2019 CarSifu awards: Why cars won

BACK < PAGE 2 of 3Best Pick-Up Truck (Manual)Mitsubishi Triton M/T Premium

The new Mitsubishi Triton line-up features a futuristic and unconventional front that easily turns heads.

Also, its 181PS 2.4-litre turbodiesel with a six-speed manual transmission and Easy Select 4WD can get any task done on tough terrain.

Other equipments include Electronic Brake Force Distribution, brake assist, Active Stability Control, traction control, brake override system, Hill Start Assist, Trailer Stability Assist and rear parking sensors.

Best Hybrid Honda HR-V Sport HybridThis 1.5-litre Sport Hybrid variant of the Honda HR-V offers a more refined and powerful drive yet much more fuel economical powertrain, as well as a standard array of generous safety features.

The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission here is a smooth and fluid shifter, and the HR-V Hybrid still has abundant boot space at 404 litres.

Best Plug-in Hybrid Mercedes-Benz S 560e

The flagship of the 'Three-Pointed Star' - the Mercedes-Benz S 560 e, is not only the finest in its class but also one of the most powerful yet environmentally friendly.

With a total system output of 476hp and 700Nm of torque, the S Class is capable of sprinting from 0 to 100kph in 5.0 seconds along with an electronically-limited top speed of 250kph. It is also able to provide up to 50km of emission-free driving.

Best Electric Vehicle Nissan LEAF

Priced at nearly RM190,000 - the new Nissan LEAF can travel 311km on a full charge of its 40kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

Besides decent comfort features and premium Nissan Safety Shield technologies, the LEAF has an innovative e-Pedal technology which almost eliminates the need to step on the brake pedal.

Best Luxury Lifestyle Coupe/Cabriolet Jaguar F-Type Coupe

The refreshed Jaguar F-TYPE P300 coupe has a powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged Ingenium engine and sports improved visual appeal and interior enhancements, including new futuristic LED headlights and rear lights as well as lightweight slimline seats.

The F-Type now features the Touch Pro, the most advanced infotainment system Jaguar has to offer.

Best Design Ferrari F8 Tributo

Forever steeped in sterling racing heritage, the Ferrari F8 Tributo looks stunning with its low-slung appearance, scalloped door intakes, twin circular taillights and vertical concave rear screen.

Best High-Performance Sports Car Porsche 911 Carrera S

While featuring a coupe-like silhouette and appearance that are similar to the previous generation, the latest 911 has been extensively revamped, now a bigger and longer machine with a more powerful engine delivering 450PS mated to a fast-shifting eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Being a rear-wheel driven vehicle, power does not flow to the front wheels and the steering feel of the 911 Carrera S remains uncorrupted and symbiotic, making this an important plus point for Porsche traditionalists.

Business Ride of the Year Mercedes-Benz S 560e

The Mercedes-Benz S 560e hybrid drive system combines a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine with a 121hp electric motor delivers a smooth and almost quiet drive befitting high net-worth individuals.

Styling-wise, it features a new three-louvre radiator grille as well as new front and rear bumpers.
Inside you will find Nappa leather upholstery and high-gloss brown burr walnut wood trim as well as wood trim on the steering wheel.

The car also gets Energising comfort control and a massage function for the rear seats.

Best Family Ride of the Year (RM50K-RM100K, 3-Row Seating) Proton Exora Premium

As one of the most spacious affordable multi-purpose vehicle around, the updated Proton Exora Premium variant gets a 7-inch touchscreen display with voice command, and an embedded eSIM card and apps for music streaming, online navigation and weather updates as well as smartphone connectivity.

Also exclusive for the Exora Premium are Electronic Stability Control and a reverse camera.

Best Family Ride of the Year (RM100K–RM200K, 3-Row Seating) Peugeot 5008 SUV FL Plus

The locally assembled Peugeot 5008 Plus in flagship Allure grade is armed with a dazzling array of luxury comfort features and safety systems.

It has a powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine and highlights here include an impressive load space of 952 litres, powered front seats, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Blind-Spot Information System.
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Lower prices for Nissan cars post-GST

                KUALA LUMPUR: KUALA LUMPUR: In line with the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the Malaysian Government, Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) will reduce the prices of its Nissan vehicles effective from today.

“The prices of our CKD models have been reduced by 0.3% to 2%, and the reduction varies from model to model. However, the prices of our CBU models remain unchanged,” announced ETCM’s director of marketing and product planning Tan Keng Meng.

For details, call ETCM’s Customer Relations Department at 1800-88-3838.


Joyson finds falsified seatbelt test data at ex-Takata plants

                TOKYO: US automotive component maker Joyson Safety Systems' (JSS) Japan unit said today that it has found 1,000 cases of data falsification in seatbelt tests at two plants it acquired from former airbag maker Takata Corp.

An investigation, which began in October 2020, showed test data on belt webbing, used for seatbelts and child safety seats, were doctored at plants in Hikone, Japan and the Philippines, Hisayoshi Iwamitsu, president of JSS Japan, told reporters.

The test results, which looked at quality of the webbing, were altered to meet legal and client standards.

Iwamitsu said JSS Japan has submitted an investigation report to Japan's transport ministry today.

The company is not planning a recall, he said, since reexamination of the webbing showed no safety issues, and also because the 12 automakers that the company is supplying decided not to implement measures such as car inspections.

As part of preventive measures, the company introduced an electronic system in March that would prevent data from being falsified, and is working on expanding human resources for quality management, he added.

Takata's faulty airbag inflators caused the auto industry's biggest safety recall and have been linked to numerous deaths and injuries, mainly in the United States.

The investigation also showed that data had been falsified at Hikone plant over a two-decade period until January 2020, overlapping with when Takata was embroiled in airbag scandals.

"In response to the airbag issue, JSS group as a whole made various efforts including establishing a code of conduct and enhancing compliance awareness among employees, especially those involved in quality management," JSS Japan's senior legal official Kohei Hamamoto said.

"Unfortunately, investigators pointed out that wasn't enough," he added.


Yas Marina Circuit prepares for F1 finale

                ABU DHABI: With the five-day Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race festival just around the corner, the Yas Marina Circuit is buzzing with activity as the F1 circuit prepares to welcome some 60,000 motorsports fans with 70% visiting internationally.

Making sure everything is ready and set to go ahead of the big race is a huge team of dedicated cleaners, painters, gardeners and skilled technical experts who have been hard at work across the circuit’s track, grandstands and landscaped areas.

As one of the world’s iconic motorsports venue, it’s vital that the circuit looks its very best for the fans will be packed into the stands and the many millions watching live on TV around the globe.

Squads of painters have worked around the clock to apply a fresh coat of paint to the 5.5km track, using a total of 4,500 litres of ‘Yas blue’ paint, 720 litres of ivory, 1,440 litres of red and 1,440 litres of white paint.

Overall two to three tonnes of fresh paint will be used to freshen up the Circuit, with 500kg being applied to the kerbing each day ahead of the event that runs from Nov 28 to Dec 2.

Before this year’s five-day racing festival, a small army of cleaners will be given the essential task of clearing away the dust from the circuit’s grandstands.

Equipped with high-pressure hoses, the team will set about tackling the Circuit’s 228 canopies over a mammoth 6,920 hours of non-stop cleaning work in order have the venue looking perfect and ready to welcome spectators.

Away from the track and grandstands, Yas Marina Circuit’s 88.4 acres of landscaped areas are also given special attention with teams of gardeners pruning and planting 2.52 acres of seasonal flowers and petunias.

The green-fingered gardeners will install more than 1,750 different kinds of foliage along with 886 varieties of Palms and 529 potted plants to bring a splash of natural colour and the wonderful scented aroma of flowers to the circuit.

While the huge cleaning operation is going on ahead of the F1 long weekend’s official start, behind the scenes the huge logistical task of organising this motorsport event is already well underway.

Teams of motor racing experts and logistics managers direct fleets of transporters carrying everything required for the FIA F2 Championship and the Trophy Round F4UAE race.

These championships, which will provide the F1 champion drivers of tomorrow, with the F2 Drivers’ Title to be determined during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Squads of highly skilled technicians and safety experts will inspect every inch of the circuit as part of intensive procedures to ensure the safety of the drivers, teams and the spectators watching the action unfold.

With the huge to-do list slowly being completed - job by job, the time arrives for the 10 teams to land in Abu Dhabi.

Fresh from the season’s penultimate race in Brazil, the teams and the hundreds of personnel that travel with them will sweep into the UAE’s capital city in a fleet of planes, ships and lorries, all loaded with the essentials that keep F1 on the road and racing.

In total, seven special charter flights will land at Abu Dhabi International Airport, with six flying from the UK and one from Europe.

Each plane will be loaded with an average of 100 tonnes of gear, while Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port will handle 336 containers – totalling 1,000 tonnes – filled with the kit needed to make sure all of the F1 and F2 teams are able to put on another thrilling display of motorsport action.

It will take more than 400 people using 70 forklift trucks to offload the vast amounts of the equipment once it reaches Yas Marina Circuit while 600 trucks will move the gear to and from the Circuit.

As well as taking up 18 villas and 70 garages the teams will go through 30,000 litres of drinks during the race weekend, while more than 200 cylinders of gas and four tonnes of dry ice will be delivered.

After 20 rounds of racing, the 2019 F1 season is looking to provide a thrilling grand finale in Abu Dhabi.


Nissan extends suspension of Russia factory for three months

                TOKYO: Nissan will extend its suspension of an assembly plant in Saint Petersberg, Russia, for three months until late December, it said today.

"Production is suspended at St Petersburg until the end of December and employees have been informed. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will take actions as needed," a Nissan spokesman said.

The plant, which was idled in March after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, was originally set to resume in late September.

Russia describes its action in Ukraine a "special military operation".

