured roof cargo can also turn into dangerous projectiles.

 A trailer hitch carrier. — All pix by dpaTop choice: Trailer hitch

The favourite among the experts are systems for the trailer hitch. “The low height makes them easy to load, and some models even have a loading ramp for heavy electric bikes,” says Filippek.

"A big advantage of these systems is the fast, one-point mounting and the fact that the bicycles do not have to be heaved onto the vehicle’s roof," says Ippen.

"In addition, they stay in the car’s slipstream, causing less noise and making for lower fuel consumption at high speeds than with a roof transporter," he adds.

The lower centre of gravity also has a positive effect, especially when it comes to pedelecs, which tend to weigh around 25kg.

In terms of price, however, the hitch carriers rank at the top. Buyers can expect to invest around US$400 to US$600 (up to RM2,600) for a good system, says Ippen. Depending on the model of car, there may also be the added cost of the trailer hitch itself.

No matter how you transport the bikes, experts say you should make sure it's dry when you mount, to avoid anything slipping free, and to take off any removable parts that could come loose. You wouldn't want a bike light hitting your windscreen at high speed on the highway.


Improved Toyota Harrier introduced from RM274,000

                SHAH ALAM: UMW Toyota Motor has started taking orders for the improved version of the Harrier luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV) model that was launched locally last year.

The new 2022 version is available in two variants comprising the Harrier 2.0 Luxury and a freshly introduced Harrier 2.0 Luxury Special Edition (SE), priced on the road without insurance from RM274,000 and RM277,000 respectively.

Key improvements include a Panoramic View Monitor and updated Toyota Safety Sense features such as the Pre- Collision Brake detection, Lane Departure Alert and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control for an overall safer and smoother drive.

Available colours are Slate Grey Metallic, Precious Black, Steel Blonde Metallic, Dark Blue Metallic and Platinum White Pearl.

Meanwhile, the Harrier Luxury SE comes in a special Red Metallic color to compliment the new luxurious Brown interior.

Powering the SUV is a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 16-Valve DOHC with VVT-iE(intake) and VVT-i(exhaust) technology, delivering 173PS and 203Nm of torque.

Sending power to the wheels is a Direct Shift Continuously Variable Transmission.

UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K said the company was delighted to showcase the new improvements made to the latest Harrier SUV.

"We hope this update gives drivers an exceptional experience every time they get behind the wheel because we understand that it's all about the drive," he said.

Meanwhile, the company entered Q4 2022 registering sales of Toyota for September 2022 at 9,098 units, while Lexus recorded total sales of 135 units.

Total sales for the month of September 2022 stood at 9,233 units (Toyota + Lexus), compared to 9,091 units (Toyota + Lexus) recorded in August 2022.

The September 2022 sales was also 15% higher compared with the 8,033 units achieved in September 2021.

Total year-to-date sales registered for September 2022 stood at 70,872 units compared  with 46,118 units for corresponding period in September 2021, showing positive increase of 54%.

Ravindran said the company was humbled by the positive support received from its customers and is even more committed to going the 'Extra Mile' to intensify production and ensure timely delivery to new car owners.


PAC starts probe to get a handle on flying car project

                PETALING JAYA: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has started a probe into the “flying car” project announced by the Entrepreneur Development Ministry.

Since that announcement, there was confusion among the public on whether public funds were to be used or had been used for the project despite Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Redzuan Md Yusof saying in Parliament that it was a private project, said PAC deputy chairman Wong Kah Woh.

“We have decided to start a proceeding on it,” he said when contacted.

The flying car project is not the third national car project that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad sought to start.

On Feb 26, Redzuan said Malaysia’s first flying car was expected to be unveiled this year. He then said on March 2 that the flying car was being built to cater to transport companies or those offering transport-related services, and was not for sale to the general public.

Known as the Vector, which was touted to be the much-talked about flying car, the model has the appearance of a drone.

In Parliament on March 29, Redzuan said the government’s endorsement of the privately funded “flying car” project was aimed at developing human capital.

“These Malaysian youths (behind the project) are already far ahead and they are in the same rank as those who invented and did research (on the concept) at an international level,” he said.

Malaysians have made fun of the “flying car” project on social media, with some asking if the model was made from KDK fans, while others expressed scepticism.

Wong noted that the Entrepreneur Development Ministry informed the Parliament earlier that no public money was involved in the project.

“So far we have conducted two proceedings on the matter; on June 14, where representatives from the Entrepreneur Development Ministry attended our proceedings; while on June 19, the deputy secretary-general of the International Trade and Industry Ministry attended the PAC’s proceedings,” he said.

He said representatives from the International Trade and Industry Ministry were summoned because the PAC wanted to know if they were informed of the project.

“We will have more discussions on the matter by calling other relevant agencies,” said Wong.

