Seven-week wait for vehicle permits to enter Singapore

LTA on April 8 said it has received about 76,000 VEP applications as at April 7. - ST
SINGAPORE:  Motorists looking to drive into Singapore in foreign-registered vehicles will have to wait about seven weeks to get approval for entry permits, following a surge in applications.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said today it has received about 76,000 vehicle entry permit (VEP) applications as at Thursday.

This is more than six times the weekly average before the land borders were closed in March 2020, said LTA.

Land borders between Singapore and Malaysia reopened fully on April 1 for people fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

"For the safety of all road users in Singapore, LTA performs thorough checks of supporting documents submitted for vehicle entry permit applications and renewals, including checking for valid vehicle insurance," said LTA.

"Based on current volume, the processing time is about seven weeks."

It has notified VEP applicants of the processing time when they apply.

LTA had last month advised travellers to plan at least two weeks ahead of their intended travel dates to allow sufficient time for VEP application and approval.

It added that it may take a longer time to process VEP applications during this period due to the expected increase in demand.

LTA urged leisure travellers to defer their plans to allow those who have to travel for work or to reunite with family to make their trips.

A valid VEP is required for anyone driving a foreign-registered vehicle into Singapore. The Autopass card, which is a stored-value card for these vehicles, serves as an electronic vehicle entry permit.

Motorists must apply for the VEP online via LTA's OneMotoring website and receive an approval e-mail before they travel.

The number of motorists driving between Singapore and Malaysia in the last two years had been minimal due to the pandemic and various restrictions.

But since April 1, travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 are able to travel via the land borders between both countries without having to take any Covid-19 test or serve quarantine.

LTA previously said that motorists will not be allowed to apply for VEP/Autopass cards or update their road tax and motor insurance for their existing cards at Singapore's land checkpoints.

Those who are unable to present a valid Autopass card together with LTA's VEP approval e-mail will be turned back to Malaysia. —  The Straits Times


Toyota and Suzuki firm up electrified vehicle push

                TOKYO: Toyota and Suzuki today announced a concerted move to work together in the production and popularisation of electrified vehicles.

Both companies hope to leverage on each other's core expertise to grow their businesses. Toyota's strength lies in electrification technologies while Suzuki's is in technologies for compact vehicles.

Among areas both companies are exploring are the sharing of Toyota's hybrid system with Suzuki especially for cars sold in India. Toyota could also be an OEM supplier of new electrified vehicles built on Toyota platforms (RAV4, Corolla Wagon) to Suzuki in Europe.

Suzuki could offer to share its compact vehicles and powertrains and help Toyota make inroads into India by being an OEM supplier of compact vehicles built on Suzuki platforms (Ciaz and Ertiga) to Toyota.

Toyota and Suzuki signed a memorandum of understanding to form a partnership on Feb 6, 2017.

While both car makers would collaborate in some areas, it does not stop them from competing fairly and freely against each other, Toyota said in a statement.

"Hybrid technologies are seen as playing a huge role in many markets," said Toyota president Akio Toyoda.

"Through our new agreement, we look forward to the wider use of hybrid technologies, not only in India and Europe, but around the world. At the same time, we believe that the expansion of our business partnership with Suzuki — from the mutual supply of vehicles and powertrains to the domains of development and production — will help give us the competitive edge we will need to survive this once-in-a-century period of profound transformation.

"We intend to strengthen the competitiveness of both our companies by applying our strong points and learning from each other."

> Video clip below is dated  Oct 12, 2016 and reveals early stages of Toyota-Suzuki partnership.


Rocket battery maker Sebang returns to Malaysia

Kim (right) and Yin showing the Quick Start and Rocket automotive batteries.
PETALING JAYA: South Korea-based Sebang Global Battery Co Ltd is making a comeback to the local automotive and industrial battery scene after a two-year hiatus.

The battery maker, which ranked first in Korea and fifth in the world, will be marketing its automotive and industrial batteries to Malaysian consumers through its local joint-venture company Sebang Global (M) Sdn Bhd. Among its automotive sealed maintenance-free batteries brands are the premium Rocket and the affordable Quick Start series.

Sebang Global Battery’s Asia-Pacific export manager Sam Kim said the company’s range of automotive battery would be compatible with vehicle models running on Malaysia roads.

“Sebang Global Battery’s batteries are well-known for their quality and are the most popular in Korea,” he said at the launch of Sebang Global Battery’s Malaysian operations in Tiong Nam Industrial Park, Petaling Jaya on Thursday.

He said duties for imported batteries which had dropped to 5% from 20% had made it feasible for Sebang Global to re-enter the Malaysia market. The company’s factory at Gwangju, South Korea, boasts the largest production capacity of any single facility in the world, producing over 17 million units of automotive batteries annually.

The company also makes automotive batteries on an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) basis for Hyundai, Kia, BMW and Volkswagen to name a few.

In addition to automotive batteries, Sebang Global Battery will also be selling batteries for golf carts, generators, uninterrupted power supply units and electric forklifts in Malaysia.

The company will also offer its Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM)-type batteries, which are more robust and recommended for use in cars with idle start/stop system. The AGM-type batteries costs 20% to 30% more than conventional automobile batteries.

Sebang Global Malaysia head of sales Stanley Yin said prices of Quick Start and Rocket batteries range from RM200 to RM1,800 depending on the type and size.


Tesla blames Shanghai car fire on flawed battery module

                BEIJING: Electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla Inc said today that it has found no systematic flaws in its vehicles following the investigation of a vehicle that caught fire in Shanghai.

The company said in a statement posted on its Weibo social media account that the joint investigation team had conducted an investigation and analysis of the battery, software, manufacturing data and vehicle history.

The investigation found no systematic defect, and the initial results show that this unique incident was caused by a single battery module fault located at the front of the vehicle, Tesla said.

The company has revised the charge and thermal management settings on Model S and Model X vehicles via an over-the-air (OTA) software update, to help further protect the battery and improve battery longevity, the statement said.

Japanese battery manufacturer Panasonic supplies Tesla with battery cells, but not modules, which are a group of cells joined together. A parked Tesla Model S caught fire in Shanghai on April 21.

Tesla has said its EVs are about 10 times less likely to experience a fire than petrol-powered cars.


Kia Carens MPV morphs into SUV-like creature

                SEOUL: The latest Kia Carens made its world premiere in India today.

It's now called a recreational vehicle (RV) instead of an MPV.

The fourth-generation Carens is touted as a comfortable and spacious three-row seater with the longest wheelbase in its class.

The car comes with a first in India Hi-Secure Safety Package as standard across all trims, which includes six airbags, making it one of the safest vehicles in the country.

The Carens is also a connected car that comes with many class-leading features, setting new benchmarks in the industry.

The Carens uses the same engines as the India-made Seltos. It offers a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine with 115hp and 144Nm of torque, hooked to a six-speed manual.

There's another variant with a more powerful turbocharged 1.4-litre unit making 140hp and 242Nm; it's mated with the manual or a seven-speed, dual-clutch auto as an option.

Kia has also added a diesel version with a 1.5-litre engine producing 115hp and 250Nm. It's paired with a six-speed torque-converter automatic.

"With its bold design, high-tech features, and industry-leading safety systems, the Kia Carens is set to create a completely new segment and industry benchmark for family vehicles," said Ho Sung Song, president and CEO at Kia Corporation.

The Carens will be available in India as well as selected markets starting from the first quarter of 2022.


Vincent Tan’s super car dealership H.R. Owen doubles profits

                LONDON: Yes, it is true. The rich indeed seems to be getting richer. Berjaya Group’s Tan Sri Vincent Tan can attest to that. His London’s super car dealership is proof.

Tan’s H.R. Owen, the world’s largest Ferrari, Lamborghini and Bentley dealer doubled profits last year, driven largely by improvements under new ownership.

Pre-tax profits for the year to April 30 for H.R. Owen, which owns 15 showrooms across Britain dealing in super-luxury brands including Bugatti, Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin, rose from £2.9mil to £6mil. The group is planning to build a new £50mil London headquarters in order to provide a end-to-end service.

 Choo (left) with Tan. Choo says the ultra luxury segment continues to show strong momentum and growth.

H.R. Owen was delisted from the London Stock Exchange in 2016, following a takeover from Tan. Tan decided to buy the group after receiving poor treatment in one of its Rolls-Royce dealerships.

In January 2017, Tan installed Ken Choo as CEO. Choo previously worked for Berjaya in Asia and spent a period running Tan’s resorts and a casino in the Seychelles. He is also chief executive of Cardiff City football club.

Britain’s car sales have declined by 6.3% in the first six months of the year but there is no lapse in demand at H.R. Owen.

“The ultra luxury segment continues to show strong momentum and growth and there is a desire among the affluent customer to personalise their cars,” Choo said.

Fashion experts can often lead to customers paying an additional £75,000 to tailor the car to their exact specifications, colour and trim at H.R. Owen. The wealthy continue to get richer, Choo said, but the range of vehicles offered by the top-end nameplates is also increasing, further expanding the scope of the sector.

Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce have launched sport utility vehicles, Aston Martin’s will arrive next year and Ferrari has promised its own version of an SUV. H.R. Owen’s own expansion will see it open a new London headquarters within two years, funded largely by its parent company.

The company’s proposed five-acre site will house several showrooms, about 500 spaces of underground storage for cars to cater for an increasing trend where customers buy vehicles but want them kept safely when they are out of the country for extended spells.

The expansion is all part of offering more services, including flying Lamborghini buyers to the Sant’Agata Bolognese plant in Italy to see their vehicles being hand-crafted.

“There are more billionaire’s in London than any other city and people come from all over the world to London to buy cars and keep them here,” Choo said.

The company’s attention to details and customer services has paved the way for it to win many Dealer of the Year Awards, most recently from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, where H.R. Owen was the first dealer to score 100% in ever single category.

“In many ways, this was the perfect validation of Tan’s vision, to go from the poor service he received to the best dealer in the world,” Choo said.


PM: Amendments to Road Transport Act on drink driving to be finalised in mid-June

                PETALING JAYA: Amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), which deals with drink driving, will be finalised in mid-June before being tabled at the next Parliament meeting, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Prime Minister said he had directed the Transport Ministry to draft amendments to the Act to provide stiffer punishments for offenders found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

"The number of road accident cases involving drunk drivers is more worrying lately.