The Nissan plant suspension was extended because of continuing difficulties obtaining parts from Europe and Japan, the Nikkei daily paper reported.


Honda Malaysia recalls almost 148,000 vehicles

                KUALA LUMPUR: Honda Malaysia has issued a recall for 147,894 units of various Honda model to replace the front passenger airbag inflator.

The models involved are the Accord (2003-2011 Year Model), City (2009-2011 YM), Civic (2007-2011 YM), CR-V (2008-2011 YM), Freed (2009-2011 YM), Insight (2011 YM), Jazz (2009-2011 YM) and Odyssey (2004-2008 YM).

The company assured that priority goes to customer safety and has expressed regret over the inconvenience caused.

It further reiterated that all current models on sale are not affected and that the company will continue to uphold transparency and stringent controls to ensure customer safety is upheld.

All affected customers will be informed via a notification letter, which will include details of the recall.

Customers who receive the notification are advised to bring the letter and their vehicle(s) to the nearest authorized Honda dealer for inspection.

The replacement works will be carried out once the parts are ready and all charges related to this recall will be borne by the company.

Honda owners can also check their vehicle recall status by calling Honda Malaysia's Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020 or log on to www.honda.com.my and type in your car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or Chassis Number, or visit the nearest authorised Honda dealer.

The company is urging all affected Honda owners to have their vehicles checked and parts replaced at any authorised Honda dealer as soon as possible upon receiving the notification letter.


India gives aluminum battery a chance to take on lithium in EVs

                MUMBAI: A drive to reduce dependence on imported materials and technology, especially from China, is pushing India to invest in a battery technology that uses aluminium rather than lithium as the key ingredient.

Indian Oil Corp., the nation’s largest oil refiner, has teamed up with startup Phinergy Ltd. to develop the Israeli company’s aluminum-air battery.

India has few exploitable options to produce lithium, the key metal for the current generation of electric-vehicle batteries, but its eastern jungles hold large reserves of bauxite, the ore used to make aluminum.

"Lithium is scarce in the country and we started scouting for an element which is abundantly available as a natural resource,” said Indian Oil R&D Director S.S.V. Ramakumar.

India is among the top 10 bauxite producers. It has some 600 million tons of the ore in proven reserves, according to the US Geological Survey, though India’s mining ministry estimates that untapped resources may be many times that amount.

Moreover, the country has invested heavily in production of aluminum over the years to become the world’s second-biggest smelter of aluminium.

"Clearly, the special consideration here is that aluminium is in better supply than lithium,” said James Frith, Head of Energy Storage at BNEF in London.

"But with the ever-falling prices of lithium-based systems, developers will be under pressure to find niche applications where Aluminium-Oxygen can gain a foothold.”

An aluminium-air battery could win advantages over its lithium-ion rival in three other crucial ways, Ramakumar said: It’s potentially cheaper, vehicles using it would have a longer range, and it’s safer.

Swapping batteries

The battery works by tapping electricity generated when aluminium plates react with oxygen in the air. It has one of the highest energy densities for a battery. But the system has a number of drawbacks that have kept it from wide-scale use since it was first proposed in the 1960s.

Chief among them is the cost of materials that need to be added to the battery to prevent the power from dropping and the fact that the cells can’t be recharged. Instead, Phinergy’s plan is for users to be able to quickly swap in a new battery and send the used one to a recycling facility.

It takes just three minutes to replace the battery, about the time it takes to fill up at a gas station, Ramakumar said. The fuel retailer plans to use its network of filling stations as swapping points.

In comparison, lithium-ion batteries often contain hazardous materials that can be toxic if not disposed of correctly, making them harder to recycle. By 2035, the world will have accumulated about 4 millions tons of Li-ion batteries that have reached the end of their lives, according to a BloombergNEF estimate.

Lithium is already entrenched in the EV market and absorbs most of the research dollars, with many potential challengers based on sodium, magnesium or aluminium focused on smaller segments such as backup power systems, energy storage or low-power transport, like forklifts.

Yet demand both from electric transport and renewable energy storage means India could provide a market big enough for aluminum-air batteries to find a role. Battery demand will rise to as much as 185 gigawatt hours by 2035, according to BNEF.

Amara Raja Batteries Ltd., India’s largest producer of lead-acid cells, is examining existing lithium-based technologies as a "next growth engine,” though also sees scope for alternatives to be developed, Vijayanand Samudrala, the firm’s president of new energy, told a BNEF summit on Tuesday.

"I don’t think there’s a final word on the maturity of the technology, I can see at least two or three generations of technology shift happening in the batteries area in the next 10 years,” he said.

Indian Oil made a strategic investment in Phinergy in early 2020, and the Indian firm’s 30,000 service stations can "serve as the infrastructure for the deployment of Phinergy’s technology,” the Israeli company said in an e-mail.

Phinergy’s systems have been tested by telecoms companies for backup power at transmission towers and other sites. The company, which raised US$60mil (RM249.75mil) from an initial public offering in Tel Aviv earlier this year, has run a test car using an aluminium-air battery to keep the vehicle’s lithium-ion power pack charged that it says would have a range of 1,750km.

To assess the viability of wide-scale use in India, automakers Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. and Ashok Leyland Ltd. are carrying out vehicle tests that are expected to take almost a year. If there’s enough demand, Indian Oil and Phinergy plan to set up a gigawatt-scale facility to make the batteries in India, Ramakumar said.

Success would help Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to tackle three urgent problems for the country: cutting pollution, reducing raw material imports and creating jobs.

India’s dependence on fossil fuels has made it the the world’s third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and its cities regularly top the rankings for polluted air, putting hundreds of millions of citizens at the risk of lung diseases and premature death. The government has also been pushing companies to reduce the imports bill and increase self-sufficiency. Indian Oil is the the nation’s biggest importer of crude oil.

The refiner has joined major oil companies including Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BP Plc in turning towards clean energy as governments tighten emission regulations.

"We no longer see ourselves as merely an oil company. We want to emerge as an energy player, supplying all forms of energy,” Ramakumar said. "All future fuels have to have a common motive: make India self-sufficient.”


Peugeot open to tie-ups, Tata denies Jaguar Land Rover up for sale

                LONDON/PARIS: PSA Group said on Thursday it was ready to consider potential tie-ups, after the French carmaker’s shares briefly rose on a report that it was in advanced talks with Tata Motors to acquire UK-based Jaguar Land Rover.

The Peugeot maker declined to comment on a report by British news agency The Press Association that a deal was imminent. Tata denied the report, which cited sources referring to an internal “post-sale integration document” describing cost savings.

“As a matter of policy, we do not comment on media speculation, but we can confirm there is no truth to these rumours,” said a spokesman for the Indian carmaker, which owns 100 percent of JLR.

PSA shares jumped after publication of the PA report, before falling back after Tata released its statement, and were down 2.85 percent as of 1431 GMT.

“On principle, we are open to opportunities that could create long-term value for PSA Group and its shareholders,” said Alain Le Gouguec, a spokesman for the Paris-based manufacturer.

PSA is setting new profitability records even as it continues to integrate Opel/Vauxhall, acquired from General Motors in 2017, and has previously signaled openness to further acquisitions.

The relative fuel-efficiency of its vehicle technologies is a valuable asset as carmakers battle to meet tougher European emissions targets and avoid huge fines.

JLR, by contrast, faces one of the toughest challenges to comply with looming carbon dioxide goals - compounded by the uncertainty and disruption of Britain’s protracted departure from the European Union.

Tata posted a record $4 billion loss for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, and warned that JLR would swing to an operating loss in the full year to March.


Didi Chuxing wants own fleet of vehicles

                DETROIT: Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing is exploring ways of collaborating with established automakers and parts suppliers to jointly develop cars purpose-built for its services.

Pay-per-use services such as car-sharing and ride-hailing are starting to challenge traditional car ownership in some in some of China’s most congested cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, while global automakers are starting to bill themselves as “mobility” companies that do more than just build and sell vehicles.

Didi officials said the disruptive change sweeping the industry meant there was a clear mutual interest in new players like itself and traditional manufacturers working together to develop and improve ride-hailing and sharing platforms.

“Traditional automakers have different skill sets and understanding of the market, and those are all valuable to us,” Kevin Chen, general manager of Didi’s automotive service platform, told Reuters in an interview.

“It’s not like only we understand the customer. We are open to every form of cooperation.”

Didi is China’s biggest ride-hailing company, cementing its dominance when it bought out Uber’s operations in the country in 2016, and is preparing to launch car-sharing and other on-demand transport services.

It currently uses regular passenger cars, but says as it develops its offerings it sees a need for more dedicated “purpose-built” vehicles. Many would likely be electric vehicles, either all-electric battery cars or plug-in electric hybrids.

The company says it wants to establish 'open platforms' whereby it could share its customer and operational skills with automakers or parts suppliers wanting to develop there own ride-sharing operations, in return for expertise to help it design these purpose-built cars.

According to the company, the 'alliance' announced in Beijing on Tuesday was designed to 'become a provider of integrated transportation services combining auto leasing and sales, auto finance, auto service, fleet operation and car-sharing solutions in China and beyond'.

It did not say whether it was already in discussion with any established automakers on such collaborations.

Three people close to the company said automakers are likely to collaborate with it in co-developing purpose-built vehicles included Chinese-funded electric car start-up CHJ Automotive and GAC Motor.

Didi already has a small but expanding team of automotive designers, engineers, quality control and battery experts, according to the three sources close to the company.

Those experts are scrambling to develop vehicles for a shared car service the Beijing-based company is testing in Hangzhou, in eastern China, for an eventual nationwide roll-out, they said.

“We’re designing customised cars because without hardware product, you can’t be a serious mobility company,” one of the people said.

The move signals that, even as a host of established automakers gear up to show off their latest models when the Beijing auto show opens later this week, a new battleground could be opening up in the automotive engineering and design centres of some ride-hailing and car-sharing services companies.