Attempts to get a response from the ministers of Entrepreneur Development and the International Trade and Industry were unsuccessful at press time.


BAIC EV200 electric vehicle previewed

                PETALING JAYA: A new player in the Malaysian automotive industry has just made its presence felt with a sneak peak of its electric vehicle, the EV200.

BAIC or Beijing Auto International Cooperation is the leading electric vehicle producers from China and has teamed up with Amber Dual Sdn Bhd to make Malaysia the hub for its electric cars for the Southeast Asian market.

The EV200 sedan has a range of 200-240km and produces 30/50Kw and 102/180Nm of torque. Energy is stored on a Ternary lithium cell battery and the car has both an AC and DC charging ports. The car has a 0-50kph acceleration time of 5.3 seconds and has a maximum speed of 125kph.

It features an 8in touchscreen with GPS, Bluetooth connectivity as well as AUX, SD and USB ports, and an LCD instrument panel.

Safety-wise it comes with two airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic braking force distribution (EBD) with ISOFIX, parking sensor and rear view camera among others.

The EV200 is due to be launched next year and  the hatchback version of the EV200 will be offered first.

The BAIC cars are locally assembled at its plant in Gurun, Kedah.

Prices are not available yet so watch this space for further updates.


Different car worlds co-exist at upbeat Los Angeles Auto Show

                LOS ANGELES: It seems like every third car on the streets of Los Angeles is a Tesla, and it's hardly surprising since electric vehicles are coming thick and fast in California as makers wean drivers off petrol engines.

There are plenty of swanky super sports cars and pumped-up pick-ups running around here too, but regardless of their taste in four-wheeled transport, all Californians seem to be in love with the motor car.

Whether they get their power from the petrol pump or mains electricity, different car worlds co-exist here peacefully, as a visit to the Los Angeles Auto Show (Nov 19-28) makes clear.

California is the country's largest car market with more than 2 million vehicles sold annually, so it comes as no surprise that manufacturers of old-school and innovative models have pulled out all the stops.

Visitors need to don a mask and take a Covid test if they have not been vaccinated, but attending this show is well worth the effort. The usual big Stateside names are on site but there are many more manufacturers besides them.

Asian makers who stayed away from Germany's revamped IAA Mobility fair in Munich in September have turned out in force for the Los Angeles bash.

After all, Subaru sells more cars in North America than Volkswagen and Audi together, while Toyota, Nissan and Honda have legions of fans here too. South Korean makers like Hyundai have also racked up impressive sales.

Of the German manufacturers only Porsche has seen fit to attend, which leaves all the more limelight for US newcomers from Fisker, minivan-maker Canoo and Edison. Also grabbing attention is Vinfast, a manufacturer from Vietnam determined to make inroads internationally.

There is no shortage of new cars either. Most of them are electric, but some classic models shine out too.

"What climate crisis?" would seem to be the motto of Chevrolet's brutal new mid-engined Corvette, which boasts 670hp.

The much more affordable Nissan Z sportster is a fusion of retro-styling and modern design in the mould of the 1970 Datsun 240z.

Meanwhile, the monstrous 6-metre Lincoln Navigator SUV and Lexus LX600 continue to cosset their occupants with no sign of hybrid let alone electric propulsion in sight.

Ford, Jeep und Land Rover have given their rugged products the green touch. The Blue Oval's signature pick-up, the huge F-150, now comes with an electric motor and is badged as a Lightning.

Jeep's new Grand Cherokee can be ordered as a plug-in hybrid and even the new Range Rover, which is being unveiled to the public for the first time in LA, comes with hybrid and battery-electric power.

The new Pininfarina-styled Vinfast VFe35 und VFe3 crossovers are headed for Europe at the end of next year and the same applies to the pure-electric Fisker Ocean. Ex-Aston Martin engineer Henrik Fisker plans to have it produced at the Magna factory in Austria from 2022.

The Hyundai Seven and Kia EV9 are the only genuinely new concepts at the show and both are destined to morph into production SUVs with a range each of more than 600km. That will pitch them against the Audi E-Tron and BMW iX.

Europe can also watch out too for the Nissan Ariya, its largely identical cousin the Toyota BZ4X and the Subaru Solterra.

Seemingly contradictory automobile worlds are evident at the Porsche stand where the Swabians showcase cars from both ends of the spectrum.

The Taycan GTS is the first electric from the brand with a range of more than 500km and it shares space with the irrational Cayman 718 GT4 RS.

This wild, hardcore edition of the model with high-revving, six-cylinder engine and no turbocharger is a technical anachronism and one of the least green cars on the planet.

No one bats an eyelid in tolerant LA though, where diverse car worlds simply co-exist.