"As the leader of the government and also a father, I understand the concerns of the people and families of accident victims who want the government to act firmly in handling the issue," said Muhyiddin in a statement on Saturday (May 30).

The amendments will spell out heavier and more appropriate mandatory punishment on intoxicated drivers who cause injuries or death to other road users, said Muhyiddin.

Police statistics showed that there were 21 accidents involving drunk drivers in the first five months of this year, resulting in eight deaths, he said.

Muhyiddin said this was worrying as the number of drink driving accidents so far this year was close to the total of 23 cases recorded in 2019.

Currently, Section 45A (1) of the Act provides for a fine of not less than RM1,000 and not more than RM6,000 or imprisonment of maximum 12 months.

Meanwhile, drunk drivers who cause deaths can be punished under Section 44 of the Act, which provides for a maximum fine of RM20,000 and maximum 10 years' imprisonment.

Muhyiddin said he hoped that amendments to the Act would give justice to families of victims who have had their lives affected by drunk drivers.

In a related development, police in Petaling Jaya would triple the number of roadblocks to check drink driving.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said the police had initially set up two roadblocks when the operation started on May 27.

"We will continue with the roadblocks up to a certain time or until we see a decline in drink driving," he said, adding that police have arrested 11 people so far for drink driving during the movement control order (MCO) period.

While many of those cases involved damaged vehicles, ACP Nik Ezanee said an accident involving a drunk driver on the Federal Highway on Friday morning had claimed one life and seriously injured another person.

Seven more people were pulled over for drink driving during the operations from 11pm on Friday, he added.

The seven were brought to the police station and investigated for driving while intoxicated.


Nio EP9 electric hypercar set for Goodwood

The Nio EP9 electric supercar.
SHANGHAI: We hear a lot these days about Chinese electric car manufacturers, and major motor shows seem to regularly feature these startup companies showing off their wares, but we don't yet see many of them actually in action.

But during the weekend of July 12-15, Chinese electric carmaker Nio is set to show its Performance Program vehicles in Europe for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Britain. Perhaps most exciting is the news the EP9 will actually take part in the famous hill climb challenge at the event.

The EP9 will be driven by Scottish racing driver Peter Dumbreck, and the EP9 should put in one of the most impressive performances at the entire event after last year breaking the lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The company will also be displaying a new EP9 chassis at the event, as well as the Nio 004 Formula E Gen2 car.

Actually, the EP9 has been around for a couple of years now after first being unveiled in 2016. Even so, this will still be the first time it or any Niro Performance Program model has been shown off to the public in Europe.

Even though it's not exactly new, the numbers associated with the EP9 are pretty staggering. The car has four electric motors and four gearboxes, which all work together in perfect harmony to deliver an incredible 1,360hp, a 0-100kph time of just 2.7 seconds, and a top speed of some 320kph. On top of that, we mustn't forget the autonomous systems developed for the EP9 which also saw it set a record last year in Texas to become the world's fastest autonomous car.

Gerry Hughes, the head of Nio's Performance Program and Formula E team principal, says of the car: "Whilst we have competed in the FIA Formula E Championship since its inception and have showcased Nio's single-seater EV technology through fierce competition on the world's city streets, this will be the first time that anyone has seen the Nio EP9 Supercar run in anger."

The company is also interested in volume electric cars too, of course. An EVE concept was unveiled as a proposed volume model last year in Austin, Texas, and late last year in China a 644hp seven-seat crossover called the ES8 was also previewed.


The Barnacle may be a better way to teach parking offenders a lesson

                NEW YORK: Coming back to the car to find it has been clamped or booted for a parking misdemeanour seems bad enough, but things could be even worse.

Imagine a giant yellow plastic shield called the Barnacle splayed across the windscreen. It can't be prised off and even touching the device triggers a motion-sensing alarm.

Invented in the United States, the Barnacle makes illegally parked cars equally undriveable, this time by blocking 99% of the driver's view.

Parking enforcers simply unfold the device on a car windscreen and pump it up to activate the suction pads which hold the shield firmly in place.

Motorists bagged in this way have no option but to call a number and pay the parking fine over the phone by credit card. They then get a code which allows them to remove the device. If a driver doesn't pay, the vehicle is eventually towed away.

The City of Allentown in Pennsylvania is trying out the Barnacle and authorities in Philadelphia have said they may follow suit.

The Barnacle is named after the sticky little crustaceans that cling to rocks because its suction cups make unauthorised removal nigh on impossible.

The device is the brainchild of a New York-based company called Ideas That Stick which claims the device is safer to use and easier to remove than a wheel clamp. It is also simple to transport and to deploy at the roadside.

This means of course that those handing out the parking tickets can drive around with a small arsenal of the plastic gizmos stacked up for action in the boot of a car.

"It's time for a better way to enforce parking," said the company on its website. "We feel that current parking enforcement methods are cumbersome, archaic and inefficient."

The City of Allentown in Pennsylvania seems to agree and authorities are testing the new way to get people to pay their parking tickets.

According to the makers, the Barnacle is "lightweight and user-friendly" since it can be taken to a convenient drop off location within 24 hours. This means people "don't have to miss that important meeting."

Ideas That Stick said motorists no longer have to wait a long while for clamp removal. They device even has green credentials, because it leads to fewer carbon emissions from tow trucks.


Indonesia plans to subsidise EV sales next year

Indonesia has a target of at least 1.2 million electric bike adoptions and 35,000 electric car adoptions by 2024. — Bloomberg
JAKARTA: Indonesia plans to subsidise sales of electric cars and motorcycles starting next year so that they become more affordable, a senior government minister said on Tuesday.

Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan said the government is finalising a scheme to subsidise about 6.5 million rupiah (RM1,850) per purchase of electric motorbike to drive sales in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

A similar subsidy scheme is being considered for cars, the minister said, without providing details.

"If you want to swap your motorbike to electric one next year, do it. You will get a subsidy," he told a banking forum.

Indonesia has a target of at least 1.2 million electric bike adoptions and 35,000 electric car adoptions by 2024.

Industry groups have said demand for EVs is growing but the sales volumes were still very small compared to combustion engine cars in the country of 270 million people due to the higher price of EVs.

Indonesia is keen to develop its own EV and battery industries at home, after banning exports of nickel ore to ensure supply for investors in processing since 2020.

Jakarta has already provided a tax cut for sales of EVs and hybrid cars since 2019.


Ghosn wants Mitsubishi to reform, rules out Nissan merger

Mitsubishi Motors headquarters in Tokyo. — Reuters
JAKARTA: A full merger of Japanese car makers Mitsubishi Motors Corp and Nissan Motor Co Ltd is not on the table, Carlos Ghosn, chairman of both firms, said today.

"Full merger is not on the table. We want Mitsubishi to reform itself," said Ghosn, who was attending the opening ceremony of a new Mitsubishi factory on the outskirts of Jakarta.

He also said it was likely for Mitsubishi and Nissan to cross-manufacture in areas where it makes sense.

Last year, Nissan bought a controlling stake in Mitsubishi for US$2.3 billion after the smaller automaker admitted to cheating on mileage tests.

Mitsubishi and Nissan were studying joint production of pickup trucks in Southeast Asia as they looked for savings within the broader Renault-Nissan alliance, Mitsubishi's chief operating officer told Reuters in March.

Ghosn is also chairman of Renault.


Simplified Ford Mondeo range

                BRENTWOOD (Essex): Ford is updating its established Mondeo line-up with new sports and luxury models aimed at both fleet and private buyers.

The former seven series making up the Mondeo range will be simplified to five. The new Zetec Edition becomes the entry level Mondeo, now priced at £19,445 (RM110,656).

From Zetec Edition, Mondeo buyers have the choice of either prioritising the sporty specification of the existing ST-Line and new ST-Line Edition, or the luxury credentials of the new Titanium Edition model and range-topping Vignale.

All five models have navigation, DAB, autonomous braking to mitigate or avoid low-speed collisions at under 31mph, front/rear parking sensors and cruise control with speed limiter as standard. ST-Line series introduce extras including front, rear and side body styling, lowered sports suspension, Ford Power start button and darkened headliner. Privacy glass and 19in rock metallic alloy wheels are added on the ST-Line Edition.

The new Titanium Edition, which includes a hybrid petrol engine with 92g CO2 among its powertrains, boasts premium leather heated seats, with front 10-way power adjustment. Since launch in Mondeo in 2015, Vignale has grown to represent 13 per cent of orders. At the start of this year a Vignale Nero appearance pack was introduced – comprising 19in dark tarnish alloys and darkened fog lamp bezels, lower grille and side strips – and now becomes standard Mondeo Vignale specification.

Favoured by private buyers, the Ford Mondeo ST-Line is priced just £3,500 (RM19,917) above the entry level Zetec Edition at £22,945 (RM130,573).

Owen Gregory, Ford of Britain fleet director, said: “We know Mondeo customers want their cars to stand out. This has propelled Mondeo drivers from core series to distinctly sporty and luxury-looking models. Making this easier and more affordable takes Mondeo into 2018 in style.”


Merkel wants Germany to have 1 million electric car charging points by 2030

                FRANKFURT: Germany should have one million charging stations for electric cars by 2030, Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a video message on Sunday, ahead of meetings today with the car industry on how to speed the move to low-emission battery-powered vehicles.

“For this purpose, we want to create a million charging points by the year 2030 and the industry will have to participate in this effort, that is what we will be talking about,” Merkel said. Germany now has just 20,000 public charging points.

Stephan Weil, the prime minister in Lower Saxony, where Volkswagen is based, said he wanted to see commitments for 100,000 public charging points in place by 2021.

Weil is a supervisory board member at Volkswagen which is committed to transitioning to battery-powered cars but needs to see more charging infrastructure in order to market them successfully.

The meeting in the Chancellery is the second on the issue that entails speedy action so that Germany’s transport sector can help meet national emissions targets.

Would-be buyers have cited a lack of fuel infrastructure as a reason to shun electric cars.