As car-hailing becomes an increasingly popular option for commuting and running errands in congested cities such as Beijing, Didi is betting that vehicles purpose-built for such services could start to replace familiar everyday automobiles like the Toyota Camry or the Honda Civic.

Industry experts and officials remain divided on how quickly such a future might arrive.

The people close to Didi pointed to the fact that most personal vehicles sit idle in parking lots for 22 hours a day or more.

On top that, “parking is expensive, you need to maintain your car and pay insurance to drive”, one of them said.

Uber Technologies Inc, the largest U.S. ride and delivery services firm, has not yet begun to build the sort of in-house design capability that Didi is contemplating.

Instead, it does not have a formal design group, but it has began working with a number of vehicle manufacturers across topics that might include future vehicle design, according to a spokesperson.

A recent partnership with Toyota Motor Corp, which has a minority stake in the company, calls for Uber to provide design feedback on the interior of Toyota’s e-Palette self-driving vehicle. Didi has struck a similar deal with Toyota.

Lyft, the second largest U.S. ride services firm, does not have a formal design group, either. It has provided input to at least one manufacturer’s advanced design team, according to a source with knowledge of that input.

Didi’s designers and engineers envisage dedicated vehicles that will likely look very different to the cars used today for commuting and running errands, the people close to the company said.

For example, they say current mainstream cars are heavily “over-specced” - packed with equipment most drivers do not need such as engines and other technologies that allow them to go as fast as 250 kph.

Performance levels for ride-hailing and car-sharing service vehicles could be dialled down significantly, meaning they would not have to be so aerodynamic. Cars designed to carry just one or two people at a time to work or the shops could therefore be “boxier”, with fewer seats and more space for luggage.

“We are redefining the definition of the regular day-to-day car,” one of the sources said.


A squadron of electric Jeeps goes after Rivian, Tesla

                MILAN/DETROIT: Jeep will launch four all-electric sport utility vehicles by the end of 2025 in a bid to lead in electrification of off-road vehicles, the company announced on Thursday, despite the Stellantis NV brand's late start.

Jeep brand executives previewed an all-electric Jeep Recon, inspired by the brand's petroleum-fueled Wrangler adventure vehicle, a Wagoneer S that will be a battery-electric companion to the brand's Grand Cherokee or Wagoneer family vehicles. They also previewed a small Jeep Avenger EV aimed at Europeans.

Jeep brand chief Christian Meunier said future electric Jeep models - including some not identified in presentations to reporters on Wednesday - will help Jeep meet challenges from other electric vehicle brands.

Rivian and Scout, as well as General Motors Co's reborn Hummer brand, are pitching their electric SUVs to would-be buyers with many of the same appeals to outdoor adventure and all-weather capability that Jeep has traded on for decades. Tesla's Model X and Model Y SUVs compete with Jeep for customers who like multi-purpose utility.

Meunier said the electric Recon and Wagoneer models, due to go on sale in 2024, and the European Avenger, scheduled to go on sale early 2023, should help the brand grow.

"We are not done with growth, but we want to do it in the right way," Meunier said, adding he could not provide volume projections for coming years.

Jeep is now aiming to have 50% of its U.S. sales and 100% of its European sales to be of fully electric vehicles by 2030, Meunier said.

Meunier said Jeep intends to offer its electric models in China, but he did not give specific plans. Stellantis in July said it would revamp its strategy for Jeep in China, ending a joint venture with Chinese automaker GAC and shifting toward an imported lineup.

In Europe, Jeep wants to use the Avenger to expand its share of the compact SUV segment, where it already offers the Renegade model, said Antonella Bruno, the brand's chief for Europe.

"The Avenger will target younger and more feminine customers," Bruno said.

Italy is Jeep's largest market in Europe, accounting for 50% of its sales in the region and the brand hopes to grow to Germany, France and the UK.


British motor insurance premiums see biggest rise since 2011

                LONDON:  Comprehensive car insurance premiums in Britain rose 13.2 percent in 2015, the biggest annual rise since 2011, according to Confused.com's car price insurance index.

The increase, following a jump of 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter, pushed the average premium for an annual comprehensive car insurance policy to £672 (RM4,266), data from the price comparison website Confused.com and consultants Willis Towers Watson Plc showed.

"The recent increase to Insurance Premium Tax along with inflationary pressures on claims costs, especially to vehicle damage repair costs, have been the major factors driving up prices.", UK Head of P&C Pricing at Willis Towers Watson, Stephen Jones said.

The cost of third-party fire and theft policy (TPFT) policies rose at a similar rate, up 6.9 percent in the quarter and 16.8 percent annually, the company said.

"We've now seen 11 consecutive months with no premium decreases, which would suggest that the trend is likely to continue", Head of Data Services at Confused.com, Steve Fletcher said.

In November, the government raised Insurance Premium Tax rise to 9.5 percent from 6 percent. In 2011, the average comprehensive cover premium reached a high of £858 (RM5,448) per year.


Hyundai Veloster Turbo: What a change!

                The Hyundai Veloster wasn’t very well accepted in Malaysia following its official introduction in early 2012, and sadly it’s Gamma 1.6-litre MPI did little to entice – until the more potent turbocharged 1.6-litre GDI broke cover in Malaysia recently.

Our test vehicle was the Veloster Turbo, which slides in just under the range-topping Veloster Turbo Sport without the sporty decals, the orange “Turbo” side trim on the front seats and costing RM3,738 less at RM152,476.

The Veloster is simply and readily identifiable with its unique design that cannot be related to any other make or model and currently out-powers anything with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine.

For now, let’s forget about the rear door and all the emotions that come with it, focusing on the exterior in its entirety and how its sheet metal simply possesses a nice play of curves and creases on its sleek coupe-like body.

However, even with its aggressive 18-inch wheels, the wheel arches seem to continuously overwhelm them – almost as though they were screaming for a larger set of 20s to be fitted.

Under the hood lies a detuned engine for the European market, which means the 1.6-litre turbocharged mill dishes out 183bhp and 265Nm of torque, rather than 200bhp and 270Nm of torque found in South Korea.

Nonetheless, the car’s power rates the highest in the 1.6-litre turbocharged category and brings about a new level of attraction to those who overlooked it when the car initially arrived in its naturally aspirated form.

But like all the other cars from South Korea, budding owners can rest assured that it’s going to be feature-packed for the money.

And it was, with its leather upholstery, panoramic retractable sunroof, keyless entry and push-start button, Mobis sound system, seven-inch touch screen reverse camera and Bluetooth connectivity.

Suddenly, the Veloster seemed rather enticing.

Just like all other Korean cars, getting in and out of the car means there’s a melody that welcomes and another to bid the owner a fond farewell.

As cute as it may seem, the cuteness level was a little too overwhelming.

The accelerator pedal mounted on the floor and the signal stalk on the left gave an undeniably European feel to the car.

The seats were nicely bolstered on the sides, but the backrest lacked that ‘cushy’ feel, leaving me with a stiff back.

Everything on the centre console is well laid out, easily legible and within relative reach, especially the Push-Start button that’s literally a poke away from the gear knob.

If for some reason, the cabin seem a tad overly dark for preferences, at least there’s an option to allow more skylight or starlight in, thanks to the panoramic roof.

Starting up the 1.6-litre turbo mill is smooth and there’s a nice subtle drone emanating from the rear.

While we can’t vouch for the seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission’s (DCT) smoothness, gear changes are at least quick during spirited drives with the engine willing to provide when pushed.

It’s quick and zippy around the bends, which is commendable for the coupe hatch with a torsion beam for its rear suspension, and once you’ve reached the car’s grip levels, the electronics will intrude quite pronouncedly.

It is during such spirited drives that the car tends to shine the brightest and with the availability of paddle-shifters, it simply compounds the level of fun that’s afforded by the combination of a stiff chassis and suspension.

Although the car comes off as a fun ride and quite capable as an everyday commuter, those with a lead foot will need to keep a wary eye on the fuel gauge to make sure its fuel economy isn’t too adversely affected.

Furthermore, the driver’s seat height was found to be on the high side and eats considerably into headroom space – even for someone of my height at 175cm, giving taller occupants a hard time to find a good driving position.

Although arguably comfortable at the rear, passengers should be mindful when the boot is being closed to prevent the rear glass panel from hitting their heads.

As a whole, the Veloster Turbo is ultimately a fun coupe hatch to own, rather than something that tends to demonise its driver when behind the wheel.

But for something that’s got the bells and whistles of most luxury cars and more power than the competition, the Veloster still remains something that’s ultimately unique and rare among its 1.6-litre turbocharged peers.

And when considering what it has to offer versus its price-point, the Veloster almost seems like a bargain.


Triumph Bonneville Scrambler 1200 XC: A comfortable actioner

                The design of the Triumph Bonneville Scrambler 1200 XC can be summed in one word - practical.

Every part of the motorcycle is there for a reason.

The retro design of the bike is done tastefully with long flat saddle, crafted aluminium mudguards, swingarms and bash plate.

Meanwhile the sculpted side panels with brushed aluminium badge is complemented with stainless steel tank strap and brushed aluminium Monza filler cap.

The big round headlight, round side mirrors and the pipes are designed with the intention to give the old school look.

This time, my day ride on the Scrambler 1200 XC took me from Kuala Lumpur - Bentong - Raub - Ulu Dong - Jerantut - Kuala Lumpur. My trip took me five hours and more than 500km.

During the ride, the saddle was comfortable and had enough space for me to move around.

The firmness of the saddle was spot on. The ergonomics was spot on too. The wide handlebar and perfectly placed foot pegs and brake lever offer any rider a pleasant and comfortable riding position, be it on the highway, city centre or off-road.

This bike weighs 216kg. After an hour of riding this machine, I could not believe what I felt.

The bike's weight is well distributed while on the move and steering the bike around with arm muscle was very manageable unlike other 1,200cc bikes which I usually struggled.