June 16-22: RON97 petrol price up 11 sen to RM4.83

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail price of RON97 petrol will be higher by 11 sen at RM4.83 per litre, while the prices of RON95 petrol and diesel remain unchanged for the week from June 16 to June 22.

The Finance Ministry said in a statement today that the prices of RON95 petrol and diesel remained at RM2.05 per litre and RM2.15 per litre respectively, even though the market price of the two products had risen beyond the current ceiling price.

The ministry said the new price is based on the weekly retail prices of petroleum products in accordance with the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.


500,000 Go Shop vouchers for BHPetrol customers

                PETALING JAYA: Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd (BHPetrol) and GO SHOP Malaysia are rewarding Malaysians with more than 500,000 Go Shop vouchers worth RM20 each at participating BHPetrol stations with BHPetromart convenience stores.

Customers can purchase fuels and goods (excluding Touch n’ Go, e-Pay services and tobacco) for a minimum value of RM30 per transaction from Feb 8 to Feb 18 2018 to qualify for the RM20 Go Shop voucher.

The RM20 voucher can be redeemed on Go Shop’s official website or Go Shop mobile app, by keying in the unique promo code embossed at the back of the voucher.

The voucher is valid till 31 March 2018.

10 lucky customers who successfully redeemed the Go Shop voucher will also win RM1000 worth of BHPetrol vouchers each, while another 43 customers will stand to win RM10,000 worth of products from Go Shop.

For more information go to www.bhpetrol.com.my and www.goshop.com.my or download the official Go Shop app via the Malaysian Apple Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android).


Chip supply, testing woes to curb car production, says IHS Markit

                LONDON: Semiconductor shortages and the delayed packaging and testing of the chips will cause production of global light vehicles to drop by five million this year, data firm IHS Markit said on Thursday, marking the biggest cut to its outlook in nine months.

Citing supply chain challenges, IHS said it was cutting its light vehicle production forecast by 6.2% for 2021 and 9.3% for 2022, to stand at 75.8 million units and 82.6 million units, respectively.

Packaging and testing operations within the semiconductor sector in Malaysia were affected due to the government's lockdown measures in early June, IHS said, compounding difficulties in an already constrained supply chain.

"Our interpretation of the situation in Malaysia, which is responsible for 13% of the global supply of semiconductors for the automotive industry, has become more pessimistic," IHS said.

"The two-and-a-half-month backlog that has built up since June will take time to clear and is anticipated to extend well into 2022."

Automakers from General Motors to Japan's Toyota have slashed output and sales forecasts due to scarce chip supplies, made worse by a Covid-19 resurgence in key Asian semiconductor production hubs.

IHS said the semiconductor snafus have resulted in lost production of 1.44 million units in the first quarter and a further 2.6 million units in the second quarter.

Currently, losses in the quarter are running at 3.1 million units and rising, nearly double its previous forecast.

"The outlook for Q4 now reflects heightened risk as challenges to the supply chain – primarily semiconductors – remain entrenched."


KL City Hall struggling to find new depots for abandoned vehicles

                KUALA LUMPUR: Abandoned vehicles in the city is a problem the authorities are trying their best to resolve.

The latest development to the problem is the impending closure of two of Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) vehicle depots by the end of the year.

Both the depots – the Salak Selatan Depot and Jalan Emas Depot – are sitting on land belonging to the Federal Territories Land Office, and the land office wants them back.

DBKL executive director Datuk Mohd Najib Mohd said the cars stored at both depots would be moved to two other depots belonging to DBKL.

“We are discussing with the land office on other available locations in Kuala Lumpur for new depots.

 The Taman Connaught Depot covers 1.74ha and can store up to 800 vehicles.

“There were previous discussions to look for land outside of Kuala Lumpur such as Selayang but since it will be out of our jurisdiction, it creates complications,” he said.

DBKL enforcement department senior deputy director Osman Ismail said the Salak Selatan depot had a capacity to accommodate 200 vehicles on a 0.40ha land while the Jalan Emas one can house 300 vehicles on a 0.65ha land.

The Salak Selatan Depot is also where the office for the depots are located.

With both sold off, Osman said the abandoned vehicles would be moved to the Batu Muda and Taman Connaught depots.

The Taman Connaught depot is currently the biggest one among four and sits on 1.74ha land with a capacity to hold 800 vehicles.

Batu Muda depot can take in 300 vehicles on a 0.40ha land.

“We have discussed with Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz and Mohd Najib on the issue of storage space and they said they would look for new locations,” said Osman.

On statistics, he said the number of cars that were towed by DBKL in 2015 was 527 and 609 motorcycles.

 DBKL Enforcement Officer Insp Mohd Nazeri Din taking note of new cars brought into the Taman Connaught Depot.

“Between January and December last year, we towed away 864 cars and 740 motorcycles, and from January to June this year 621 cars and 402 motorcycles were pulled away,” he said.