Apart from electric alternatives to gasoline and diesel-driven cars, the government will also explore those run on hydrogen fuel cells, with the government and the industry sharing the cost of subsidies to attract buyers for both.

Merkel said the government aimed to preserve jobs making cars and parts. It is becoming clear that fewer employees are needed to construct electric cars than conventional ones.

Weil said Berlin should ease provisions to fund compensation for short-time working, should the industry become overstaffed.

He also said rental and property sector legislation needed to be simplified to pave the way for more public and home charging points.

“An extremely demanding time lies ahead for the German automotive industry that must be accompanied actively by policymakers,” he said.


Musk denies he sexually harassed flight attendant; Tesla shares sink

Musk. — Reuters
AUSTIN: Tesla Inc chief executive Elon Musk has denounced as "utterly untrue" claims in a news report that he sexually harassed a flight attendant on a private jet in 2016.

Shares of the electric carmaker skidded more than 10% today amid concerns that the alleged sexual misconduct and Musk's political comments could threaten to damage Tesla's brand and sales.

Business Insider reported on Thursday that Musk's private company SpaceX paid US$250,000 in 2018 to settle a sexual harassment claim from an unnamed private jet flight attendant who accused Musk of exposing himself to her.

The article quoted an anonymous person who said she was a friend of the flight attendant. The friend had provided a statement as part of the private settlement process, according to the article.

"I have a challenge to this liar who claims their friend saw me 'exposed' – describe just one thing, anything at all (scars, tattoos, …) that isn’t known by the public. She won’t be able to do so, because it never happened," Musk wrote on Twitter late on Thursday.

Reuters was not able to verify the Business Insider account.

Musk and SpaceX did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on the Business Insider story or on tweets by the billionaire.

In a statement to Reuters on Friday, Business Insider said: "We stand by our story which is based on documents and interviews and which speaks for itself."

The sexual misconduct claims "have the potential from a PR perspective to turn people off," said Guidehouse Insights analyst Sam Abuelsamid.

Friday's share drop knocked about US$66 billion off Tesla's market value and put the stock at its lowest since last August.

The shares have fallen sharply since early April as Musk's plan to buy Twitter sparked concerns about distraction and as China's Covid-19 lockdown measures hurt production at Tesla.

Ross Gerber, CEO of Tesla investor Gerber Kawasaki Wealth Management, said he is concerned that Tesla relies so heavily on a single person, Musk, but he believes his liberal clients will continue buying Musk's cars, even if they don't like what he says, since Tesla's mission is clear.

Political attacks?

Business Insider quoted the friend of the flight attendant as saying that in addition to allegedly exposing himself, Musk rubbed the flight attendant's thigh and offered to buy her a horse if she would "do more" during an in-flight massage.

The flight attendant came to believe that her refusal to accept Musk's proposal had hurt her opportunities to work at SpaceX and prompted her to hire a lawyer in 2018, according to Business Insider.

In 2018, the rocket company paid US$250,000 in exchange for a promise not to sue over the claims and included a nondisclosure agreement that prevented the flight attendant from speaking about it, Business Insider said. The news site did not name the friend or the flight attendant.

Musk, who is in the midst of a contentious effort to buy Twitter Inc, said on Wednesday that he would vote Republican instead of Democrat, predicting a "dirty tricks campaign against me" would follow.

On Thursday evening, Musk first tweeted: "The attacks against me should be viewed through a political lens – this is their standard (despicable) playbook – but nothing will deter me from fighting for a good future and your right to free speech."

In the initial tweet, he did not specifically mention the allegations in the Business Insider article.

He also tweeted that the article was meant to interfere with the Twitter acquisition.


New Shell Rimula Light Duty and 2019 promotion

KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd has launched a new range of Shell Rimula engine lubricants for pick-ups and light duty trucks.The new Shell Rimula Light Duty ranges are the Shell Rimula Light Duty LD4 15W-40 (API CI-4) and LD5 10W-40 (API CK-4) Synthetic Technology. They are specially formulated to ensure optimum performance for trucks that operate in frequent stop- start and idling conditions while carrying variable heavy loads.The mineral oil-based Shell Rimula Light Duty LD4 is aimed at meeting the needs of light duty trucks that are the workhorses of almost every commercial enterprise. The fully synthetic Shell Rimula Light Duty LD5 is suited for pick-ups and other 4x4 trucks. Both are available at selected independent workshops, spare part shops and Shell retail stations. (From left) Shell Lubricants B2B Associate Brand Manager Amanda Woo, Shell Rimula and Spirax Brand Manager Ravi Shankar, Shell Lubricants General Manager - Marketing May Tan and Shell Lubricants Sales Director Leong Tak Chuan.Both the Shell Rimula Light Duty LD4 and LD5 come in 7.5-litre pails, perfect for a single oil-change without needing top-ups, making it convenient and economical for truckers.The recommended retail price for the Shell Rimula Light Duty LD4 is RM120 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM121.50 in Sabah and Sarawak.The Shell Rimula Light Duty LD5 is priced at RM195.00 (Peninsular Malaysia) and RM196.50 (Sabah and Sarawak).Meanwhile, the 2019 Shell Rimula Ultimate Stopover Barcelona promotion will see guests taken on a journey to experience the vibrant Spanish city renowned for its arts, culture, football and cuisine.The promotion from Mar 1 till June 30, 2019 is open to customers who purchase any Shell Rimula heavy duty and light duty diesel engine oil products with a chance to win an exclusive 5-day 4-night trip to Barcelona.For more information on the new Shell Rimula Light Duty range and the 2019 Shell Rimula Ultimate Stopover Promotion, please visit www.shell.com.my/rimula.


Carsome appoints Eric Cantona as brand ambassador

                KUALA LUMPUR: Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform, Carsome has appointed football legend, Eric Cantona, as its brand ambassador.

As one of the greatest footballers of his generation, Cantona and Carsome both share a common drive in their relentless spirit to go above and beyond for their fans and consumers.

As ambassador to the brand, Cantona will take an active involvement in Carsome’s upcoming promotional activities this year as well as group-wide advertising campaigns in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand where Carsome is the market leader.

Carsome co-founder and Group CEO Eric Cheng said Cantona’s relentless spirit to go above and beyond for football fans embodies the company’s drive to further elevate the car ownership experience and have Carsome as the trusted platform for buying or selling a car.

“We are excited to have Eric Cantona onboard as Carsome’s brand ambassador. I believe Eric’s personification of victory and fearlessness displayed throughout his life and career will bring us to even greater heights in the used car market as we continue to deliver trust, transparency and choice to our customers,” Cheng said.

Cantona’s one-of-a-kind determination also personifies Carsome’s unyielding journey in transforming the car transaction and ownership experience in Southeast Asia by delivering the brand promise of bringing trust, transparency, and choice, to consumers and dealers through our technology platform and deep expertise.

 King Eric and Cheng.

Cantona said he was pleased to see the progressive and innovative work done by a market-leading Southeast Asian brand like Carsome.

“I am confident that our partnership will introduce more car buyers to high industry standards set by Carsome Certified, and subsequently welcome them to a world where the car ownership journey is a trusted and pleasant one,” he added.

The Carsome x Cantona campaign officially kicked off in Malaysia and Indonesia yesterday, while it will be introduced to Thailand in the near future. For more information and updates on Cantona’s future events, stay tuned to https://www.carsome.my/ or Carsome’s social media pages.

Dubbed by fans as ‘King Eric’, Cantona’s commanding, unpredictable, yet charismatic presence on and off pitch saw him leaving a legacy in the history of football and remains an influential figure till today.
He was the key piece of the puzzle in solving Manchester United’s goal-scoring troubles in his debut season.

His instrumental role in breaking the club’s championship dry spell after 26 years of trophyless seasons is very much likened to Carsome as a brand that set out seven years ago to redefine the used car industry, at a time when customers deeply lacked trust in the used car market.

Fast forward to 2022, Carsome has set an industry standard for customers to purchase quality assured pre-owned cars through Carsome Certified.

With this, customers can experience a hassle-free car buying experience and go home confidently with quality refurbished cars which have gone through a stringent 175-point inspection and vigorous refurbishment process.

The first in the market to offer a one-year extended warranty and five-day money-back guarantee, with up to 30 brands of cars to choose from, Carsome shares Cantona’s boldness to break the barrier of normalcy to stay on top of the game and be a leader.


Bridgestone unveils Adrenalin RE003

                SUBANG JAYA: Bridgestone Tyre Sales Malaysia launched its third-generation Potenza Adrenalin - the RE003, that builds on its predecessor’s (RE002) sporty capabilities in terms of wet and dry traction, handling stability and ride comfort.

The RE003 is primarily for high performance sports cars, which comes in 20 different sizes that ranges from 15 to 18 inch wheels with 35 to 55 series tyre profiles and are priced roughly from RM200 to RM800 per tyre.

With the new tyres, the Japanese tyre manufacturer is catering to the needs of drivers who are interested in experiencing sports driving performance on winding roads.

Bridgestone said that the most significant improvement to the tyre was its grip levels in both dry and wet conditions as well as having a more accurate road feedback for a better confidence inspiring drive.

While the RE003 maintains its predecessor’s noise levels and rolling resistance a 20% increase in high-speed performance on highways was realised.

Additionally, comfort and wet handling saw a 10% improvement, while wet braking performance, cornering stability and straight-line stability were increased by roughly 5%.

The tyre features a combination of three main grooves and an outer set of half-grooves that increase overall rigidity to offer a quick initial response and was designed to provide a more even road contact that lessens irregular wear.

Furthermore, the tyre features a wide centre rib to keep the tyre from deviating in a straight line, while improving cornering performance and the wave-like “pulse groove” provides better drainage and anti-hydroplaning performance.

The RE003 was developed at the company’s technical centre in Japan and took roughly two years to develop.

The Adrenalin range of tyres was first seen in Malaysia in 2007 as the RE001, under Bridgestone’s Potenza category of tyres, and combines comfort, quietness and overall grip performance into one complete package.


Geely's Volvo buy proves to be right move

The Boyue sport-utility vehicle.
BEIJING: China's Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd posted its biggest profit growth in eight years today, as improved product design and engineering following its 2010 purchase of Sweden's Volvo helped propel it to record sales.