While riding on the highway, I was able to do way above the speed limit easily but the windblast was just too much for me.

A good windshield will do the trick to ward off the rushing air and turn the Scrambler 1200 XC into an adventure bike.

The nimbleness of the bike plus the user-friendly electronics makes this bike less daunting for any novice trying out 1,200cc motorcycle.

The bike is very well planted on the road plus the chassis is sturdy enough to handle two crosswinds that caught me off guard.

The abundance of power and torque on this bike will definitely put a smile on any rider.

When I took the bike, the first thing few of my riding mates asked me was - Don’t you feel the heat from the pipes which are near your right leg?

After riding more than 500km, my answer was no if you are wearing proper riding gear.

However, while riding in the city centre with a pair of jeans and braving through the traffic, my leg did not feel any heat at all from the pipes. But when I stopped at the traffic lights, my leg got a bit warm.

The Scrambler 1200 XC comes with five riding modes which are - Rain, Road, Sport, Off-Road and a customisable Rider option.

Road mode was a bliss while riding on the trunk roads of Jerantut as well as on the Karak Highway.

Meanwhile, Sport is definitely fun on the highway if you are planning to do more than 100kph.

I could feel the rush every time I twisted the throttle for more power. It is so irresistible. I was lucky that during my ride to Jerantut, I encountered light and heavy rain along the way; thus, allowing me to turn on the rain mode.

I felt very safe and was in control despite travelling on muddy and slippery roads.

And of course, the off-road mode is where this machine is at home, be it wet or dry.

I also rode this bike on some easy off-road terrain. After 45 minutes of off-road riding, I decided not to turn off the road traction control.

The traction control did not bother me at all unlike few other bikes I had tried before where it felt unnatural and intrusive.

My limited experience on off-road riding did not pose any problem while riding on mud and loose gravels.

I only needed to throttle up gently and exit out from there - a piece of cake.

A must mention here is that the suspension system did extremely well.

It was easy to shift from standing to sitting on the bike while tackling the off-road terrain.

The Brembo brakes were at their best keeping me safe and sound throughout my off-road adventure.

The Scrambler 1200 XC managed to conquer the twisties and corners like a professional. I did not have to do much. I was flicking the bike happily like how I would do with my ‘kap chai’.

What was even amazing was that the rev response was spot on at every entry and exit points of a corner. I could zoom in and out as smooth as silk.

While on few bad stretches near Jerantut, the suspension cushioned all the beatings.

The fully adjustable 43mm Showa fork and twin Ohlins shock ensured that I had a comfortable riding experience.

The front and rear end had 7.8 inches of travel which is definitely good enough for any off-road adventure.

The bike also comes with My Triumph connectivity module which is world’s first integrated GoPro camera control system.

This feature allows one to take videos and photographs while riding and the control for this is on the left handlebar where the switches are.

There is also a turn-by-turn navigation system integrated with Google.

There is no reason now for you to get lost in the wilderness.

The Bluetooth connectivity also enables telephone and music features to be accessed and managed by rider via the TFT screen.

Priced at RM76,046 without SST, the Scrambler 1200 XC offers great performance on tarmac and off-road, timeless styling and attitude.

This new modern retro is a bike that’s every inch a true scrambler.

SPECIFICATIONSTriumph Bonneville Scrambler 1200 XCEngine: 1,200cc, SOHC, four valves per cylinder, 270-degree crank angle parallel twin, liquid-cooled,
Maximum power: 89hp at 7,400 rpm
Maximum torque: 110NM at 3,950rpm
Transmission: Six speed
Front suspension: Fully adjustable 45mm Showa USD cartridge fork with 7.8 inches travel
Rear suspension: Öhlins adjustable rear suspension at 7.8 inches travel
Front brakes: Twin 320mm discs, Brembo M50 monoblock callipers, radial master cylinder
Rear brakes: Single 255mm disc, Brembo two-piston floating callipers
Features: Full colour TFT screen, Rider Modes (Rain/Road/Sport/Off-road/Off-road Pro/Rider-Customisable), ABS, traction control, cruise control, My Triumph app via Bluetooth connectivity (features GoPro, live navigation with Google, enables music & phone) keyless ignition and USB charging socket
Fuel capacity: 16 litres
Wet weight: 216 kg
Price: RM76,046 (before SST)


Peugeot e-2008 electric SUV heads to Malaysia Autoshow 2023

                PETALING JAYA: Bermaz Auto Alliance will be previewing the all-electric Peugeot e-2008 at the May 4-7 Malaysia Autoshow 2023 ahead of its launch in Q4 this year.

The stylish small electric SUV is equipped with a 50kW battery and 100kW powertrain configuration with a motor output of 136hp that provides an estimated range of up to 320km from a full charge.

The e-2008 has a distinctive styling design, including body-coloured chequered front grille and a bespoke ‘e’ monogram on the front side of the panel and tailgate.

While the interior features the iconic PEUGEOT 3D i-Cockpit with hologram technology and a state-of-the-art head-up display.

The charging of e-2008 is made easy as the vehicle can support 100kW rapid charging from any dedicated DC Charging station, achieving 80% charge in 30 minutes.

The e-2008 will arrive initially as a fully imported model.

All three vehicle brands under the Bermaz Auto Bhd - Mazda, Peugeot and Kia - will be at the exhibition.

An array of models will also be available for a test drive, including the new locally assembled Mazda CX-30, Mazda CX-3, the locally assembled Kia Sorento and Kia Carnival in 7-seat variant, the Peugeot 2008 and the Peugeot 3008.


Renault Alaskan revealed

MEDELLIN: In a dramatic worldwide reveal surrounded by the rugged Colombian countryside, Groupe Renault today unveiled the Renault Alaskan, a one-tonne pick-up with a stunning look leading with its forceful front-end.

Both robust and comfortable, Alaskan delivers exceptional driving comfort enhanced by a cutting-edge five-link rear suspension and a tough, fully boxed frame.

The Alaskan is a powerful, ingeniously designed vehicle which combines outstanding off-road ability with best-in-class fuel economy with the Renault 2.3-litre dCi engine under the boot.

“ALASKAN’s design includes assertive dimensions and a visual impression of power and strength. It is the perfect companion for leisure use and everyday motoring,” said Groupe Renault SVP, corporate design, Laurens van den Acker.
Renault is a major LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle) player worldwide with 18 years of leadership in Europe and strong positions in many countries all over the world thanks to its wide range of vans and dedicated services.
In September 2015, to address the needs of LCV customers more directly and clearly, Renault launched a global expert brand with a large panel of services dedicated to these customers: Renault Pro+. Through this expert brand, Renault will provide LCV customers with tailor-made products and services and a highly-trained specialist network.

Light commercial vehicles are a major strategic market especially in Latin America. In 2015, 15 million LCVs has been sold in the world and the segment pick-ups account for more than one-third of total LCV sales: 5 million units worldwide.

“This stunning vehicle provides us with the means to fulfil the needs of professional users and individual customers around the world. With ALASKAN, we are on track to take Renault’s LCV Division forward from being a top regional player to a top global player,” said VP, Groupe Renault’s Global Head of Light Commercial Vehicles Business, Ashwani Gupta.


First-ever 911 Carrera GTS 30 Years Porsche Thailand Edition unveiled

BANGKOK: Porsche recently celebrated three decades in Thailand with a bespoke 911 Carrera GTS 30 Years Porsche Thailand Edition.

The company's bespoke team at Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur was tasked to deliver the special edition.

A limited run of these highly-collectible 911 Carrera GTS models will be produced, and each can be specified in one of seven iconic Paint to Sample (PTS) colours, paying homage to every colour of the day in the week in Thai culture. The PTS colours in the 911 Carrera GTS 30 Years Porsche Thailand Edition range are listed below:

Monday (Yellow) – Signalyellow
Tuesday (Pink) – Rubystar
Wednesday (Green) – Signalgreen
Thursday (Orange) – Pastelorange
Friday (Blue) – Rivierablue
Saturday (Purple) – Ultraviolet
Sunday (Red) – Firered

To complement the car’s exterior, the 20- and 21-inch Turbo S centre lock wheels, standard on the Carrera GTS models, are finished in a unique black/exterior colour two-tone, corresponding to the body colour.

The brake callipers are also finished in a stealthy black, but a splash of colour is provided by the Porsche crest on coloured wheel centre caps at all four corners.

The car comes with black high-gloss contrast finishes across the exterior, extending to the SportDesign front apron, front intakes, side window sills, rear apron inlays, rear lid inlays and exterior mirrors. On the B-pillars, a one-off “30 Years Porsche Thailand Edition” plaque is hand-applied.

On the car’s rear decklid, five slats on the driver’s side are painted red, white and blue according to the colours of the Thai flag. Finally, the standard model designation trim is replaced with a more subtle and contemporary "911" logo.

More bespoke touches continue inside the car, with contrasting interior trim pieces finished in the corresponding exterior colour on the passenger and centre consoles.

Seat inlays in Black corduroy, as well as Pebble Grey seat pipings and contrast stitching provide elegant highlights throughout the premium black leather interior, and a unique anniversary logo is stitched onto each of the headrests.

Anniversary mentions continue on the passenger console, centre armrest and on the door sill guards. A cross-stitching in Pebble Grey adds special accentuating details to the dashboard upper part, the door panels, and the rear side trim.

At a gala event celebrating 30 Years of Porsche in Thailand at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Porsche also unveiled a one-of-a-kind Inspiration Car in addition to the launch of the 911 Carrera GTS 30 Years Porsche Thailand Edition.

The Inspiration Car is finished in all seven colours, exquisitely hand-painted from body and paint specialists at Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.

The one-off car exhibits all of the artistic elements of the 911 Carrera GTS 30 Years Porsche Thailand Edition on its exterior and interior, bearing every shade the Edition collection will be available in.