He said more people are abandoning their vehicles as value of cars and motorcycles deteriorated faster now and people were inclined to follow the trend of having the latest models.

“Also, many car dealers are offering zero downpayment for cars, attracting many to sign up,” he said.

DBKL started auctioning cars and motorcycles at its depots last year to free up space to store more abandoned vehicles.

image: http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/08/08/scouting-for-new-locations-dbkl-has-also-held-several-auctions-to-free-up-space-at-its-depots/~/media/e6584392f0ff4d51b95066ccde0145ff.ashx?h=367&w=550

“We held three auctions last year and four this year,” he said.

On March 12 last year, DBKL announced that those wanting to dispose of dilapidated vehicles could now do so for free.

However, Osman said the response was poor and that less than 10 people called to have their cars towed from their homes.

“There were people who called to enquire about the offer but wanted to be paid between RM100 and RM200 in return.

“We do not offer money and only offer to tow the unwanted vehicles,” he said.

He said in 2016, the number of cars auctioned last year was 397 while 630 motorcycles were auctioned off for RM172,000.

 A man bidding for vehicles at the auction at the DBKL Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Department office on April 5.

“From January to June this year, we auctioned 475 cars and 624 motorcycles for a total of RM134,000.”

Osman said the money went to DBKL’s Finance Department.

“Most of the people who attend the auctions are from automobile workshops.

“We auction off vehicles that fall into two categories; one is with engine and spare parts still attached while the other is beyond repair,” he said.

He added that before the auction, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) would strip the ownership of previous owners of the vehicles.

“If the car is repaired with the engine, the new owners will have to go to JPJ and Puspakom to register it.

“Those without engine and spare parts such as the mirrors and doors do not have to,” he said.

To also overcome storage issues, DBKL have appointed DRB-Hicom Environmental Services (DHES) Sdn Bhd to take away cars deemed beyond repair such as those with only the frame left and without an engine.

There is no long-term solution to the abandoned car issue in Kuala Lumpur due to red tape and owners being unable to pay for repairs and hence, leaving their cars at workshops or dumping them on the roadside.

Osman said based on his observation, the US and Japan are creative in bringing life to old beat-up cars.

“So much so, there are different workshop competing with one another in terms of creativity.

“However, it is hard for workshops here to do it due to red tape on modifications disallowed by JPJ,” he said.

Those who want to contact DBKL on abandoned cars can call DBKL Complaints Hotline at 1800 88 3255 or DBKL Enforcement Department Operations Room at 03-4024 4424 (24-hours).

The public can also Whatsapp at 019- 212 0031.


Aston Martin's ice-driving course spreads to Japan

                TOKYO: Aston Martin is introducing its ice-driving programme in Japan from next year.

Running from Feb 8-12, participants will have the chance to test their driving skills on sub-zero snow and ice surfaces in Hokkaido, with expert guidance from professional driving instructors.

They will experience first-hand the sporty handling of a variety of models such as the flagship Vanquish S and the DB11 Volante.

Paying customers will also be hosted at luxurious accommodation in the east of Hokkaido, with private open-air onsen (hotspring) baths as well as the choice of either traditional Japanese or Western style beds.

Places are limited, so it's on a first-come-first-served basis. Aston Martin did not indicate the 2018 pricing in its press release. As an indicator, the same event held in New Zealand in August went for around US$6,500 (around RM27,000) per driver.

The programme is also run in Europe and the United States.

"Our 'Hokkaido On Ice' programme places guests at the heart of one of the most stunning locations in the world, and behind the wheel of equally beautiful cars," said Aston Martin Asia Pacific president Patrik Nilsson.

"We strive to create unforgettable experiences through our 'Art of Living' programme, and Hokkaido On Ice is perhaps the ultimate illustration of this.”

READ MORE: No Astons here but CarSifu did drive Audi on ice in Finland


Some Grab drivers using external tools to exploit job allocation

                PETALING JAYA: Some Grab drivers are using external tools – including location spoofing services – to grab the jobs of others, said the e-hailing service.

“We are aware that there have been a small number of unethical driver-partners who have been using illegitimate tools to exploit other means to gain unfair advantages over job allocations, ” said a Grab spokesperson.

GPS spoofing is one of the methods used to make a driver appear closer to a passenger and be prioritised for the pick-up.

The spokesperson explained that in high demand locations – such as airports, where drivers usually have to queue to get a passenger – such a tool could make it look like the driver was already close by and get added to the queue earlier.

This is unfair to other drivers who are already near the location, and could cause delays for passengers, as the car could still be faraway, the spokesperson said.

“These illegitimate tools only threaten the personal data stored in driver-partners’ own mobile devices, and we have informed our driver-partners of the risks, ” said the spokesperson.

The company reiterated that its app has not been hacked and does not pose a privacy risk, saying that it has appealed to its drivers to continue reporting such activities.