Geely, which also owns the maker of London's black cabs, has already forecast a 31 percent jump in sales for the current year as affordable models introduced after the Volvo acquisition, such as its GC9 sedan and Boyue sport-utility vehicle, exceed initial estimates.

Long seen as a no-frills brand, Geely has transformed itself into an automaker with up-market aspirations, using its Volvo research-and-development advantage to climb the sales table in the world's largest auto market where it ranks around seventh.

Come next year, Geely plans its next phase of expansion as it aims to become China's first automaker to market its own brand - new Volvo collaboration Lynk & Co - in developed markets, beginning with Europe and the United States.

Entering major markets with an unknown Chinese brand is an expensive risk, analysts say, but investors are unperturbed: Geely's share price has trebled over the past 12 months.

"It's a total turnaround story," said a fund manager at a Taiwan-based investment firm that bought a significant amount of Geely stock last year.

"Before it was just a normal domestic brand, but after several new product launches it successfully elevated its brand image," said the person who was not authorised to speak publicly on the firm's investments and so declined to be identified.

Geely's China sales grew 50 percent last year to 766,000 vehicles, powered by the GC9 and Boyue, as well as small cars featuring Volvo technology. It aims to top 1 million this year, though could sell far more depending on market conditions, a Geely official with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

For 2016, net profit more than doubled to 5.1 billion yuan (US$741 million), its strongest growth since 2008. The figure is set to rise 37 percent to 7 billion yuan in 2017, showed a Reuters poll of analyst estimates prior to Geely's Wednesday filing.

To be sure, growth has come at a cost. Geely and parent Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd have spent 10 billion yuan on R&D in each of the past three to four years, or about 15 percent of current revenue, said spokesman Victor Yang.

That compared with 2 billion yuan in 2015 at domestic rival BYD Co Ltd (002594.SZ), showed Thomson Reuters data.

But Geely's domestic growth spurts could lessen as expansion in China's overall passenger car market slows following the reduction of subsidies for small-engine vehicles, adding impetus to any international push.

"The current focus of our work is firstly the pace of development in China and increasing our share of the Chinese auto market, then next we can focus our work abroad," Geely chairman Li Shufu told reporters in Beijing earlier this month.

But entering markets where the brand is unknown is a gamble, and it could take years to gain traction, said James Chao, Asia-Pacific chief of consultancy IHS Markit Automotive.


'Fuel happy' with Petron

                GENTING HIGHLANDS: Petron says it's putting its customers first with the launch of its new campaign called "Fuel Happy". The campaign will give customers a surprise treat every week beginning in April and ends on December 2015.

And it wouldn’t be a surprise if you knew what’s coming, so the only way to find out is to visit your nearest Petron station.

“Through Fuel Happy, we aim to strengthen and elevate service excellence at each and every station as we strive to make Petron the brand of choice," said Petron Malaysia retail head Faridah Ali.

“It is already a given that we have world-class fuels, but what differentiates Petron is the care and personal touch that our customers experience whenever they go to our stations.”

The Fuel Happy campaign is also another way Petron is showing gratitude to its nearly 2 million loyal Petron Miles members who earn points for every transaction made.

Besides the campaign, Petron also announced its completion of its rebranding and upgrading programme.

 Petron Malaysia head of retail Faridah Ali

Around 550 stations, formerly under the Esso and Mobil banners, now carry Petron’s distinct red and blue colours, have upgraded facilities, and are now offering Petron’s  fuels and services.

All Petron stations now offer personalised services such as the cleaning of windshields and tyre shine as added value.

Petron said its service attendants are ready to assist motorists, even during emergencies since all Petron stations have joined the government’s “United Against Crime” project. The stations are also kept clean and well-lit to ensure the safety of customers.

“We are entering an exciting phase since our newly transformed stations serve as touch points where we can live and share the Petron experience with every motorist,” said Faridah.

Petron has also partnered with local coffee makers to offer freshly-brewed coffee to customers as they travel through cities like Ipoh, Johor Baru, Kuantan, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Petron completed 10 new stations in 2014 and 20 more are in various stages of construction. It now has 560 service stations nationwide.


Geely to bring car-sharing subscription service to Europe via Lynk & Co

                STOCKHOLM: China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. is expanding its reach in Europe’s auto market by launching its upmarket Lynk & Co brand aimed at consumers who want to subscribe to and share cars.

The brand jointly owned by Geely and Volvo Cars will start selling memberships for €500 (RM2,436) a month in Germany, France, Spain and four other countries late this year. The cost covers insurance and maintenance and customers can lower it by agreeing to share the first model Lynk & Co will launch in Europe, a hybrid crossover SUV model called the 01.

"Instead of buying a car, you become a member of Lynk & Co,” chief executive officer Alain Visser said during a presentation in Gothenburg, Sweden, which is home to Volvo’s headquarters. "The more you share your car, the more you reduce the cost.”

Lynk & Co is one of the more ambitious attempts by car companies to offer alternatives to ownership. Results so far have been mixed — while Porsche recently expanded its US subscription service, Mercedes-Benz pulled the plug on a pilot project it started two years ago. General Motors Co. shut down its Maven car-sharing business earlier this year.

Visser said Lynk & Co will differentiate from other services by offering its memberships on a month-to-month basis. To unlock the potential of sharing, the company will need to build a base of paying members quickly.

"Our business case is not based on sharing but on memberships, but the sharing will need a footprint,” the CEO said in an interview.

"That’s why it’s quite essential for us that we, in the beginning, get a lot of members who want to have a vehicle.”

Europe’s first Lynk & Co showroom — billed as "clubs” where members can shop and sip drinks — will open in Amsterdam at the end of October. A Gothenburg location will follow towards the end of the year.

Visser, who was formerly head of sales and marketing at Volvo, said Lynk & Co anticipates having more than 10,000 members next year and sees potential to increase that to over 100,000 as the brand rolls out across the continent.

Geely’s billionaire founder Li Shufu bought Volvo Cars from Ford Motor Co. in 2010 and has more recently taken stakes in Germany’s Daimler AG and volvo Group, the Swedish truckmaker that is separate from the carmaker. In China, Lynk & Co has launched five models based on Geely and Volvo Cars’ modular architecture co-developed in Sweden.

Volvo Cars and Geely originally planned to make Lynk & Co vehicles at a plant in Ghent, Belgium, in late 2019, but those plans were scrapped as Volvo had to rejig its global manufacturing network in response to trade barriers.

The European launch comes as merger talks between Lynk & Co’s owners are poised to restart after Geely completes its planned listing on an exchange in Shanghai. Plans to combine were announced earlier this year but put on hold pending Geely’s share issuance.

Lynk & Co sold about 128,000 cars in China last year. Deliveries have increased 16% so far in 2020 despite a severe impact from the Covid-19 pandemic at the start of the year.


Oliver Heilmer has designs on MINI

                With the BMW Group committed to electrification of its cars and the services that are derived from that movement, MINI design chief Oliver Heilmer went public to explain where the brand is going from 2018.

The 43-year-old Munich native has been heading the MINI Design team since September 2017. He replaces Anders Warming who left MINI to join the Borgward Group.
1. Why did you become a car designer?

Ever since I can remember, cars have totally fascinated me. I’ve always drawn cars – and always had a big smile on my face at the same time. It started with scrawling extra spoilers onto photos of cars in magazines when I was a young kid. Later I began to design and draw my own cars. It was soon clear that I wanted to be a car designer.

Back then, this wasn’t an established career as such, like medicine or law. So as you can imagine, my family were rather sceptical. A pre-university internship at a well-known carmaker in Stuttgart after my Abitur [secondary school leaving exams] strengthened my conviction that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Not that I would have guessed back then that I would end up where I am today.

2. Let’s talk about electric mobility: What is the most appealing thing about creating an all-electric?

MINI and how does the design of such a vehicle differ from that of one with a conventional combustion engine?

New technologies are always exciting for us as designers, because they inject fresh energy and can therefore initiate something totally new. The electric drive system and its packaging benefits allow us to challenge established geometric solutions. The drive system is significantly smaller, but the batteries take up more space than the fuel tank they replace.

In the future, this will give us whole new freedoms as far as interior space and proportions are concerned. And I see great potential here, in particular, for MINI.

3. You’re currently working on the first all-electric MINI, which you’ll unveil in 2019. What can we expect?
The all-electric MINI will be a genuine MINI. In other words, it will major on emotion and have a minimal footprint. The car’s electric nature will be visible in its details – e.g. unconventional and innovative details which reference the traditional MINI world but which at the same time combine it with new technologies. 3D printing will certainly play a role. I can’t give away more details, as we’re still working intensively on the design and there are still decisions to be taken.

4. What do you think of as 'good design'?

For me, good design is consistent and reflects a purpose. The function of a product has to be immediately clear from its form and, above all, usable. It doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with beauty. Another ingredient of good design for me is that it is not too loud. But at the same time it should polarise, at least to some degree, or it will risk being anonymous. There are many examples of car designs which initially polarise opinion but despite this – or perhaps because of it – blaze a trail for a whole new vehicle segment.

The BMW X6 is a case in point. Good design does not necessarily need to come from a designer, although a certain feeling for aesthetics is required. The metalwork for the bodies of many classic cars was beaten into shape using wood. The guys doing it at the time weren’t designers, but particularly gifted craftsmen with just this sense for the unity of form and function. It’s unlikely they knew much about theories such as how to create surface line sources, accelerate surfaces or position highlights. They just found a way of doing it right.

5. What does MINI mean for you?

To me, MINI embodies a confident and modern attitude far removed from luxury in sheer size. It doesn’t matter how exclusively or expensively equipped a MINI is, it is always compact on the outside. In my eyes, this shows that people who drive a MINI do so for their own enjoyment.

Of course, they want to be distinctive and express their personality through their car to a degree. But they do that through the inner values of the car. In my view, MINI is classless in how it achieves this. And then you have to bear in mind that many MINI customers have a unique and profound connection with their cars. MINI is a very emotional brand, and you don’t find that very often in this form in the car world.

6.Where do you find your inspiration? What gets your juices flowing?