Beijing opens up more roads for self-driving vehicle tests

                HONG KONG: China's capital city has designated 11 more roads for self-driving vehicle testing, state news agency Xinhua said on Wednesday, to try to speed up the technology's development.

The 11 roads are in Beijing's Fangshan District, Xinhua reported.

Self-driving cars must have a temporary number plate before they begin tests on designated roads, Xinhua said, quoting a notice released by Beijing's Municipal Commission of Transport.

They also have to complete 5,000 kilometers of driving in designated closed test fields and pass certain ability assessments.

The test driver in the autonomous car must have received no less than 50 hours of training and be able to take over the vehicle at any time during the test, Xinhua said.

In March, Beijing opened its first 33 roads for self-driving vehicle tests.


Changan Auto to set up EV production base in Thailand, its first outside China

The Changan Lumin EV.
BANGKOK: China's fourth largest automaker Changan Automobile will invest 9.8 billion baht (RM1.3bil) in Thailand to set up its first right-hand drive electric vehicle (EV) production base outside China.

The factory, with an initial production capacity of 100,000 vehicles for domestic and export markets, will strengthen Thailand’s aim to be a major global EV production base.

The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) said in a statement last week that Changan’s investment is set to create a production base for battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), Range Extended EVs, and batteries.

BOI secretary-general Narit Therdsteerasukdi said the company aims to market the vehicles in Thailand as well as Asean, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and South Africa to meet growing EV demand.

"Changan’s decision to invest in Thailand is a significant milestone in promoting the country as the world's major EV production base,” he said.

"It also demonstrates the company's confidence in Thailand's infrastructure, market potential, proactive policy to promote a complete EV ecosystem, and a comprehensive supply chain that is ready to support EV production,” Narit said.

Changan is one of the leaders in EV and intelligent driving technology with its headquarters and main production base located in Chongqing, China.

The company sold over two million vehicles last year. It also has a joint investment with Ford and Mazda to produce cars in China.

The Peugeot Landtrek pick-up truck sold in Malaysia is a joint collaboration between Changan and the French automaker.

BOI said it had previously approved a total of 26 electrified vehicle production projects with a total investment value of 86.8 billion baht.

It said the electrified vehicle production projects, including BEVs, PHEVs and hybrid EVs, are from 17 companies.

BOI said it will continue to work with various agencies to attract other EV manufacturers from Asia, Europe, and America to invest in Thailand.

"We are also actively promoting the building up of an electric charging network and other necessary elements to strengthen the EV ecosystem and related industries in Thailand,” he said.


2018 CarSifu Auto Show: Strong buzz on Day 1

KUALA LUMPUR: The opening day of the 2018 CarSifu Auto Show saw a strong turnout of visitors, with some 12,000 people thronging the exhibition floor to check out the enticing attractions.

The show put its best foot forward with a line-up of latest car models, vehicle promotions, discounts on car accessories, lucky draws, freebies and door gifts, games with tempting prizes and fun-filled family activities.

Star Media Group’s biggest automotive event kicked off today at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre (MVEC) at Mid Valley Megamall here and will run till Aug 26 (10am to 9pm).

Sharp Malaysia is the prize sponsor for a Book and Win contest at the auto show, and is giving away five units of Sharp Aquos 60-inch 4K television units with Easy Smart and 10 units of Sharp Plasmacluster Car Ion Generators.

Visitors who book a car here will stand a chance to win these prizes.

Participating auto marques are 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).

With the zero-rating of GST (Goods and Services Tax), this is a good time to get new wheels before the implementation of SST (Sales and Service Tax) on Sept 1.

Isuzu Malaysia chief operating officer Masayuki Suzuki said, "This is a very good opportunity to create awareness about our recently launched limited edition Isuzu D-Max X-Series pick-up truck. The response from visitors has been encouraging."

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

The first day of the auto show saw visitors eagerly checking out a Formula 4 race car and a 3.0-litre Toyota Land Cruiser fully kitted-out for off-road challenges, which are being showcased by Petron Malaysia.

Petron is the official fuel and engine oil for Formula 4 South East Asia season 3 championship, and the Rainforest Challenge of Malaysia powered by Petron Turbo Diesel Euro 5 and Petron Rev-X Diesel engine oils.

Petron Malaysia is also giving away Petron gift cards (each pre-loaded with RM10) to 500 lucky visitors.

Other popular draws were the Plinko game at the Petron booth where visitors can win a Porsche toy car, as well as the 20% discount for purchases of Petron engine oil (two packs and above).

As for Toyo Tyre and Silverstone, activities at the auto show include talks on tyre care and prizes such as AC Milan football club T-shirts, magnetic phone holders, Silverstone lunch boxes and mugs during games.

Toyo Tyre and Silverstone are also providing door gifts like hand fans, mineral water, windscreen stickers and keychains.

"We want to highlight our Toyo and Nitto tyres which offer a full range of products for segments such as premium and luxury cars, while Silverstone is known for value for money tyres. Toyo is OE (original equipment) tyre for Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Isuzu in Malaysia while Silverstone is OE for Proton and Perodua. Our strategy is to continue building the brand and grow our replacement tyre sales ," said Toyo Tyre Sales and Marketing Malaysia president and managing director Tan Song Chye.

A total of 11,832 visitors were registered at the close of the first day of the show.


Fuel prices down for third week in a row

                PETALING JAYA: Fuel prices are down for the third week of June.

The prices of both RON95 and RON97 petrol will drop by seven sen, while diesel will drop by six sen.

RON95 is down from RM2.05 per litre to RM1.98 per litre while the price of RON97 will go down from RM2.31 per litre to RM 2.24 per litre.
Additionally, the price of diesel is down by from RM1.94 per litre previously to RM1.88 per litre.

The new prices will be in effect starting midnight June 15 until June 21.

The prices were announced on RTM1 and posted on the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry's Twitter account on Wednesday evening.

The weekly fuel pricing mechanism came into effect in April this year.

Prices of petrol and diesel had been placed on a managed monthly float system since Dec 1 2014 following the removal of fuel subsidies.


Singapore to step up oversight on Grab, Gojek to enhance safety

The Grab service has become a part of everyday life among Singaporeans. — Reuters
SINGAPORE: Singapore will tighten regulations on ride-hailing operators such as Grab and Gojek, bringing safety-related rules for the services in line with taxi operators to better protect commuters and drivers.

Senior Minister for Transport Janil Puthucheary outlined a new bill governing the ride-hailing industry in the country’s parliament today. He said ride-hailing operators with at least 800 vehicles will be licensed. Taxi companies will have another licence.

The new regulatory regime comes six years after ride-hailing apps began gaining popularity in Singapore, where prior to 2013 there were 28,000 taxis. Today, there are about 20,000 taxis and 45,000 private hire cars, providing 6% of all journeys in the city-state.

"The need for enhanced safety measures is an area that industry stakeholders and members of the public agreed is of critical importance,” Janil said in a speech that mentioned "safety” 14 times.

The bill will give the Land Transport Authority the power to set safety requirements on licensed operators and mandate closer supervision such as by tracking the number of accidents and driver offenses.

If convicted, unlicensed operators may face a fine of as much as S$10,000 (RM31,000) or imprisonment for as long as six months, or both, according to a joint statement by the Land Transport Authority and the Public Transport Council.

"Today, we enjoy a point-to-point sector that is able to meet the needs of commuters and drivers, as well as our broader transport objectives, while also allowing innovation to thrive,” Janil said.

"This healthy balance is only possible with responsible operators, sensible commuters and safe drivers.”


Aston Martin plans to restart St Athan unit, cuts executives' pay

                LONDON: Aston Martin said on Thursday it plans to restart its St Athan factory in south Wales on May 5 and will also resume operations at Gaydon later, after the coronavirus-led shutdowns forced the luxury car maker to suspend production at both sites.

The company also announced pay cuts of between 5% and 35% for its senior leadership team, with new boss and Formula 1 team owner Lawrence Stroll electing to receive a nominal salary of 1 pound per annum.

Earlier in the week, Aston Martin, popular for being James Bond’s carmaker of choice, said it was focusing on launching production of its first sport utility vehicle under Stroll.

The luxury car maker said a majority of its employees are currently furloughed, and those who continue to be laid off from May 1 will get 80% of their base salaries from next month.

Britain is in a lockdown due to the pandemic, with many companies shuttered and millions of workers furloughed as the country heads for a deep recession.

The central England-based auto manufacturer had secured fresh investment earlier this year after struggling since a stock market flotation late 2018.

The company has been banking on the DBX model to drive sales in a new segment - appealing more to female buyers.

 The St Athan plant.


Saudi wealth fund in talks with Lucid for car plant in kingdom, says FT

                DUBAI: Lucid Motors Inc is in talks with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund to build an electric vehicle factory in the kingdom, the Financial Times reported, citing an interview with the fund’s governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Lucid is in talks with the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) to build a factory potentially near the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

The company raised more than US$1 billion from the PIF in 2018, an investment that was conditional on the firm developing a site in Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter said.

The fund is seeking to lure international companies to set up operations in the kingdom, the FT said. It is “already in discussion with a number of companies in the health sector,” Al-Rumayyan told the paper, without giving further details.

The PIF is also in talks with “many” companies in SoftBank’s Saudi-backed Vision Fund. “The next step is to go forward in getting them to the kingdom,” Al-Rumayyan said.

The PIF’s international exposure will decline to about 20% of assets under management during the next five years, from nearly 30%.

Saudi Arabia might consider listing more shares in Saudi Aramco “if the valuation is right,” he said.

The PIF will need additional government cash injections. This will happen only when the central bank’s reserves are replenished.


Infiniti gets musical

                DUBAI: Maybe the desert heat has something to do with it. Infiniti Middle East has announced the launch of "Chromatic," an audio composition and animation made entirely from the sounds and shapes of the Infiniti range.