Also, the company said the person picking up the passenger is still a registered Grab driver and is trackable.

Grab said it considered such actions as fraud and will suspend drivers that do so. And it will also continue to invest into anti-fraud tech, as the fight against fraud is never ending.


Pre-booking open for BMW M3 and M4 Competition from RM665K (est)

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Malaysia has launched its latest campaign for its high-performance BMW M portfolio.

The company is allowing online pre-bookings to commence for the M3 Competition (G80) and M4 Competition Coupé (G82) from now until Dec 31 at RM5,000 each and deliveries have been earmarked to start in early 2021.

Estimated pricing for the new models (on-the-road without insurance) starts with the BMW M3 Competition at an estimated RM664,800 or RM722,800.

The M4 Competition gets tagged at an estimated RM684,800 or RM740,800 with the Innovation Package.

In stock "Competition" form, both cars are powered by an up-tuned 3.0-litre (2,998cc) twin-turbo straight-six S58 engine producing 510PS at 6,250rpm and 650Nm from 2,750rpm to 5,500rpm.

Comparing to the stock S58 engine, output has been rated at 480PS at 6,250rpm and 550Nm of torque from 2,650 to 6,130rpm.

The engines are managed by an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission with Drivelogic for the rear wheels.

An M xDrive all-wheel-drive option will only find its way here sometime in the middle of 2021.

In rear-wheel-drive guise, both cars will be able to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 3.9 seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250kph.

As standard, the M3 and M4 Competition will come slapped with a BMW Individual carbon-reinforced fibre roof, LED headlights and black chrome exhaust tips.

High-gloss black accents get applied to the controversial front grille, lower bumper edges, window frames, exterior mirrors, side sills, rear boot spoiler and rear diffuser.

Both vehicles roll on 19-inch (front) and 20-inch (rear) double-spoke Style 826 M bicolour M forged alloys that wear 275/35 (front) and 285/30 (rears) series tyres

Partially obscured are the performance braking system and the Adaptive M suspension.

Inside, the cabin gets Black Merino leather upholstery for the M Sports seats with illuminated model designation, anthracite headliner from BMW Individual and piano-black accents.

The Innovation Package includes BMW Laserlight, powered sunroof roof, black double-spoke 825 M bicolour M forged wheels, M seat belts, BMW Individual piano-black accents and a choice of Kyalami Orange, Yas Marina Blue or Silverstone for the door cards.

“With the upcoming  M3 Competition and M4 Competition Coupé, we aim to continue driving this passion with our fans of the BMW M portfolio here, emulating our motorsports capabilities from the track and combining it with our philosophy of uncompromised everyday practicality and comfort,” said BMW Group Malaysia managing director Harald Hoelzl.

BMW M3 Competition (G80)

BMW M4 Competition Coupé (G82)


Range Rover Evoque NW8 makes global debut

                MONTREAL: Land Rover has revealed the final piece of its ‘Inspired by Britain’ jigsaw at the Montreal Auto Show, Canada.

The Evoque NW8 is the third in a series of special edition models inspired by iconic British landmarks.

The Range Rover Evoque NW8 takes its inspiration from the postcode in North West London, UK, that has been at the heart of the city’s creative scene since the Sixties and is home to the world famous Abbey Road.

It is based on the Dynamic model and complements the existing SW1 Monochrome and SW1 Colour special editions.

Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer, Gerry McGovern, said: “Our customers love to personalise their vehicles to reflect their own characters and the Evoque NW8 provides another opportunity for them to make a statement. Its bold combination of colours makes it the most individual of our ‘Inspired by Britain’ special editions.”

The exterior of the NW8 is exclusively available in Fuji White paintwork with a unique Firenze Red Contrast Roof and matching red door mirror caps.

The Range Rover lettering on the bonnet and tailgate is given the eye-catching red treatment while the 20-inch alloys are finished in Narvik Black.

Darkened headlights and foglamps, clear rear lights and the Santorini Black wing vents and grille all highlight the Evoque’s confident stance, while the NW8 is also distinguished by black rather than silver finished bumper inserts.

Customers get an equally distinctive interior with a choice of Taurus leather Ebony seats with Pimento perforated inserts or Ebony seats with perforated Ebony inserts.

Additional highlights include unique embroidered headrests and an Anodised Red rotary Driver Selector with matching CommandShiftTM gearshift paddles or, on manual models, a white gearlever insert with red graphics.

A unique Evoque graphic sets the NW8 apart from its special edition stablemates. The distinctive motif is inspired by the iconic Abbey Road zebra crossing and adorns the treadplates, seat tags and key fob.

Its design celebrates the history of Evoque showcasing the original 2008 LRX Concept, Evoque five-door, Evoque Coupe and 2012 Evoque Convertible Concept.