In essence, I am fascinated by anything that fuels my imagination and sparks my creativity. For example, I find music extremely inspiring – anything from jazz to hip hop. However, the aesthetic of technical products also excites me. I’m thinking of products that have been developed and built by engineers from a purely technical standpoint – but which still exude extraordinary beauty.

You may be familiar with the Faema espresso machines from the 1950s and 60s, for example. That’s the sort of product I’m talking about. Since I was a small boy I’ve also been fascinated by the combine harvester at my grandparents’ farm. I was spellbound by it and I could spend days driving on it and just gazing at it. And it goes without saying I like beautiful things. Although beauty is, of course, very subjective.

7. What excites you most about your job as a car designer?

As car designers we are actively creating an important part of all our futures and we are always looking to make the best out of this exciting time. Of course, we don’t know exactly what the future will bring. But I’m sure the technological changes we’re experiencing will be positive. Knowing that I can contribute to this process is all I need to get out of bed in the morning.

Another thing that excites me about my job is that design gives you the chance to stir it up and challenge certain things. I find that extremely energising. But it’s not enough for me to make demands without suggestions. In a few years, I want to be able to look in the mirror and say I’ve done everything I could to bring MINI design and therefore the MINI brand into the future. Preserving existing achievements, things that are already impressive, is not where my focus lies.

8. Where do you see MINI in the future and what sort of things are you keen to encourage as Head of MINI Design?

The way I see it, MINI is a brand which is not only capable of constantly developing, changing even, but which needs to do so. The product range we’ve put together at MINI is very good. From a quality point of view, in particular, we’re scaling greater heights than ever – and outperforming many of our competitors.

However, it’s also clear that our path can not only be evolutionary. We’ve got some big items on our agenda: autonomous driving, electric mobility, digitalisation and shared services, to name but a few. And we need to be shaping these areas.

To this end, the key thing for me is that the substance of MINI remains authentic. After all, MINI is an urban brand and that’s something it should continue to embody in the years to come. So for me, MINI in the future will be pure electric. Clearly, much still needs to be done in terms of infrastructure. But I’m positive about the future.

Another important issue which will occupy our minds a whole lot more than it does today even is the relationship between car and customer. We know that our MINI customers have a special connection to their car and also the brand.

So wouldn’t it be great, in the future, to also be able to communicate and interact in a way we’re only currently familiar with between people and good friends, instead of via menus and clicks? I see great potential for MINI as a pioneer here.

9. So what can we expect in future from MINI and, above all, from MINI Design?

MINI does not dwell on the present or the past, even if we do have a strong history to call on. The classic Mini was designed squarely for a particular purpose and developed in response to a powerful need. This is one of the reasons behind its status as an icon today.

I’m keen to project this core further into the future – with all of the possibilities that this has to offer us. It is this balancing act between tradition and future focus that makes my work at MINI Design so incredibly exciting for me. At the same time, MINI has a license – an obligation even – to provoke. Indeed, MINI is an extremely emotional brand. We could and should allow ourselves to be more daring more often, even if that comes with a risk of making mistakes.

Ultimately, you see, it’s about emotion. For me, MINI is no longer only a product; I see it as embodying an attitude. MINI is about constant change and the urban environment; its heart beats to the rhythm of the city. And for me MINI is definitively about diversity – the very opposite of monoculture. MINI cannot be pigeonholed.

All in all, you can sum this up as a fundamental openness. And I believe that MINI has to work with others significantly more in future in order to achieve this.

By that I mean collaborations which don’t only have a substantial knock-on effect, but which most importantly think beyond the boundaries of the car itself – as we have already done with MINI LIVING and MINI FASHION. I’m convinced that MINI as a brand also works beyond the car. And I’m keen to accelerate the connectivity essential for this in the future.


2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo arrives in Malaysia, starts from RM1.55mil

                KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) introduces the new Panamera Turbo, which features a highly innovative new eight cylinder engine.

Retail base price for the new Panamera Turbo starts from RM1,550,000 (excludes registration fee, road tax and insurance). It has a four-year warranty and four-year free maintenance package which includes complimentary service, parts and labour.

The new Panamera Turbo's lap time of 7 minutes 38 seconds makes it the fastest luxury saloon on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife by far.

It has one of the most powerful petrol engines of the model series, with the top-of-the-line Panamera Turbo model featuring a twin-turbo V8 engine featuring twin-scroll turbochargers and VarioCam Plus.

The 3,996cc four valve per cylinder engine can rev up to 6,800rpm. Its 4.0-litre engine develops between 5,750 and 6,000 rpm and reaches a peak power of 550hp. At just above 3,000 rpm the engine already breaks through the 340hp threshold – pure power from a midrange of engine speeds.

Its maximum torque of 770 Nm is available between 1,960 and 4,500 rpm – pure force from very low revs. The eight-cylinder accelerates the Panamera Turbo from a standstill to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.

With the Sport Chrono Package, its sprint time is 3.6 seconds; after a breathtakingly short 13.0 seconds, the Gran Turismo is already moving at 200 km/h, and with the Sport Chrono Package this figure is even reduced to 12.7 seconds.

With its power-to-weight ratio of just 3.6 kg/hp, the car has a top speed of 306kph. The Panamera Turbo has the first Porsche engine to be equipped with a new adaptive cylinder control system.

The system makes the eight-cylinder engine a four-cylinder engine in part-load operation: temporarily and imperceptible to the driver. The result: fuel economy has been improved by up to 30 per cent in the four-cylinder phases, depending on power demand.

There is an improvement of up to 1.1 litres per 100 km in its combined fuel consumption of 9.4 – 9.3 l/100 km (New European Driving Cycle or NEDC).

Take the example of the Panamera Turbo: although its peak power has been increased by 30hp and its torque by 70Nm, its fuel economy is 10 per cent better.

A high-priority aspect of the eight-cylinder engine is its compact construction; the aluminium engines are also up to 9.5 kilograms lighter than their predecessors.

A material highlight of the V8 engines is iron coating of the cylinder linings in the cast aluminium block. It significantly reduces internal friction, wear and oil consumption.


Chinese buyers help push Bentley orders up by 50%, says CEO

                LONDON: Bentley began the year with 50% more orders than the start of last year and built more luxury cars in January than the same time in 2020 as China boosted demand despite challenges from the pandemic, its boss said on Wednesday.

The Volkswagen-owned brand said it had not faced major disruption from Britain’s exit from the European Union nor from a shortage of semi-conductor chips, which has forced some automakers to halt or reduce production.

Based in Crewe, northern England, the over century-old marque made a small profit in 2020, when its factory was forced to close as Britain entered its first national lockdown, and hopes to build on that this year.

“The order bank at the beginning of this year was 50% higher than it was at the beginning of last year,” chief executive Adrian Hallmark said in an interview.

“China, by far, is the most outstanding performance in the world in respect of level of orders compared with normal expectations.”

The firm sold 11,206 cars in 2020.


Renault-Nissan must streamline decision-making, says Senard

Senard. — Bloomberg
PARIS: Renault and Nissan must streamline decision-making in the car-making alliance and boosting the companies’ cross-shareholding is not currently in their plans, Renault’s chairman said in comments published on Sunday.

Japan’s Nissan Motor and France’s Renault, together with junior ally Mitsubishi Motors, agreed last week that they would retool the alliance to put themselves on a more equal footing.

“I’ve concluded that we need to considerably simplify our decision processes in the alliance,” Renault chairman Jean-Dominique Senard said in an interview published on Le Figaro’s website.

“I want it to be tight and made up of those people who have power to take decisions in each company,” he added.

The removal of Carlos Ghosn, credited with rescuing Nissan from near-bankruptcy in 1999, from the head of the alliance has raised a cloud of uncertainty about its future.

Senard said that boosting cross-shareholdings was not currently under consideration.

“The teams around me are not mobilized on this subject,” he said. “The only merger I’m working on is that of our cultures.


2016 New York Auto Show: New Nissan GT-R breaks cover

                NEW YORK: The new 2017 Nissan GT-R, which features the most significant makeover to the iconic supercar since its launch in 2007, made its global debut on Wednesday at the 2016 New York International Auto Show.

It features a fresh look inside and out, as well as major driving performance enhancements and key new features. The GT-R Premium, the first of four 2017 GT-R grade levels, goes on sale at select GT-R Certified Nissan retailers in summer 2016.

The enhancements to the new GT-R focus on five key areas – exterior design, interior refinement, driving performance, ride comfort and advanced technology – all with the intent to create new levels of refinement and excitement.

The new V-motion grille, one of Nissan's latest design signatures, has been slightly enlarged to provide better engine cooling and now features a matte chrome finish and an updated mesh pattern. A new hood, featuring pronounced character lines flowing flawlessly from the grille, has been reinforced to enhance stability during high speed driving. One new four-coat premium exterior paint colour, Blaze Metallic, has been added to the exterior paint palette.

Inside the cabin, the new premium interior design features an instrument panel wrapped in hand-selected Nappa leather and a revised front seat design for enhanced comfort and hold. The simplified switch layout reduces the number of switches from 27 in the previous design to just 11, while an 8-inch capacitive touch panel monitor replaces the previous 7-inch design. In addition, the paddle shifters are now mounted on the steering wheel, allowing drivers to make mid-turn gear changes without taking their hands off the wheel. The interior of the Premium Edition, featuring semi-aniline leather, offers three different options: the newly added Rakuda Tan, as well as Amber Red and Ivory.

The new 2017 GT-R now offers 565hp, an increase of 20hp versus the 2016 model, with a flatter torque curve for enhanced on-demand acceleration. Among the powertrain changes is a new Titanium exhaust system – standard on GT-R Premium models – which combines with new Active Noise Cancellation and Active Sound Enhancement technologies to filter out unwanted noise and retain excitement during spirited driving. Acoustic glass and targeted sound dampening help reduce the intrusion of wind and road noise into the GT-R cabin.

"The GT-R has evolved with each model year, and this new model delivers significant enhancements," said Nissan executive vice president for global marketing & sales Daniele Schillaci.

"From the improved aerodynamic design, to the thoughtful cabin layout, to the even more powerful and responsive driving experience, the new 2017 GT-R pushes the legendary GT-R forward once again."