Both the video and sound track are set to be distributed globally by Universal Music Group.

Conceived in April 2014 with agency TBWA-Raad, Infiniti sought to create a library of sound generated by elements of the cars themselves: brakes, tyre spins, gear shifts, seatbelt clicks, exhaust roars and internal alerts.

"This is the first time an automotive maker in this region has created a track purely for general release to live and breathe as artistic testament to our brand's values, inspired performance," said Francesca Ciaudano, Deputy General Manager, Marketing and PR, Infiniti Middle East.

The vehicles used to create the performance included the QX80, QX70, QX60 and the Q50 sedan.

Megadon Betamax, a respected global producer and composer, brought the piece to life. A classically trained musician, popular DJ and founder of Voyeur Rhythm Records, Betamax worked from scratch to deliver a piece that was contemporary, bold, enjoyable and shareable.

"When the idea was first brought to me, I was excited," said Betamax.

"It was definitely going to be a challenge. I live and breathe music, but I also love cars. The chance to create a truly unique and creative piece of musical art working with one of the world's premium automotive brands was a chance to give myself a real creative challenge. I wanted to craft a sound that framed the performance and power of these engines while building momentum and energy, musical crescendo and a foot-tapping tune. Most people that have heard the track so far don't believe it's entirely made from car sounds, and that's what I wanted. I'm proud of this piece."

Infiniti and TBWA-Raad approached talented animator and videographer Misha Shyukin to create the complex visuals, designed to illustrate each beat and note. These visuals were to be created using the designs of the Infiniti cars with the theme of arabesque patterns of Middle Eastern Art, its intricate patterns, symmetry and shapes.

Every frame is made up entirely of elements of the cars used to create the sound – a series of over 150 elaborate designs created from the curves of the QX80, QX70, QX60 and the Q50 sedan.

A project eight months in the making, the resulting composition of the "Chromatic" audio/video clip can be viewed on Facebook at Infiniti Fan page. A behind the scenes recording of the 'making off' video is also available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/InfinitiMiddleEast.

Those keen on having this 'get up and go' track on their Smartphone, mp3 player or for playback in their car stereo can download it on Sound Cloud at www.soundcloud.com/infinitime/chromatic-by-infiniti. Through the Universal Music Group, the content will be available on popular music platforms iTunes, Anghami, Deezer and Spotify.


330e plug-in hybrid the most popular BMW sold in 2018

The BMW 330e M Sport. The 3 Series range has always been BMW's bestseller.
CYBERJAYA: Over half of BMW Group Malaysia's sales in 2018 were electrified cars, dominated by the 330e M Sport. which contributed to a total of 14,338 vehicles the brand sold locally.

BMW total volume sales was 1,259 units more than Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's last year.

The achievement marked a segment leading growth of 13% as compared to 2017 (12,681) and is BMW's eighth consecutive year of record sales. The total figure comprises sales of BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad motorcycles.

In 2018, the BMW brand saw 12,008 new owners in Malaysia, charting a growth of over 13% compared to 2017 (10,618). This was led by a delivery of 3,363 units of the 3 Series, of which 2,149 were made up of the 330e M Sport. The X5 xDrive40e was also a key contributor to BMW’s performance with over 2,900 units delivered. A total of 2,761 units of the 5 Series were delivered to new owners, of which 64% are owners of the 5 Series Hybrid (1,769).

 The MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid.

MINI also recorded a double-digit growth of over 18%,having delivered 1,200 vehicles last year, as compared to the previous year (1,011). In 2018, over 90 MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid vehicles were delivered since its introduction in April.

BMW Group Malaysia also recorded its best performance for its electrified vehicles in 2018. Of the total cars delivered, 57% comprised electrified BMW and MINI (7,532).

The strong performance locally contributed to the BMW Group’s success of achieving the target delivery of 140,000 electrified vehicles, with 142,617 (+38%) electrified BMW and MINI vehicles delivered worldwide last year.

BMW Motorrad saw 1,130 new owners in 2018, which recorded a growth of over 7% compared to 2017 (1,052). The key contributor to the growth was the BMW Motorrad R 1200 GS Adventure which has over 300 new owners.

 The R 1200 GS Adventure in Rallye Style.
BMW Group Malaysia managing director Harald Hoelzl said the company had achieved numerous milestones in 2018.

They included the rollout of 12 BMW and MINI cars, expansion of its electric charging stations to four states and the unveiling of two concept cars that were also notable for making their regional debuts.

On the 2019 outlook, Hoelzl said "it will be another exciting year for the BMW Group in Malaysia with a strong portfolio of products to be introduced here, mirroring the biggest model offensive for the company worldwide."


Waze and Spotify's duet means musical commuting

                LONDON: A new joint feature allows users to get turn-by-turn navigation within their Spotify app or, if they prefer access to their Spotify playlists while using Waze.

It means that voice instructions or alerts will temporarily mute out the playlist rather than the music and the navigation system both competing for the driver's aural spectrum at the same time.

However, regardless of how commuters want to sing on the drive to work while avoiding holdups, the new cross-app integration, announced Tuesday is designed to minimise distraction.

The two features will work on the same screen without having to flick between apps. And unless your car supports Android Auto, you'll have to stop moving in order to switch between Spotify and Waze.

The new feature is currently only available for Android users.


Toyota, Panasonic to set up company for 'connected' homes

Toyota president Toyoda.
TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp and Panasonic Corp say they plan to establish a joint company to develop “connected” services to be used in homes and urban development.

The tie-up deepens the partnership between the companies, which in January announced a joint venture to build electric-vehicle (EV) batteries, pooling the R&D and manufacturing strengths of one of the world’s largest automakers and battery makers to compete in the fast-growing EV market.

In their latest venture, Toyota and Panasonic said they will set up a new company early next year to focus on technology that could be used to offer personalized services in the home. The pair plan to be 50-50 partners in the new firm and will increase cooperation at their respective housing operations in Japan.

“We will put our respective strengths together to offer new value in everyday life,” Panasonic president Kazuhiro Tsuga said in a joint statement today.

The move comes at a time when lower-emissions vehicles and ride-sharing services have opened up the auto industry to new competitors, leaving traditional car makers and their suppliers scrambling to find alternate revenue streams.

Toyota has been developing connected cars that can share information on usage - data that could be leveraged for on-demand ride-sharing, insurance and maintenance.

The automaker has said it will tap into its partner network and its operations which range from building and selling cars, homes and companion robots to expand into new transportation and home energy services.

“If we are able to use this network going forward not only to manufacture and sell vehicles but to also provide new services, our future possibilities will greatly expand,” president Akio Toyoda told reporters on Wednesday.

“In addition to cars, I think that having our own housing business and connected business will be a big advantage for us.”


High prices, steady supply chain protect BMW from industry woes

                BERLIN: BMW beat analysts' forecasts today with a 42.4% increase in third quarter net profits to €2.58 billion  (RM12.4bil) as higher prices and strong electric vehicle (EV) sales offset lower deliveries due to scarce chips.

In an earnings call, finance chief Nicolas Peter said the company was confident of topping its target for a 10% margin on pre-tax earnings this year, though the fourth quarter could be slightly dampened by higher tax payments and investment costs.

Looking ahead, the company expects strong EV sales to carry into 2022, Peter said.

While rising raw material prices impacted earnings this year, the company's strong relationship with suppliers has cushioned the blow, CEO Oliver Zipse said.

"We have always had good oversight over our supply chain. That is paying off now - right down to the raw materials," Zipse said.

No chips, no problem?

Automakers from Volkswagen to Stellantis to Renault saw dampened third quarter sales due to scarce chip supply, with consultancy BCG reporting in September it expected a total of 10 million to 11 million fewer cars to be produced worldwide this year because of the shortage.

But luxury producers like BMW and rival Daimler, which were able to raise prices to offset losses, fared better than others, with both companies reporting an EBIT margin of 7.8% in the third quarter, outstripping Volkswagen's 4.9%.

BMW's deliveries fell 12.2% in the third quarter but revenues were still up by 4.5%. EVs in particular saw a significant boost, with sales in the nine months to September almost double last year's levels at just under 232,000 vehicles.

"A better product mix and good price setting of new vehicles alongside a stable pricing trend of used vehicles strengthened the financial performance of the business," a company statement said.

Still, Peter said the lack of chips was "by no means a blessing" due to the tens of thousands of cars the company could have sold but could not produce.

The finance chief said earlier this year the company expected to deliver up to 90,000 fewer cars in 2021 because of a lack of chips.

BMW maintained its full-year EBIT margin forecast of 9.5% to 10.5% for its automotive division, adding this goal would be achieved through slightly reducing the number of employees.

"We are on track for our full-year forecast and are looking forward," Peter said. "We expect that semiconductor supply will be in an issue for us beyond 2021."


New Shell Helix HX8 fully synthetic engine oil from RM165

                KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd has launched the new Shell Helix HX8, one of the most affordable premium fully synthetic engine oils in Malaysia.

The recommended retail prices for a 4-litre pack are RM165(Peninsular Malaysia) and RM166(Sabah and Sarawak) for the Shell Helix HX8 5W-40, and RM180 (Peninsular Malaysia) and RM181(Sabah and Sarawak) for the Shell Helix HX8 5W-30.

The new Shell Helix HX8 comes in two viscosity variants in Malaysia.

With its adaptive Flexi Molecule Technology, Shell Helix HX8 protects the engine by adapting to every driving style and condition. It offers 58% better high-temperature deposit control and viscosity stability, 78% better corrosion protection in start-stop urban driving conditions and 40% better wear protection.

As a result, car owners enjoy longer engine life with enhanced fuel economy, longer oil drain intervals and lower maintenance costs.

Shell Lubricants Marketing general manager May Tan expressed confidence that Malaysians would appreciate the superior value of the new Shell Helix HX8 compared to other brands in the market.