Exclusivity is guaranteed with only 1,000 examples of the special edition NW8 set to be produced.


Apple veteran wins Gates’ backing for Michigan battery startup

                DETROIT: Amid a boom in electric-vehicle production and a race for innovations that improve these new cars’ range and cost, battery startup Our Next Energy said today it has raised US$25 million in a fresh fundraising round.

The investment in ONE, as the company is known, was led by Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures.

The year-old startup, based in Novi, Michigan, says it has engineered a way to eke out higher ranges from lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, a more stable but less powerful chemistry than the nickel-based batteries used by most automakers today.

"The whole foundation of the industry right now is being built on nickel-cobalt,” said Mujeeb Ijaz, ONE’s founder and chief executive officer.

"Because range was so important to the end customer, that was seen as the only way to get there. We’re offering an alternative.”
 Ijaz.

ONE’s innovation lies in the way it designs battery packs, which it plans to build a factory in Michigan to assemble.

Ijaz, a veteran of Apple’s secretive car project, said he’s landed his first customer, an EV startup that makes medium-duty delivery trucks. He declined to name the customer but said production will start in November 2022.

The growth of the electric-vehicle market has brought challenges for the industry, including a shortage of batteries and soaring prices for raw materials such as nickel and cobalt, the latter of which is fraught with ethical issues.

Nickel, the metal the auto industry largely relies on today to provide power and range, is prone to fire, a risk the industry is spending billions to control.

That’s driving automakers, battery manufacturers and startups - including ONE - to seek less costly alternatives.

ONE uses lithium-iron-phosphate, or LFP batteries, which are cheaper and less fire-prone than nickel-based chemistries.

Typically, that approach would mean sacrificing power and range for stability, but the startup claims it’s solved that problem.

‘Ahead of the curve’

"We think he’s ahead of the curve,” said Libby Wayman, who leads the transportation team at Breakthrough Energy Ventures and sits on the board of ONE.

"This is the beginning of a trend where people will look to alternative chemistries to achieve energy density, safety, supply-chain optionality, and supply-chain redundancy.”

Also investing in the latest round were Assembly Ventures, BMW iVentures, electronics-manufacturing company Flex Ltd., and Volta Energy Technologies.

Gates is Breakthrough’s chairman and investors include Amazon.com Inc. co-founder Jeff Bezos and Michael R. Bloomberg, the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent company Bloomberg LP.

A typical battery in an electric vehicle stores a lot of energy - enough to power the average US home for about 2.5 days.

So it’s a formidable engineering feat to ensure these cars are safe, even as large amounts of electricity are used to charge them or propel them around town.

To mitigate fire risk, manufacturers use filler material that helps ensure the battery doesn’t heat up too much, along with electronics to ensure all the cells charge equally.

ONE’s innovation has been to find ways to cut down on the filler material, which enables them to add more cells, and thus store more energy, without increasing the size and cost of the battery pack.

Ijaz has spent three decades focusing on powering EVs. He conducted battery research at Ford Motor Co. and was chief technology officer at battery manufacturer A123 Systems LLC until he was poached by Apple Inc. in 2014.

He returned to Michigan last year to launch his startup and hired former colleagues from A123, saying he felt the auto industry had reached an inflection point with electrification.

Cell-to-pack approach

EV batteries are made of cells, which are bundled into modules, and then arranged in a pack to optimise power while mitigating fire risk.

ONE is using a simpler and cheaper engineering approach called "cell-to-pack,” which skips the need for modules.

ONE isn’t the first or the only company to take this approach.

It was pioneered in China by players like SVOLT Energy Technology Co.

The world’s largest battery supplier, China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology, or CATL, sells it to customers today, including Tesla Inc.

Ijaz says ONE’s technology outperforms what other makers have been able to accomplish so far.

He pointed to an internal analysis of how much energy is stored in the battery pack per unit of volume - a crucial consideration because EVs have limited space for batteries.

Higher energy density for the pack means an EV can theoretically have long driving range.

ONE’s analysis showed its packs are made up of 76% cells and yield 287 watt-hours per litre (Wh/L) of energy density.

By comparison, the analysis showed the pack from a Tesla Model 3 using LFP chemistry was made of 49% cells and yielded 173 Wh/L.

Nickel crisis

As nickel prices climb, other automakers are looking at using the cell-to-pack approach to get more power out of LFP batteries, said Jim Greenberger, executive director of NAATBatt, a non-profit trade association for advanced battery technology in North America.

"If the nickel crisis never comes, I’m not sure much will come of LFP chemistry, because it’s not as powerful,” Greenberger said in an interview.

"But if nickel prices do prove volatile, or automakers don’t want to take the risk of nickel proving volatile, you may see more people using LFP technologies.”