Harley profit outlook at risk after production shutdown

                CHICAGO: Harley Davidson Inc's two-week production shutdown beginning May 19 that expanded the motorcycle maker's order backlog has increased the likelihood of the manufacturer revising its full-year outlook, analysts said.

The company is expected to report a drop in profit on lower revenue from motorcycle sales when it delivers results on July 28.

The suspension of assembly and shipments of motorcycles, excluding electric bikes, was limited to two of its manufacturing plants in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, due to a regulatory compliance issue at a third-party parts supplier. The production halt set back the schedule for the Milwaukee-based company to re-stock dealer inventories. Harley did not disclose specifics.

Surging raw material costs and global semiconductor shortages have clipped Harley’s gross margins, even as demand for its motorcycles remains strong. read more

Analysts expect the iconic motorcycle maker to post a decrease in second-quarter profit of US$164.35 million, down from US$180.54 million a year ago, according to Refinitiv data.

The company forecast year-over-year revenue growth of 5% to 10% for its motorcycle segment for 2022, but recouping profit after the production stoppage will be a challenge, said Chris Hodson, senior analyst at Edgewater Research.

"They probably have the ability to make that up over the course of the next 12 months, but making that up during the fiscal year, especially considering the seasonality of their production schedule, could be a little more difficult," Hodson said.

Motorcycle shipments were relatively flat when the company reported first-quarter earnings. Analysts have already factored in cargo being negatively impacted after the manufacturing of bikes paused. Shipments of bikes have been on a downturn since the last recession, said Jaime Katz, senior equity analyst at Morningstar.

"In 2008, they did more than 300,000 shipments and in 2009 they did 223,000. It has continued to shrink from there," Katz said.

Harley did not comment when asked about analysts' forecasting a decline in second-quarter earnings.

Meanwhile, local dealers aren't optimistic about shortages easing as inventory has been tight across Harley's suite of motorcycles, including parts to repair bikes.

Accessories for customized bikes have even been difficult to secure, said Demo Diakoumakos, manager at the Harley-Davidson dealer at Chicago's Wrigleyville location. While he's expecting an additional 10 units to replenish the showroom, inventory of bikes hasn't improved in the past two years.

"It's hard to sell someone a US$40,000 bike that we don't have in front of us."


Uber drivers are employees, says Swiss agency

                ZURICH: Uber drivers are employees for which the company must pay social security contributions, a Swiss insurance agency has ruled, dealing a blow to the US ride-hailing platform that says drivers are freelance contractors.

The California-based startup whose cab service has expanded worldwide stands accused in many countries of bypassing national labour protection standards and shunning collective negotiation with drivers who work on freelance terms.

Suva – which as a provider of Swiss obligatory on-the-job accident insurance helps decide which workers are freelance – found Uber Technology drivers are staff because they faced consequences if they did not meet Uber rules and could not set prices and payment terms independently, broadcaster SRF reported.

SRF cited an appeal ruling in one driver's case it said it had seen. Suva was not immediately available for comment.

Labour representatives hailed the ruling, but local Uber boss Rasoul Jalali pointed out to SRF that the Suva decision was not the final word.

"If we cannot find an agreement with Suva, we will have to rely on the courts," he said.

Founded in 2009, Uber has taken the world by storm but come up against opposition too.

Various services it has proposed have been banned in some countries and it faces numerous battles in US courts over labour standards, safety rules and pricing policies that trigger fare surges at peak times.


PSA's 1.2-litre PureTech is Engine of the Year...again

                STUTTGART: And the engine of the year 2017 award goes to Peugeot's PureTech turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine...for the third consecutive time.

The award was deemed so by a jury of international journalists during the 18th International Engine of the Year Awards within the 1.0 to 1.4-litre category.

The "engine of the year" award in 2017 crowns the commercial success of this engine, which is available in 110hp and 130hp - PureTech 110 S and S and PureTech 130 S and S) for the third consecutive time.

The French carmaker has already produced more than 850,000 units since its launch in 2014 on the industrial sites of the French Mechanics in Douvrin (Pas de Calais) and Xiang Yang in China.

Also, the engine will be produced on the site of Trèmery (Moselle) from the end of 2017 to meet the strong demand by doubling the production capacity of engines in France.

In doing so, by 2019, the annual production for the engines will exceed 1 million units.

Equipping all of PSA Group's versatile and high-end vehicles, the 1.2 PureTech 110 and 130 bhp 1.2 engine has more than 90 applications marketed in nearly 70 countries.

In 2017, he contributed to the commercial success of the Group's new products: the new Peugeot 3008, which was voted "Car of the Year 2017" and the new Citroën C3.

In the European market, the PureTech 1.2L 3-cylinder modular family represents 1/3 of the Group's total petrol and diesel engines.

An even more efficient and environmentally-friendly offer With the PureTech's 1.2-litre engine continues to grow and will benefit from significant improvements before the end of 2017 in terms of performance and consumption (up to 4%).

A particulate filter (GPF - Gasoline Particulate Filter) will be introduced to reduce particulate emissions by more than 75% and to meet anticipated future European and 2020 standards.

There will also be an optimization of the yields due in particular to the evolution of the combustion cycles and a high injection pressure to 250-bar as well as a reduction of friction and the introduction of a new turbocharger.

"Receiving this award confirms the exceptional qualities and benefits of our gasoline engines. We are continuing to develop our thermal engines to make them more efficient and more environmentally friendly, thus meeting the challenges of energy transition," said PSA Group director Christian Chapelle.


Chevrolet’s 'Buckle to Drive' system reminds young drivers to buckle up else car stays put

                DETROIT: Chevrolet has introduced an industry-first "Buckle to Drive" feature that can help remind young drivers to buckle up before driving.

Buckle to Drive is standard in the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, and when active can prevent the driver from shifting the vehicle out of park if the driver’s seat belt is not buckled.

Buckle to Drive is only available through the vehicle’s Teen Driver mode and builds upon Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system, introduced in 2015, as another step to help teen drivers stay safe on the road.

Buckling your seat belt is the number one action drivers can take to protect themselves in a crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Tragically, teens have among the lowest rates of seat belt use. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of teenagers involved in fatal crashes are unbuckled.

The Buckle to Drive feature in Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system was based on a recent internal pilot study of a similar feature that Chevrolet offered to select fleet customers. In fact, a study conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety found that the feature increased the seat belt use of adults who occasionally use a seat belt by 16 percent compared to the standard audible chime seat belt reminder in a similar Chevrolet vehicle.


Toyota and Panasonic to set up EV battery JV in 2020

                TOKYO: Toyota and Panasonic Corp are set to launch a joint venture next year to produce batteries for electric vehicles (EV) in an effort to compete with Chinese rivals, a source familiar with the matter said.

The joint venture, to be owned 51 percent by Toyota and the rest by Panasonic, could also provide batteries to Toyota's EV technology partners Mazda Corp and Subaru Corp, the source said today.

The source declined to be identified because the talks on the joint venture are private.

A joint venture would build on the agreement that the pair announced in late 2017 on joint development of batteries with higher energy density in a prismatic cell arrangement.

Toyota and Panasonic each said the plan to set up a joint venture, first reported by the Nikkei business daily on Sunday, was not what they have publicly announced.

A Toyota spokesman said the two companies have been working on the battery partnership announced in 2017. Panasonic made the same comment in a statement.

Under a planned joint venture, Panasonic would shift most of its prismatic battery-related equipment and facilities in Japan and China to the joint venture, while those producing batteries for US EV maker Tesla Inc will remain under the company, the source said.

Panasonic already makes prismatic batteries for Toyota, whereas for Tesla, it makes cylindrical batteries of a type similar to those used in laptops.

The two companies may announce the joint venture plan as early as this week, according to the source.

The battery joint venture will help Toyota achieve an annual sales target of around 1 million zero-emission battery EVs and fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs) by 2030.

It will also give Panasonic cost and scale advantages in battery production at a time when China's Contemporary Amperex Technology has grown to be on par with the long-time industry leader on the back of the rapidly growing home market.


New Honda Civic Type R driven flat out in Nürburgring trials

                LOS ANGELES: Honda has announced that it had been testing its new Civic Type R at Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife, releasing a teaser video that showed the car being driven at full tilt.

The prototype will make its US public debut during the July 1-3 Honda Indy 200 NTT Indycar Series weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

The all-new 2023 Civic Type R is already showcasing its trackworthy credentials, having recently set a new track record for a front-wheel drive car at the legendary Suzuka Circuit, home to the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.

In the latest revelation on Thursday, the Civic Type R remains in camouflage, but one can see the car is fitted with Brembo brake calipers and retain the 3-exhaust system and huge rear wing.

The front-wheel drive hot hatch will also be more aerodynamic and will have improved cooling to cope with a more powerful engine to make for "the most powerful, best performing Civic Type R ever."

Honda is expected to tweak the turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine to squeeze out over 306hp/316hp (dependent on region-specific emissions rules) that was present in the outgoing FK8 model.

Also the fact the new Civic Type R is running around on the Nurburgring suggest it wants to set a record that would be another selling point to crow about once the car goes into series production.

For that, it would have to beat the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R Nürburgring Pack, which scored 7 minutes and 40.1 seconds in a lap in 2019.


Ready to pick up a folding electric motorcycle?

                PARIS: Two folding electric motorcycle projects, presented as concepts in 2021, are poised to hit the market this year.

On the one hand, Romanian manufacturer Colibri is getting ready to debut the M22, a bike that is both powerful and relatively compact.

The project, originally financed via a crowdfunding campaign, takes the form of an electric motorcycle that can accommodate one to three removable batteries, for a maximum range of almost 200km. Note that in off-road mode, the bike can reach 90kph, but its speed will be limited to 45kph within the European Union.

Undoubtedly, this motorcycle's most distinctive feature is its folding design. That said, in order to fold the bike, you first have to remove its battery (or batteries). So while the folding design could prove useful for taking the bike in an elevator or storing it on a balcony, it might not be so practical for taking it on the train, for example.

On the manufacturer's website, the bike is listed as starting at US$2,799, with the first shipments expected by the end of the year.

In a different style, Japanese company Icoma offers an even more original mini electric motorcycle called Tatamel.