“The new Shell Helix HX8 offers premium fully synthetic engine oil performance at an affordable price so that car owners can now give the best to their cars without compromise.,” she said.

To celebrate the launch, 888 packs of the new Shell Helix HX8 is up for grabs to car owners who register online at www.shell.com.my/helix888. No purchase is necessary and lucky winners will receive a promo code via SMS.

Additionally, purchase of Shell Helix HX8 qualifies the consumer for the unique Shell Advantage and Rewards (SHARE) loyalty programme which offers free Shell engine oil from accumulated purchases and free Shell Helix Engine Warranty (SHEW) for cars below eight years old and 150,000 km on the odometer.


World Car Awards: Jaguar I-Pace takes car of the year in New York

                NEW YORK: Jaguar's electric I-Pace has been named the best car of 2019, winning the British luxury brand the top prize in three categories of the influential World Car Awards at the New York car show.

Alongside the 2019 world Car of the Year, the electric SUV also took home accolades in the design and "Green Car" categories.

The organisers and jury, comprised automotive journalists from all over the world, lauded the I-Pace for its "sports car performance, exceptional refinement and true SUV practicality."

The electric SUV, known for a massive range of up to 470km from its 90-kWh lithium-ion battery, can charge 80% in 40 minutes at a fast-charging station and be recharged overnight using a normal socket.

This year marks the third year straight in which an SUV has come out on top, with Volvo's XC40 luxury crossover winning in 2018 after the Peugeot 3008 in 2017.

Jaguar CEO Ralf Speth said the I-Pace marked a step towards what he called "zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion."

"We started with an ideal, to move towards our Destination Zero vision. [...] I-Pace is our first step to achieving this, and it was conceived when EVs [electric vehicles] were little more than a niche choice."

Meanwhile the 2019 luxury car prize went to the Audi A7, best urban car to the Suzuki Jimny and best car performance to the McLaren 720s.

Among the seven finalists for the Car of the Year 2019 were both more affordable models by Kia (Ceed) and Ford (Focus), alongside releases by luxury brands Mercedes (A-Class) and Jaguar.

Renault-owned sports car manufacturer Alpine also made its way onto the list with its A110 model, alongside fellow French models the Peugeot 508 and Citreon C5 Aircross.

Among the most important aspects for the judges - who are a group of journalists and car experts from across Europe - is the technical innovation and value for money displayed by each entry.

According to its website, the award values "design, comfort, safety, economy, handling, performance, functionality, environmental requirements, driver satisfaction and price."

World Car of the Year - Full award list

2019 World Car of the Year: Jaguar I-Pace
2019 World Urban Car: Suzuki Jimny
2019 World Luxury Car: Audi A7
2019 World Performance Car: McLaren 720S
2019 World Green Car: Jaguar I-Pace
2019 World Car Design of the Year: Jaguar I-Pace
2019 World Car Person of the Year: Sergio Marchionne (Fiat, Chrysler)


China's messy car repair market gets a Goldman-backed makeover

                SHANGHAI: Car repair can be challenging in China, rife with the potential for disputes over the quality of service and parts and dominated by mom-and-pop stores.

But the auto after-market industry is changing as vehicles age and owners become more exacting, creating a giant opportunity for companies trying to raise the bar using technology.

One of those is Shanghai Lantu Information Technology Holding Ltd., or Tuhu, and it’s got some notable backers in Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Carlyle Group Inc., Sequoia Capital, as well as internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd.

Valued at US$4 billion, the company is already a major distributor of auto parts and China’s biggest internet-based car maintenance service provider, according to founder Chen Min.

Chen says Tuhu is bringing a new approach to car repair in China through its 2,400 franchises and 13,000 partner shops.

Unlike many of the individual or family-run auto-repair stores in the country, Tuhu centres share similar designs and layouts, bear the company’s red and white logo, and employees wear a uniform. This universal standard is important to Chen, 39, who likens it to what customers have come to expect from somewhere like Starbucks Corp.

“When customers maintain their cars, we hope it’s as simple as going to Starbucks for a cup of coffee: no matter what type - big cup, medium cup, small cup - they get what they ask for and don’t need to worry about the cost,” he said in a Jan 20 interview. “We must offer very affordable prices.”

For routine maintenance of a Dodge 2.7-litre sport utility vehicle, Tuhu charges 426 yuan (RM267), according to its website, more than 20% cheaper than the same service offered at a Dodge dealership.

Vehicle ownership in China more than tripled over the past decade to 281 million units at the end of 2020, according to government data, putting it on track to overtake the US as the world’s biggest auto market this year in terms of car ownership.

That also means the average age of vehicles in use is increasing. Deloitte & Touche LLP forecasts that China’s auto-maintenance market revenue, which includes spare parts sales, will rise to 1.7 trillion yuan a year by 2025, almost double the figure in 2015.

Competition is heating up as companies with deep-pocketed backers enter the fragmented market and overpower the smaller, inefficient independent players.

With that, China is becoming more like Western countries where well-known after-market operators such as Autozone Inc., O’Reilly Automotive Inc. or Halfords Group Plc in the UK have large networks and recognisable brands.

As vehicles get older, there is “rising demand for the type of standardised maintenance services offered by companies like Tuhu both online and offline,” China Passenger Car Association Secretary General Cui Dongshu said in a phone interview.

“Other companies such as JD.com that want to grasp this business opportunity are also getting into the game.”

Another is New Carzone, whose backers include Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Goldman Sachs and Warburg Pincus, which says it is “well-positioned to expand its nationwide network and empower independent auto after-market service providers in China.”

Tuhu has an online platform and database that can be used to find spare parts, make orders and book appointments for repairs. A real-time inventory tracker of some 100,000 components at about 500 warehouses helps control the management of stock and lets customers figure out whether, where and when they can get new components, according to Chen.

“There is a huge market for car services in China and that is why I founded this company,” said Chen, who worked for Microsoft Corp.’s China software venture and HP Inc. before creating Tuhu in 2011. “A lot of my colleagues started their career as programmers. We believe digitalisation and the internet can bring changes to various industries and society.”

Tuhu’s revenue this year should increase at least 50% from the 10 billion yuan recorded last year, according to Chen, and the company plans to add as many as 1,400 franchise stores. Discussions are also being held about a possible initial public offering, he said, without providing details.


Phase 2 of PJ traffic system starts

                PETALING JAYA: Phase 2 of the one-way loop in Petaling Jaya will see the work divided into four sub-phases lasting 18 months, said Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran in a press briefing on the traffic system’s progress.

In its “Proposed Construction Work Programme,” the first sub-phase (termed “quarter”) will see the western half of Jalan Utara, Jalan Timur and part of Jalan Sultan being developed from March till mid-July.

The second quarter, starting from July till November this year, comprises Jalan Barat, certain sections of Persiaran Barat, the eastern half of Jalan Utara and the remainder of Jalan Sultan.

Other roads, such as Jalan Yong Shook Lin and the remainder of Persiaran Barat will be developed in the third quarter, which will start from December and end in mid-April next year.

The final sub-phase, such as final landscaping touches and road furniture such as bus stops and safety railings, is targetted for completion by Aug 31, 2016.

However, both Rajiv and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor Ang Ming Ern said a formal request had been put in to shorten the 18-month construction period spelled out in the original tender awarded, to minimise inconvenience.

“Based on the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety’s (Miros) recommendations, the council appointed Pakatan Jurutera Pintar Sdn Bhd as the road safety consultants,” said Rajiv.

Ang said the contractor and MBPJ would finalise details such as the access and exit points for stakeholders along the road, including Amcorp Mall where the exit point leads out onto Jalan Timur despite cars weaving in to enter Persiaran Barat ahead.

“The traffic flow is confirmed, we are adding further details such as gradients and other features to ensure road safety,” he added.

The planned survey on the traffic system’s business impact by opinion research firm Merdeka Centre will be conducted at a later date, despite an earlier statement that the survey and a stakeholder dialogue would be held before Chinese New Year.

When contacted, MBPJ councillor Lee Suet Sen said the firm had submitted its research proposal and costing on March 12.

Some residents, however, are unhappy that the one-way loop will enter its permanent phase despite the earlier three-month trial period.

“It was supposed to be a trial period. Where are the studies or numbers done to justify the continuation of the project?” asked Section 12 resident David Foo.

Furthermore, he said Jalan Utara ran past residential areas and its conversion into a six-lane single carriageway with free-flow traffic as part of the one-way loop, was basically turning Jalan Utara into an intra-city highway next to a housing area.

Foo also questioned whether the appointment of the aforementioned road safety design consultants would add more costs to the traffic system project.

Since the one-way loop’s experimental phase in October last year, there has been at least one fatality where a pedestrian was killed by a hit-and-run driver while crossing Jalan Utara.


King receives Honda Civic Type R as birthday gift

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia presented the Civic Type R to the King as a gift in celebration of his birthday at a handover ceremony held at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur.

The most powerful Honda model would be used as an escort car for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

The RM330,000 car was crowned "Champion of Champions" in  2017.

 The Civic Type R that was presented to the King.

“The Civic Type R claimed the title of ‘World’s Fastest Front-Wheel-Drive’ production car at Germany’s legendary Nurburgring race track when it was first introduced in 2017," said Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Toichi Ishiyama.

"This model is not only ideal to drive on track but also on the road as a daily commuter. On behalf of Honda Malaysia, I am truly honoured to present the Civic Type R to His Majesty The Yang di-Pertuan Agong for his daily use as an escort car.

"I am also pleased to present another Honda model - the Civic 1.5L VTEC Turbocharged Premium - to Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah as an escort car.”

The RM129,000 Civic is the top variant of the model and is one of three versions.