Ministry probes profiteering on TnG NFC cards

                PUTRAJAYA: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has come to realise that Touch 'n Go (TnG) Near-Field Communication (NFC) cards are being sold online at exorbitant prices.

TnG NFC cards are sold at a price of RM10 at selected petrol stations or through online transactions using the TnG application. However, the two channels for the sale of the cards reportedly experienced limited supply since April this year.

The profiteering on the cards is an open secret and is widely known for months.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said his ministry's enforcement division is taking action after having received four official complaints on the matter and detected 13 card sales advertisements involving several online platforms.

In a statement today, he revealed that preliminary investigations showed that the sale of NFC TnG cards (on the online platforms) also involved employees at the payment counter of a petrol station.

"The individuals were found to be selling TnG NFC cards that originally cost RM10 each without any credit on it at a rate of more than five times, through the online market platforms."

Nanta said a total of 11 premises including private residences and business buildings were inspected in follow-up action.

He said six notices in accordance with Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011. 2011 had been issued to the parties involved, where, among other things, they were required to submit an official response or explanation to the enforcement division.

"Failure to do so means the parties involved may be subject to action according to Section 21(5) of the Act for refusing or failing to submit feedback," he said.

Nanta said his ministry would meet with TNG Digital Sdn Bhd this week to help resolve the shortage of cards.

The TnG NFC card allows users to top up anytime and anywhere via the Touch 'n Go eWallet application available on mobile devices. In fact, users of the card and the service are not imposed any surcharges when top-up is done.


Lexus LX 570 SUV now priced lower at RM850K

PETALING JAYA: Lexus Malaysia has dropped the price of the LX 570 SUV by RM74,000.

It is now retailed at RM850,000, Lexus Malaysia said in a statement today.

The LX 570 is a full-size luxury SUV that seats eight people. At over 2.7 tonnes, the vehicle is powered by a 5.7-litre V8 engine. This is the largest from Lexus, which produces 362hp and 530Nm of torque, and is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

READ MORE: Lexus LX 570 tested


Hyundai enters NFT market

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Co has entered the non-fungible token (NFT) market.

It went into the online community-based non-fungible token market in collaboration with the "Meta Kongz" NFT brand.

It will become the first automaker to enter the community-based NFT market, including a website and channels on Discord and Twitter, the company said in a statement on Monday.

The Hyundai NFT Discord and Twitter channels opened on April 15, and the official NFT website is scheduled to open in May.

The company released a short film introducing its NFT universe "Metamobility Universe", which reflects the '"Metamobility" concept revealed at the consumer electronics show, CES 2022.

Hyundai Motor will also issue 30 limited editions "Hyundai x Meta Kongz" NFTs on April 20 to commemorate the release of the film.

Hyundai NFT projects will be continued throughout the year to keep expanding the Hyundai NFT Universe.

Profits from the sale of Hyundai NFTs will be used for the project's management and community members.


Nissan may sell 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors, says report

                TOKYO: Nissan Motor is looking to sell some or all its 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors, Bloomberg News reported today, citing unidentified sources, a move that would reshape a three-way alliance that includes France's Renault.

Nissan shares rose 5% on the news. Mitsubishi Motors was up 3%.

“There are no plans to change the capital structure with Mitsubishi,” said a Nissan company spokesman in an emailed statement. A Mitsubishi Motors spokesman said the same, adding the company would continue to collaborate within the alliance.

Renault did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Nissan, struggling to recover from the pandemic-induced downturn, could sell its stake to a Mitsubishi group company such as Mitsubishi Corp, which already owns a fifth of Mitsubishi Motors, Bloomberg said.

Such a deal would fundamentally alter a three-way partnership built by Carlos Ghosn, former chairman of the alliance, which plunged into confusion when he was arrested in 2018 on charges of financial misconduct.

Ghosn had wanted a full merger of Renault and Nissan, which was shelved, according to Reuters sources, as the companies decided to fix the troubled alliance. The pandemic has, however, compounded problems and made a recovery hard.

Nissan, which is 43% owned by Renault, last week cut its operating loss forecast for the year to March by 28%, helped by a rebound in demand, especially in China. Mitsubishi Motors, Japan’s No.6 automaker, expects to post an operating loss of 140 billion yen (RM5.5bil) for the business year.

Both companies are cutting production levels and costs in a bid to return to profitability.


Watch what happens when a Lego Porsche gets crash tested

                MUNICH: Even though they involve the destruction of large and expensive machines, there's just something about crash tests that captures the imagination.

For all the careful engineering and meticulous design that goes into production vehicles, no one can be quite sure what exactly will happen when a prototype car finally hits the moment of truth.

But what would happen if the test car was a Porsche made of Lego?

That's just what one group of car nerds was keen to find out. A team from German computer magazine c't have built a model-size Porsche out of Lego and crashed it at a vehicle testing facility run by Germany’s largest automobile club, the ADAC.