When folded, this bike is as compact and as easy to carry as a suitcase. It can be easily stored under a desk and fits on public transport with no problem.

Still, the Tatamel is no thunderbolt when it comes to performance, with a maximum speed of 40kph and a range of 30km. Moreover, with its small wheels, it's better to avoid riding it on rough roads. The innovative design also comes at a certain cost, since the Tatamel is expected to sell for around US$4,000 when launched.


2018 CarSifu Auto Show continues to pull in people on Day 2

                KUALA LUMPUR: Visitors to the 2018 CarSifu Auto Show took the opportunity to place their orders before the end of the tax holiday period and the introduction of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) in September.

“I want to buy a second car and since I was here with my family, I decided to book a car at the CarSifu Auto Show. Car prices right now are good value for money too,” said Leong Wei Chuet who booked a Mazda CX-5 SUV.

The 2018 CarSifu Auto Show is being held at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre (MVEC) at Mid Valley Megamall from today to Aug 26, 10am to 9pm daily.

Visitors who book their cars at the CarSifu Auto Show stand a chance to win five units of Sharp Aquos 60-inch 4K television with Easy Smart and 10 units of Sharp Plasmacluster Car Ion Generators as Sharp Malaysia is the prize sponsor for the Book and Win contest.

Despite high volume sales of cars for the months of June and July previously, the CarSifu Auto Show is still drawing crowds who are fascinated with the cars on display.

Participating auto marques include Subaru, Mazda, Nissan, Renault, Kia, Peugeot, Citroen, Proton, Isuzu and Volvo, and visitors can expect special deals for the latest budget and premium sedans, SUVs/crossovers, hatches and multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs).

Besides cars, the Auto Show also features a trendy apparel exhibition by camel activ and property developer Sunsuria Bhd is also promoting its iconic Sunsuria Forum freehold mixed-integrated development located in Setia Alam, Shah Alam.

The 2018 CarSifu Auto Show’s official fuel partner is Petron Malaysia while official tyre partners are Toyo Tyre and Silverstone.

Petron Malaysia is also giving away Petron gift cards (each pre-loaded with RM10) to 500 lucky visitors as well as enjoy 20% discount for purchases of Petron engine oil (two packs and above).

Toyo Tyre and Silverstone have activities at the auto show which include talks on tyre care and games.

There are also attractive promotions and contests by Qwik Pay ticketless and cashless payment app for car parking, Ottoman high quality PU leather car floor carpets (40% discount), Touch ‘n Go eWallet, RDS Marketing which offers Noco vehicle battery chargers and jump starters, and vehicle inspection specialist Aucnation Synergy.


Tesla in talks with China's EVE for low-cost battery supply deal, say sources

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc is in talks with Chinese battery maker EVE Energy Co to add the firm to its Shanghai factory supply chain, four people familiar with the matter said, as it seeks to boost procurement of lower cost batteries.

EVE makes lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are cheaper to produce because they use iron instead of more expensive nickel and cobalt.

But LFP batteries generally offer a shorter range on a single charge than the more popular nickel/cobalt alternative.

EVE would become the second supplier of LFP batteries to Tesla after China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co (CATL).

The talks are advanced and the Palo Alto, California-based company is seeking to finalise the partnership in the third quarter, said two of the people.

Shenzhen-listed EVE is running some final-stage tests of its products for Tesla, said one person.

All sources declined to be identified as the discussions are private. Tesla and EVE did not reply to Reuters requests for comment.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said this year the company was shifting standard range cars to an iron cathode due to concerns about the supply of nickel for scaling up battery production.

The talks come as Tesla faces growing competition from Chinese rivals such as Nio and Li Auto, as well as mounting cost pressure.

Tesla raised the starting price of a standard range Model 3 sedan in China by 1,000 yuan ($155) on Saturday to 250,900 yuan, citing cost fluctuations.

Data showed this week that China's factory gate prices rose at their fastest in three and a half years in April as the world's second-largest economy gathers momentum. read more

Tesla also faces mounting regulatory pressure in China after consumer disputes over product safety and scrutiny over how it handles data. read more

The company is using batteries from China's CATL and South Korea's LG Chem for its China-made Model 3 and Model Y cars.

CATL has been the sole supplier of the LFP batteries for China-made Model 3 cars with standard driving ranges since late last year.

Three of the sources said Tesla has been working closely with EVE to get its batteries to meet its requirements, as it aims to bring in the supplier as, what one of the sources called a "check and balance" against CATL.

One of the sources said Tesla could start using EVE's LFP batteries in the China-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles within the next six months and EVE had ramped up production in order to be prepared for the possible partnership.

EVE, which supplies batteries to Chinese EV maker Xpeng Inc, said in March it also has battery supply partnerships with BMW and Daimler AG.


Nissan offers rebates of up to RM8,000 for October

                KUALA LUMPUR: If you are planning to buy a Nissan this month, you are in luck as distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd is offering deals with rebates of up to RM8,000 and warranty trade-in offers.

The public are also invited to join the Nissan Test Drive Carnival over two weekends of Oct 5-7, and Oct 20-21 at selected Nissan showrooms across the nation.

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A range of models with Intelligent Around View Monitor (I-AVM), the Serena S-Hybrid MPV, Navara VL Plus pick-up truck and X-Trail SUV, are available for test-drives during the carnival.

Edaran Tan Chong Motor is also continuing its Takata airbag inflators replacement for affected Nissan vehicles at selected carnival venues.

All labour and replacement parts are free for Nissan car owners.

For more information, visit www.nissan.com.my or call Nissan Customer Care Centre at 1800-88-3838.


2020 Land Rover Defender offers world-first dual-modem, dual eSIM connectivity

                LAS VEGAS: The 2020 Land Rover Defender offers a world-first dual-modem, dual eSIM design for enhanced connectivity and functionality.

The new technology is being showcased  at CES 2020 in Las Vegas, the world’s largest consumer electronics show, January 7-10.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender is the first vehicle with two embedded LTE modems, while the vehicle’s new Pivi Pro infotainment system shares electronic hardware with the latest smartphones.

The Pivi Pro system has Software-Over-The-Air (SOTA) technology in the New Defender.

With its own designated LTE modem and eSIM, the SOTA technology can operate in the background without affecting the day-to-day connectivity provided by the separate modem and eSIM in the infotainment module.

Pivi Pro is equipped with its own battery, so the system is always on and able to respond immediately on startup.

As a result, the navigation is ready to accept new destinations the moment the driver sits in the vehicle.

Powering the Defender’s Pivi Pro infotainment and Vehicle Domain Controller are two Qualcomm Snapdragon 820Am Automotive Platforms, each with an integrated Snapdragon X12 LTE modem.

The Snapdragon 820Am Automotive Platform is designed to provide unmatched connected in-car experiences, including responsive interfaces, immersive 4K graphics, high-definition media streaming, and immersive audio.

The New Defender features technologies developed with Bosch including the latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which include Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Assist.

Bosch also helped to develop the 3D Surround Camera System, which gives drivers a unique view of the vehicle’s immediate perimeter using four wide-angle HD cameras, each providing a 190-degree field-of-view.


US auto suppliers cheer as carmakers relaunch, but long-term worries remain

Roth says RoMan Manufacturing has to get through the next six-to-18 months. — Reuters
DETROIT: Auto parts suppliers across North America said they are encouraged as major automakers accelerate production after coronavirus pandemic shutdowns, but are holding back on hiring and investment because of longer-term uncertainty.

US automakers reopened most assembly plants in late May after states began loosening restrictions, and stronger-than-expected retail auto sales in May have automakers ramping up production of the highly profitable trucks and SUVs consumers are buying.

However, several auto suppliers interviewed by Reuters worry about demand heading into 2021. US and global auto sales are not expected to recover to pre-Covid-19 crisis levels until 2022 or 2023, Bank of America analyst John Murphy said during a presentation on Thursday.

Andreas Weller, CEO of aluminum parts maker Aludyne, sees very strong orders for July, but he laid off more than 10% of his workers because the days of Americans buying 17 million new vehicles a year will not return any time soon.

“What’s the market going to look like for the rest of the year, going into next year? That’s a bigger unknown,” he said.

Magna International Inc CEO Don Walker said orders from automakers were good and the “big unknown” was how consumers respond.

“I’ll be surprised if anybody moves to shut part of the auto industry production down again,” he said at a Deutsche Bank conference on Thursday.

Hiring freezes

Other concerns include the potential for smaller parts makers to fail and bring production to a halt, and the possibility of another Covid-19 outbreak in the fall.

“We don’t know what the world is going to be,” said Joe Perkins, chief executive of engineering and machining firm Busche Performance Group, which counts General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co among its customers. “I’m very hesitant to predict where the market goes through the balance of 2020 and 2021.”

Most of the 11 supplier executives contacted by Reuters said they are closely watching spending, in some cases laying off or slowly recalling furloughed workers, implementing hiring freezes and delaying capital spending.

In the short term, suppliers said they welcome the accelerating pace of production as automakers try to restock depleted showrooms. Ford said on Wednesday it expected its U.S. assembly plants to regain pre-COVID-19 operating levels by early July.

“They’re basically ramping up to full production ... quicker than we thought,” said John Dunn, Americas CEO for Clean Energy Systems, a Plastic Omnium unit that makes fuel and emissions-reduction systems.

The happiest suppliers are those building pickup trucks and SUVs as demand continues to shift from sedans, said Pierre Labat, vice president of global auto for aluminum provider Novelis Inc, which is owned by India’s Hindalco Industries Ltd.

Some product-development plans have been delayed by the outbreak, or cancelled in some cases like the electric vehicle Ford’s Lincoln brand was going to build with Rivian. Bob Roth, co-owner of RoMan Manufacturing, which builds tooling and equipment, lost that job.

“I would be hard-pressed to place my bet at the moment, which puts me in the cautious camp,” Roth said. “We’ve just got to get through the next six-to-18 months.”

The pressure on automakers to reduce CO2 emissions through electrification is a bright spot for some suppliers.

“Automakers realise this isn’t a game of poker,” said Andrew Storm, CEO of Eckhart Inc, which builds robots and automated tools for GM, Tesla Inc and others.