Volvo V40 T5 tested

Years have passed since we last drove the Volvo S40 sedan and the V50 wagon. The details are a blur. But we recalled the two models generally gave a good account of themselves at a time when life was simpler, the competition less intense and Volvo was its own boss and not yet a part of China’s Geely group. It’s now 2014. The ageing models have since been retired and replaced by the V40. Now the V40 has a mighty task on its hands. It tries to straddle the wagon/sedan divide while looking for new, younger and affluent buyers (isn’t every car maker gunning for them?).

So the shape and driving dynamics have to appeal to three target groups. Volvo calls the V40 a hatch but its design is reminiscent of a wagon when seen sideways. This 5-door hatch has been cast in the mould of a modern and trendy car that retains its Euro roots despite Asian ownership. The top brass at Geely recognised the “Scandinavian Design” as a selling point and left it well alone.

It can’t be denied that the styling on the whole is athletic and attractive. Taut, sculpted lines define the V40 form. The front angles slope down and the body extends up rearwards to a corrugated rump framed by boomerang taillights that heighten the aesthetics and make the car appear as if crouching to leap forward. We preferred the three windscreen washer nozzles to be hidden away rather than sit atop the bonnet because they disrupt the clean surfacing. The interior is a picture of solid build quality and ergonomics. The design is typical Scandinavian with a simple, fascia layout. Buttons and knobs are mainly gathered on the “floating” centre stack. Leather seats are well formed to support occupants and enhance comfort for a long drive. Rear legroom is enough but headroom is snug for anyone well over five feet tall. Although the rear row has head restraints for outer seats, it still provides sufficient rearward vision for the driver. Storage spaces are everywhere, from the averaged-sized glove box to centre armrest compartment, to pockets on all four doors, rounded off by pockets behind the front seats. A nice touch is the ability to cool two cans of soft drinks in the glove box. Sadly, sat-nav is absent but is available as a RM2,700 option. At 335 litres, boot space is modest but should be adequate for most people. Rear seats fold flat if more storage space is needed. The T5 gear-shifter and instrumental cluster are worth highlighting as the V40 strives to stand out.

The chunky lever knob, while nice to grasp, has a white illuminated see-through face showing the gear position with a light surround. A green marker denotes what gear the car is in. More noteworthy is a new digital instrument cluster that changes colour and the type of information displayed. Accessible via the left stalk behind the steering wheel, the TFT (Thin Film Transistor) crystal display switches between one of three themes: amber-coloured Elegance, green ECO and red Performance. The default Elegance theme features a large centrally located speedometer, with ancillary information on both sides. The ECO theme keeps the speedo but changes to a different palette of information to show such things as an ECO meter, and the current and accumulated fuel consumption figures. The driver is “rewarded” with a green light when eco-driving is optimal. The Performance theme switches the centre dial to a tachometer and vehicle speed is shown digitally in the centre of the display. The side displays includes a power meter to show the driver how much power is available and how much power is being used at any given time. Volvo Car Malaysia released the V40 in three variants last year. All are semi knocked-down, meaning initial assembly was done in Europe, so they are priced rather sensibly. Apart from the RM190,888 T5 unit under review, the others are the base RM173,888 T4 and the RM200,888 T5 Cross Country, an elevated and more rugged version of the T5 that is expected to double up as a mild offroader. Note that the test unit comes with the R-Design package option for a more aggressive appearance. The pack adds aerokit, 18-inch wheels and styling effects. You can also opt to pick through the pack instead of taking it wholesale. Being Volvo, the five-seat V40 is a reassuring space to be travelling in, and Euro NCAP agreed by giving it a 5-star collision safety rating. It has a long list of safety features, including six airbags plus a driver’s knee airbag. An improved blind spot alert system is standard; so is City Safety that helps the V40 to avoid a rear-end collision with the vehicle ahead by automatically applying the car’s brakes at speeds up to 50kph. What’s new also is Cross Traffic Alert which uses the radar sensors at the rear of the car to alert the driver to crossing traffic from the sides when reversing out of a tight parking bay.

They are all invisible to the V40 occupants and like life insurance, springs into action only in the hour of need. The pedestrian airbag, a world first, debuted in the V40 and is available in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, but is removed from the Malaysian specifications for cost reasons. The car can parallel-park itself on either side, reminding us that it shares platform with the Ford Focus, which has that capability, too. The T5 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that delivers 213bhp and 300Nm of torque to the front axle. Paired to a six-speed automatic transmission with Geartronic, the T5 promises a 0-100kph dash in a brisk 6.9 seconds. Fuel economy is aided by an auto start/stop system and covered alloy wheels that reduces drag. On the move, the V40 comes across as an agile vehicle with a stout engine. There’s never a moment when you find it deficient; it pulls strongly from low revs and makes light work of extended ascents. It has a measured pace about it and is not easily flustered when directed to change direction quickly. Suspension is firm but supple enough to offer a ride befitting a premium car. Body roll is minimal even in fast corners. What is lacking is the visceral effect that a sporty 5-potter is supposed to impress you with. The engine growl is just too insulated and kept at arm’s length from the cabin. In that sense, the T4 variant, whilst also having a competent block, offers a rawness missing in the T5. Wind noise is well damped but tyre noise becomes intrusive at high speeds. The steering wheel feels meaty in the hands and the car offers steering wheel force in three settings and like the meter cluster colour scheme, is aimed at adapting the car to the driver’s mood of the moment. At the lowest setting, the steering is as light as a feather, but even at the highest setting it is not so wound up that a woman driver, for example, would find it unmanageable. Torque steer is detectable at times but is easily subdued. With such stand-out styling and performance, the younger set wouldn’t be embarrassed being seen driving the V40 T5 at all.


Car makers to profit from China’s booming used market

                The vast majority of cars in the world’s biggest auto market are purchased new, but a second-hand trade is beginning to emerge in China despite traditional buyer reluctance -- and foreign manufacturers are hoping to benefit.

In China one used car is sold for every four new vehicles, the opposite of Europe and the United States, where around three used cars are sold to every new one.

Even though more than 23 million vehicles were sold in the country last year, more than 65 percent of car buyers in China are still purchasing for the first time and simply do not have one to trade in or sell in return.

At the same time there is a strong cultural preference for new items, rather than those tarnished by previous ownership, and without regulations, scepticism over the quality of used vehicles abounds.

But the car market is maturing and restrictions on new vehicle registrations are gradually changing attitudes. “Only 10 years ago the mere idea of   a used car simply did not exist for Chinese dealers,” says Mathieu Vennin, a senior executive for French carmaker Peugeot in the country.

Last year, though, used car sales jumped 16.3 percent to 6.05 million vehicles, according to the China Automobile Dealers Association (CADA).

In contrast, sales of new vehicles only grew 6.9 percent, recording a marked slowdown.

“It’s (used car sales) an area we want to work with our dealers,” said Mark Fields, president and CEO of Ford Motors. “Especially now, as buyers of a first car are moving to their second vehicle, there are opportunities.”

Almost all used car transactions are still made privately -- one expert said 95 percent are by small independent dealers, who trade as if they are private owners, without paying sales taxes.

But big name manufacturers are looking to enter the market by reselling their own products second-hand, complete with quality guarantees.

“This helps build more credibility in the used car market that was nonexistent before,” Lin Huaibin, an expert with IHS Automotive, told AFP.

Volvo Cars is the latest to set up such a scheme, following the leads of Nissan, Audi and Peugeot, which has 700 certification centres around the country.

Separately, limits on new car registrations introduced by several major Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai, in an attempt to curb pollution and tackle congestion, have proven a boon for the used car market.
Premium brands -- those selling for US$33,000 to US$197,000 -- suffered the most during the economic downturn, but spy an opportunity in the used car arena.

“We have more and more customers who are replacing their cars and we have to be prepared for this kind of business, because now when you sell a new car, you get a used car back,” Dietmar Voggenreiter, President of Audi China, told AFP.

“It’s also a way to bring more customers to the premium car segment by the used cars, and with certified used cars, it brings them to the service network of Audi and so on,” he added.

The sluggish economy has also helped persuade some to buy second-hand - with prices for even a one-year-old vehicle 25 percent lower than new.

“The boom in the used market is bringing us a new type of buyer, some of whom have never even owned a car,” said Ian Robertson, sales manager at BMW.

Namrita Chow, principal analyst at the IHS Institute in London, said for manufacturers such as the German builder, “focusing on people with comparatively lower incomes, it is also boosting its penetration in China“ without devaluing the status of its new vehicles.

“By attracting those who do not have the means to buy a brand new car, the manufacturers hope to introduce new customers to their brand,” she said.

Some premium manufacturers are also working with online sales platforms - a major potential facilitator of sales.
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has teamed up with the China Grand Auto dealer network, while China’s leading search engine Baidu recently invested in Uxin, an online used car auction site.


Centoventi: Fiat's attempt at a no-frills electric

                GENEVA: Fiat believes it can beat the market trends and make e-mobility affordable with one central concept: simplicity. Too many e-cars are too expensive for regular car buyers, so Fiat is hoping to bring e-mobility to the masses with its new no-frills Centoventi.

To reduce costs, the Italian brand is relying on a simplistic design with a reduced model range. That means, for example, instead of offering dozens of variants, the concept hatchback will only be available in one shape and colour (Fiat hopes you like grey).

The approximately 3.7-metre-long concept is on display at the Geneva Motor Show (March 7-17).

In order to customise the car, customers can still choose from over 100 accessories and attachments, with which you can even redesign the cockpit. This chop and change approach also applies to the drive.

From the factory, the Centoventi standard has a battery with a more limited range of 100 km, but you can buy or even rent out additional battery modules to extend the range up to 500 kilometres.

One of these batteries can be removed and recharged in your living room or garage like an e-bike battery. Fiat says it hopes Centoventi will one day be used in rental and car-sharing fleets.

However, whether this concept ever makes it into production, is perhaps the first question the car maker should answer before car buyers get their hopes up.