The 2,704-piece mini-Porsche, complete with a smiling 3D-printed crash-test dummy, was sent speeding into a barrier at 46kph, with a 1,000 frame per second camera capturing the whole thing.

As the slow-mo video shows, the car explodes into a mesmerising cloud of Lego pieces upon impact, and yet sections of the Porsche remain intact.

Perhaps surprisingly, only a tiny number of the Lego pieces themselves suffered any damage, with the wheel suspensions pieces – among the first to hit the wall – some of the only ones bent out of shape.

 The 2,704-piece mini-Porsche, complete with 3D-printed miniature crash-test dummy, was sent hurtling into a barrier at 46kph. — All images from dpa


Bad Lab and Boon Siew Honda set up racing team

                KUALA LUMPUR: Bad Lab (Brave and Daring Laboratory) has ventured into motorsports by partnering Boon Siew Honda Racing Team under its ‘Man-Gineered for Power’ campaign.

The initiative is part of Bad Lab’s mission to support local talents and develop more Malaysian riders that are able to compete on the global stage.

Bad Lab is a Malaysian brand known internationally for its range of grooming products for confident and outgoing men.

The announcement by Bad Lab and Boon Siew Honda to establish the Bad Lab KC Honda Racing Team was made after months of discussions.

Bad Lab commercial director Lum Chong Heng said the decision to partner Boon Siew also aligned perfectly well with Bad Lab’s mission to empower the youth to be brave and daring in the pursuit of their dreams no matter what field they are involved in.

“This is indeed one of the most important chapters in the brand story of Bad Lab since it was first introduced to the local and international market in 2014,” he said.

(From left) Lum, KC Team owner Kee Choon Seng and Boon Siew senior marketing manager Steven Chin at the unveiling event.

Bad Lab also unveiled the riders of Bad Lab KC Honda Racing Team.

They are:

1) Muhammad Irfan Haykhal Amidi, 16, from Negeri Sembilan;
2) Muhamad Shahzul Naim Razali, 25, from Selangor;
3) Adib Hareez Hazwat, 17, from Johor; and
5) Muhammad Farish Iqmal Khayrul Elyas, 17, from Johor.

Boon Siew Honda Racing Team manager Zulhelmi Ahmad said Bad Lab's daring marketing initiatives were consistent with the team's core slogan of ‘Semangat Impian.’

Also revealed at the event are the team’s specially designed official racing suit and motorbikes are meticulously designed with accents of black and gold.

The team will be racing for the first time from Feb 25 at the upcoming first round of the 30th edition of Petronas Malaysian Cub Prix (2023), which will be held at the Sepang International Circuit race track.

Follow Bab Lab on social media via its Instagram at @badlabco, and Facebook at BadLabMY. Hashtag #Badlab.

Boon Siew Honda Racing Team can be followed on social media via its Instagram at @boonsiewhondaracingteam.


Toyo Proxes tyres designed to exceed expectations

PETALING JAYA: Tyres are one of the most important components fitted into every vehicle and it’s important that these components keep up with the times as the advancement of technology heightens vehicle performance further.

Drivers today expect good road handling and comfort from their tyres and also expect better durability and longer mileage.

To keep up with these requirements is a challenge for tyre manufacturers as they have to design a tyre that can meet all the various demands.

Not one to shy away from the challenge, Toyo Tires has been steadily developing a range of tyres designed specifically to meet modern requirements for the high-performance driver known as Proxes.

The Proxes range of tyres uses the most advanced technologies.
For example, Toyo Tires uses a design tool called “T-mode” in the development of tyres in which virtually every driving condition, every surface and every variable of vehicle dynamics and power, are simulated and brought together in the computer.

As such, the various parameters of tyre development — grip, cornering, wear resistance and noise generation — can be optimally adjusted and tuned.

Besides this, advanced tyre compounds are developed using Nano Balance Technology, which is Toyo Tires’ proprietary advanced material design technology at the molecular level.

It is a systematic collaboration of four nano-level element technologies – Analysis, Research, Design and Production.

The Proxes CF2 is made from a new special silica tread compound, which offers improved performance on wet surfaces as well as low rolling resistance which contributes to better fuel efficiency and long tread life for better mileage.

Its tread design, meanwhile, features a wider main groove to aid in aquaplaning resistance, as well as a shoulder
rib block to improve handling and lower road noise, enhancing passenger comfort in the cabin.

The design is such that it provides an even distribution of the contact pressure points, helping in handling performance as well as offering a smoother tyre wear profile.

The use of the latest materials, structures and tread pattern design guarantees a high level of safety, durability, fuel efficiency and comfort.

The Proxes CF2 is the smart choice for drivers looking for high performing and safe tyres for their vehicle.