“Either they commit the capital or the disruptive forces of innovation obliterate their long-term existence into the bin of history.”


Toyota's May global sales jump as parts supply shortage eases

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor reported today a 10% jump in global sales for May from a year earlier, benefiting from growth at home and other key markets on a recovery in the supply of chips and other parts.

The company sold 838,478 vehicles globally last month, including its luxury car brand Lexus, compared to 761,466 vehicles in May 2022, when sales took a heavy hit from the stuttering parts supply because of the pandemic.

In Japan, Toyota's sales jumped 35.1% to 116,954 units in May, outpacing a 21.5% year-on-year rise in April.

Global sales of hybrids grew 25.8% year-on-year to 261,147 units, accounting for just under a third of the total number of vehicles sold worldwide last month.

In May, the automaker sold 9,923 battery electric vehicles worldwide, including its Lexus brand, bringing the total number of battery-powered vehicles sold in the first five months of 2023 to 35,980 units.

China sales increased 9.3% year-on-year in May to 162,381 vehicles, largely in line with 162,554 units the company sold in the country in April.


Detroit auto show cancelled, to resume in June 2021

                WASHINGTON:  Organisers cancelled the Detroit auto show on Saturday citing the coronavirus pandemic, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency set to tap the convention centre venue into a temporary field hospital.

The annual North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which has traditionally been used by automakers around the world to unveil new and concept vehicles, will now be held in June 2021.

That would mean a gap of almost two-and-a-half years since the most recent show, which normally draws thousands of automotive journalists. The event was held in January till last year but was shifted to June subsequently.

The state of Michigan has been hard hit by the coronavirus and has reported 4,650 coronavirus cases and 111 deaths, including nearly 1,000 new cases today and 19 deaths. That’s the third highest among US states.

Automakers have been forced to temporarily cancel nearly all US auto production in recent weeks and some are taking aggressive steps to cut costs or tap credit lines as auto sales plummet.

The New York Auto Show, which was supposed to be held in April, was postponed until August. The Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, where the show is held, is also being repurposed into a makeshift hospital.


Aston Martin Vantage AMR Malaysia Edition ready to rumble

KUALA LUMPUR: Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur has introduced the Vantage AMR Malaysia edition.
Based on the standard Vantage that is priced from RM678,000 before taxes and duties, expect the Vantage AMR (Aston Martin Racing) Malaysia Edition to cost more with the added zeal and enhancements.

This luxury supercar arrives in conjunction with the country's Merdeka Celebration next month - hence the added Malaysia Edition moniker.

Under the long bonnet is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that can punch out 503bhp and 685Nm of torque to the electronic differential (eDiff) on the rear axle.

The driver has a choice of three driving modes to choose from - Sport, Sport Plus and Track, which alters the throttle map, heft of the electronic power-assisted steering (EPAS) system, exhaust valves and shift response timing among others.

This British performance car is able to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 4.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 322kph.

In the looks department, the AMR Malaysia Edition's carbon fibred panels have been accented by a so-called Lime Essence, a bright yellow colour that may not be to everyone's taste.

In standard form, the Vantage comes with door handles coloured to match the exterior paint colour and fitted with the "Scarab beetle's" Enamel Wings badges at the front and rear.

The cabin has been accented with a combination of gloss black and satinated silver surfaces. It is equipped with keyless entry and a push-start button, powered front seats, an electrochromic rearview mirror, automatic dual-zone climate controls, Obsidian Black Leather steering wheel and a mood lighting system that can dim the cabin when sports mode is engaged.

To draw the engine sound into the cabin, an active bypass valve has been added to the exhaust system which can be activated by pressing a button.

The car also comes with an 8.0-inch LCD screen with Bluetooth connectivity, iPod and iPhone integration and USB playback capabilities.

Safety-wise, it gets an adaptive damping system, dynamic stability control, electronic brakeforce distribution, positive torque control, torque vectoring by braking as well as front and rear parking sensors.

The car is offered with a list of options if the owner is willing to pay more. For example, the exterior can be fitted with carbon fibre parts, and the exhaust tips can be changed out to a matte finish.

At the front, the grille can be swapped out to a matte black mesh. The roof can be specified in gloss-black paint and the car can roll on textured dark 20-inch forged wheels.

Furthermore, a more comfortable pair of 16-way powered and heated/ventilated seats that can have the Scarab beetle's wings embroidered onto the headrests is available as well as an armrest with a storage bin and the option to change the colour of the trim inlay to Lime Essence that can pair with some satinated silver accents.

The owner can also opt to up the safety levels of this Vantage by adding a Blind Spot Monitoring system or perhaps have the car park itself with Auto Park Assist. To make things a little easier to navigate through the infotainment system's menus, a Touchpad can be specified.

To enhance opulence, glass switches can be selected. The owner can also step up the convenience by adding an electronically adjustable column with cruise control for the more advanced Aston Martin Premium Audio system which can be linked to a 360-degree camera system for better all-round visibility.

The Aston Martin Vantage AMR Malaysia Edition is currently available for viewing appointments.

For more information, log on to www.astonmartinkualalumpur.com or email astonmartinkl.enquiries@wearnes.com or call +603-2163 1196 to schedule an appointment to view the Aston Martin Vantage AMR Malaysia Edition.


Proton X70 launched in Brunei

                PETALING JAYA: The 2020 Proton X70 has reached its first overseas market with the official launch in Brunei last Sunday (Sept 6).

As with its predecessor, the 2020 Proton X70 will be made available as three different variants (Standard, Executive and Premium X) and also be sold with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty.

The 2020 Proton X70 has been a popular choice among Malaysians as 12,732 units have been delivered up to the end of August 2020, which accounts for 25.9% of the total Malaysian SUV market.

The 2020 Proton X70 was launched in February this year.

“Proton is excited the Malaysian made 2020 Proton X70 has been launched in its first export market as exports
will play an increasingly important role in growing our sales. With its combination of innovative features and
comprehensive list of safety equipment we believe the X70 will gain support from car buyers not only in Brunei,
where it has already attracted a strong following, but also wherever it is sold around the world,” said Roslan
Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar.


Special car deals at Malaysia Autoshow 2016

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI), as the sole organiser of the Malaysia Autoshow 2016, will set up a special booth at the autoshow to create awareness of the country's vision of becoming a regional base for Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) production.

“This year, MAI aims to make the Malaysia Autoshow an even more immersive event, as it spearheads the showcase of future trends in the auto industry, especially among the latest energy efficient vehicles (EEVs) which also include hybrid and diesel powered vehicles,” said Malaysia Automotive Institute CEO Datuk Madani Sahari.

“Numerous OEMs have undertaken EEV programs within their production facilities in Malaysia, and to date, more than 180 models and variants have been certified as EEVs,” said Madani.

The Asean Autoshow that started in 2015, is one of MAI’s flagship events.

This year’s edition will be renamed as The Malaysia Autoshow 2016 and will be held  from 10 - 13 November 2016 at the MINES International Exhibition and Convention Centre (MIECC).

More than 150 exhibitors from renowned vehicle brands, aftermarket and accessory products will lay out their extensive product range during the event.

Car companies have lined up special deals only available at the show.

These range from exclusive car deals and discounts offered only during these four days with attractive financial packages.

There are also RM200,000 worth of prizes to be won.

Visitors who place their bookings on a passenger car at the Malaysia Autoshow stand to win a Kia Rio X 1.4 sedan worth RM78,000 in the “Buy a Car, Win a Car” contest sponsored by Naza Kia Malaysia.

Show sponsor AIG Insurance will be educating motorists about usage-based insurance.


Ride the Lazareth LM847 if you dare

                PARIS: Call it human ingenuity or just plain crazy. The Lazareth LM847, unveiled in March, is shown in this recent video being ridden around.

The French vehicle customiser installed a 470hp Maserati Quattroporte engine into the LM847, which looked like a quad bike with two parallel wheels close together front and rear.

A video posted up by Lazareth shows the bike being ridden around in a most leisurely fashion.

It would be interesting to see how it holds up if even only 50% of its power were tapped with a slight twist of the throttle for sustained distances. Or better still, push it hard on a race track to rack up the views.

The sight of the monster bike brings to mind the 2003 Dodge Tomahawk concept, which combined the 500hp, 8.3-litre V10 SRT10 engine from the Dodge Viper to a vehicle with two front wheels and two rear wheels, which are sprung independently and in theory allow it to lean into corners and countersteer like a motorcycle.


Daimler says cost cut plans may see entire platforms eliminated

                FRANKFURT: Mercedes-Benz is embarking on a sweeping cost cutting plan to free up cash to build electric and self-driving cars, a step which could see entire engine families and platforms eliminated, Daimler board member Markus Schaefer said on Tuesday.

“We will review our current lineup and the idea is streamlining the portfolio,” Schaefer said in a conference call put on to replace a canceled roundtable discussion at the Geneva car show.

Potential cost cut measures at Daimler include not only reducing the many different variations of car but also entire platforms and powertrains, Schaefer said.

“Yes, we will have fewer platforms in future. The SL, I can confirm on a new platform,” Schaefer said in response to a question about whether Mercedes will build cars on fewer more flexible vehicle underpinnings.

Some products may get eliminated by tightening emissions standards, such as the introduction of so-called euro 7 exhaust emissions standards.

“The question is how many engines you take through the gauge, through Euro 7,” Schaefer said. “Of course the four-cylinder has more chance to make it than the V12 to pass the gate.”


Get gifts when you buy Havoline engine oils

                KUALA LUMPUR: Chevron Malaysia Limited, which markets the Caltex brand, announced on Thursday a special bundle pack promotion for motorists.

Those who buy selected range of Havoline engine oils will receive exclusive gifts.

The bundle packs available can be bought at selected Caltex service stations, Havoline workshops and auto supply stores nationwide from now until July 31, or while stocks last. Members of the public can also join in the fun activities that will be happening at the Caltex Havoline roadshows happening nationwide for a chance to win Havoline merchandise.

The promotion is in conjunction with Caltex Havoline’s regional partnership with ONE Championship, Asia’s largest global sports media property. Caltex Havoline is the sole oil & gas company to have ONE Championship as its Southeast Asia regional partner for the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia.