Goodyear Assurance DuraPlus tyre heaps on the value

                The DuraPlus tyre from Goodyear is no stranger to us, since its launch in Asean about six years ago. It was the first tyre that was billed as lasting up to 100,000km and we had the DuraPlus tyres sized 185/65 R14 fitted on my Toyota Corolla SEG.

The DuraPlus was touted as durable and high-mileage tyres, and it was exactly what our budget-conscious wallets needed as I stay about 30km away from my workplace.

This meant my Corolla SEG is driven about 23,000km annually.

I ended up using the DuraPlus tyres for more than three years, although one or two tyres had to be replaced during the period due to “extremely challenging” road conditions in parts of the Klang Valley.

I can still recall the price per tyre for that particular size, which was around RM170.  At that price, the DuraPlus provided great value for money because it lasted a few years.

Earlier this year, Goodyear launched the new Assurance DuraPlus, which is also billed as long-lasting up to 100,000km.

The new Assurance DuraPlus tyre has an improved version of Goodyear’s TredLife technology, with an enhanced tread compound, as well as a DuPont Kevlar overlay for added protection.

The new tyre claims to provide better protection against road hazards, which is exactly what I  want as “extremely challenging” road conditions have badly damaged one of my tyres in the past year.

These road conditions included a deep pothole that that did not only destroyed a tyre, but also damaged a shock absorber and other parts of the suspension.

Now, while I am not asking for armoured vehicle-like treads, I am happy that the Assurance DuraPlus tyre has a DuPont Kevlar overlay to improve durability.

Used in military grade equipment, this lightweight material maintains stiffness and strength even under high temperature conditions when the tyre is in motion.

Also, I think Goodyear’s TredLife technology provides real value for money in extending tyre life span.
This TredLife technology uses an advanced carbon-based tread compound that provides increased resistance to road wear.

It also has a larger tread width design, which puts more rubber in contact with the road for a longer lasting tread.

I am more than satisfied where road noise and the Assurance DuraPlus’ wet grip performance were concerned.
Meanwhile, buyers of the Assurance DuraPlus are covered for six months under Goodyear Malaysia’s Worry Free Assurance programme.

With a six-month validity period, buyers will get a free replacement tyre if damage due to road hazard occurs, when the depth of the tyre tread is more than 6.7mm.

If damage occurs when the depth of tyre tread is within 5.5mm to 6.6mm, Goodyear will credit against the purchase of a new Goodyear tyre of the same size and design.

The Assurance DuraPlus is offered in 14- and 15-inch sizes, and priced from RM226 to RM325 inclusive of GST.


Lamborghini and Lego announce partnership

                SANT'AGATA BOLOGNESE: Automobili Lamborghini and The LEGO Group have announced a new partnership that will see the duo introduce the first-ever Lamborghini super sports car by LEGO Technic.

The new partnership will see the two companies exploring the possibility of constructing transmissions, differentials and gearing systems.

The new 1:8 scale Lego Technic Lamborghini model will launch in the second half of 2020 and will be the third model in the LEGO Technic Ultimate series that follows from its popular predecessors.

The Lego Technic set will be available in LEGO Brand Retail Stores and the LEGO Online Store from June 1 and more widely from Aug 1. Further details will be revealed at a later date.

“The LEGO Group has amazed entire generations with beautifully simple or extremely complex constructions. In the digital age, where entertainment is often via a screen, our collaboration with The LEGO Group allows enthusiasts to live a real experience, reproducing a Lamborghini super sports car in every detail to create an outstanding model, just like the real car,” said Automobili Lamborghini chief marketing and communication officer Katia Bassi.

"Following the success of the former Ultimate models, it was crucial for us to find a new partner with an iconic vehicle, an unmistakable design DNA and groundbreaking use of technology," said LEGO Technic marketing director Niels Henrik Horsted who added that partnering with a company like Automobili Lamborghini is an ideal choice.


Tesla to deliver China-made Model Y SUVs this month

                BEIJING: Tesla Inc said today it has started selling China-made Model Y sport-utility vehicles (SUV) and will deliver them to customers this month, as the US electric vehicle maker expands sales in the world’s biggest car market.

China, which offers hefty subsidies for electric vehicles as it seeks to cut down on pollution from petrol or diesel cars, is key to Tesla’s global strategy.

It is expanding its Shanghai car factory, where it also builds its Model 3 sedans. In October, it started exporting Model 3 vehicles to Europe.

It is also adding manufacturing capacity for EV chargers in Shanghai and expanding its sales and service network around the country. It sold over 20,000 vehicles in November.

Tesla’s rivals in China include Volkswagen AG, BMW as well as local startups such as Nio Inc, Xpeng Inc, and Li Auto Inc, which all have electric SUV models.

The starting price of a Model Y in China is now 339,900 yuan (around RM210,000), according to its China website. The price is lower than  some of its rivals as it sought to outflank them. Nio's electric SUV for example, retails for at least 368,000 yuan (RM227,000) or more.

READ MORE:  Tesla’s dominant position in China could be threatened in 2021


NAP 2020 to focus on growing automotive industry, support B30 biodiesel

                KUALA LUMPUR: The National Automotive Policy 2020 (NAP 2020) has set highly ambitious targets including expanding the economic contribution of the local automotive industry to RM104.2bil by 2030 (from RM40 billion).

Other targets of the new policy, which has a 10-year framework from 2020 to 2030, include growing the TIV (total industry volume) to 1.22 million units (from 604,287 units in 2019), and creating 323,000 job opportunities.

The NAP 2020 was launched by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI).

Also present were MITI minister Datuk Darell Leiking and deputy minister Dr Ong Kian Ming.

In his speech, Dr Mahathir also said the palm biodiesel blend at fuel pumps will be enhanced to B30 (diesel mix consisting of 30% palm methyl ester and 70% petroleum diesel) before the year 2025 or even earlier.

"To facilitate the implementation, NAP 2020 will provide supporting measures including the development of standards for testing and research to support the increase in blending of palm oil biodiesel," he said.

Earlier this week, the B20 programme was launched in the country and the use of the biofuel will be adopted throughout Peninsular Malaysia by June 2021.

The B20 programme was introduced in Langkawi and Labuan in January, and will be expanded in stages to Sarawak in April, Sabah in August, before covering the country’s 3,400 fuel stations.

Dr Mahathir also noted that the Malaysian automotive industry employ more than 600,000 people and contribute four per cent to Malaysia’s economy.

"There are more than 20 manufacturing and assembly plants in the country producing passenger and commercial vehicles, as well as motorcycles and scooters. Moving downstream, there are about 53,000 aftermarket establishments and more than 600 automotive parts and component manufacturers that range from body panels, trim parts, powertrain parts, rubber parts and electrical and electronic parts," he said.

Dr Mahathir pointed out that there were many sceptics when the government actively promoted a local automotive industry 35 years ago.

"But today, Malaysia has become one of the most competitive markets for the automotive industry, and it has gone through many phases of development with many success stories to be told," he said.

The NAP 2020 will focus on Next Generation Vehicle (NxGV), Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0).

The new policy's booklet defines a NxGV as an EEV (energy efficient vehicle) that is enhanced with Intelligent Mobility applications with minimum of Level 3 Vehicle Automation.

NAP 2020 aims to develop NxGV standards, for market penetration by 2025.

As for MaaS, this provides a wide range of transportation options such as a combination of public transport services and private vehicles, besides enabling users to enjoy other services such as optimised product delivery services and online health diagnostics.

Through MaaS, the future development of Autonomous vehicles would allow the public to use roads on a lower cost per kilometre, as self-navigating vehicles operate at a significantly lower cost than current taxi and ridesharing prices.

Meanwhile, the use of IR4.0-related technology applications especially AI (Artificial Intelligence), Big Data Analytics (BDA) and IoT (Internet of Things) will enable the implementation of NxGV and MaaS.


Toddler's close call a warning to parents to get child seats, says minister

                PETALING JAYA: Install a child safety seat in your car, your child's life depends on it.

That was a reminder to parents from Transport Minister Anthony Loke who is urging them to do so as soon as possible.

Loke was commenting on the recent case of a toddler, who was not seated in a child seat or Child Restraint System (CRS) and was flung out of a car along the North-South Expressway following an accident.

"In the incident, the child was fortunate because the car at the back managed to stop in time. Imagine, if the car could not stop in time, wouldn't they (parents of the child) carry regret for the rest of their lives?

"I hope this will serve as a lesson to all on the importance of using the CRS."

READ MORE:
Lazada Malaysia working with Miros to expand use of child seats
Buy suitable car seats for your kids, Miros advises parents
Used child car seats proposal for parents who can't afford new
Some parents fret over expensive price tag of child seats
BMW Malaysia and partners subsidise 150 units of infant car seats

Last November, Loke said no summonses would be issued to parents who fail to use child safety seats within the first six months of its mandatory implementation starting this year.

He had said this was because the ministry wanted to educate first before taking any form of enforcement action.

"Knowing Malaysians, if we say it's not mandatory, there won't be many who will install the CRS. A study by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research found that only 30% of vehicle owners have CRS.

"What is important is that we provide awareness and advice. If (the CRS) is not installed, we will not issue summonses, we will issue warnings and reminders first."

While child seats can be expensive, several stakeholders have been working to make them more affordable and accessible.

BMW Group Malaysia has been at the forefront in urging for more partners to come together to support its child car seat subsidy programme for parents in the B40 income group.

The subsidy programme was introduced as part of the BMW Safety 360° initiative. In its first phase, BMW Malaysia, Childline Foundation and Safe ‘n Sound made 150 units of the snskidz Ace infant carrier car seats available at a subsidised price of RM100 each for parents in the B40 income group.


GM's future EVs to debut industry’s first wireless battery management system tech

                DETROIT: General Motors will be the first automaker to use an almost completely wireless battery management system, or wBMS, for production electric vehicles.

This wireless system, developed with Analog Devices, Inc., will be a primary driver of GM’s ability to ultimately power many different types of electric vehicles from a common set of battery components.

The wBMS is expected to drive GM’s Ultium-powered EVs to market faster, as time won’t be needed to develop specific communications systems or redesign complex wiring schemes for each new vehicle.

Instead, the wBMS helps to ensure the scalability of Ultium batteries across GM’s future lineup, encompassing different brands and vehicle segments, from heavy-duty trucks to performance vehicles.

Much like the pack design of GM’s Ultium batteries, which is flexible enough to incorporate new chemistry over time as technology changes, the wBMS’ basic structure can easily receive new features as software becomes available.

With expanded over-the-air updates provided by GM’s all-new Vehicle Intelligence Platform, the system could even be upgraded over time with new software-based features via smartphone-like updates.

“Scalability and complexity reduction are a theme with our Ultium batteries – the wireless battery management system is the critical enabler of this amazing flexibility,” said Kent Helfrich, GM executive director of Global Electrification and Battery Systems.

“The wireless system represents the epitome of Ultium’s configurability and should help GM build profitable EVs at scale.”

The wBMS will help GM’s electric vehicles balance chemistry within the individual battery cell groups for optimal performance. It can also conduct real-time battery pack health checks and refocus the network of modules and sensors as needed – this helps safeguard battery health over the vehicle’s lifespan.

By reducing wires within the batteries by up to 90 percent, the wireless system can help extend charging range by creating lighter vehicles overall and opening extra room for more batteries.

The space and flexibility created by this reduction in wires not only enables a cleaner design, but also simpler and more streamlined battery restructuring as needed and more robust manufacturing processes.

This wireless system also provides a unique repurposing capability for battery reuse in secondary applications more easily than conventional wired monitoring systems.

When the wireless packs are capacity-reduced to the point where they are no longer ideal for optimum vehicle performance, but still functional as consistent power supplies, they can be combined with other wireless battery packs to form clean power generators. This can be done without a redesign or overhaul of the battery management system traditionally required in second-life usage.

GM’s wireless battery management system is protected by cybersecurity measures that are key to the company’s all-new electrical architecture or Vehicle Intelligence Platform. The DNA of this system includes protective features within the hardware and software layers, including protection of wireless communications.

The wireless battery monitoring system will be standard on all planned GM vehicles powered by Ultium batteries.


Germany probes VW's ex-boss over fraud allegations

                BERLIN: German prosecutors launched an investigation on Monday into fraud allegations against former Volkswagen boss Martin Winterkorn, showing their determination to get quickly to the bottom of a scandal over rigged emissions tests that has rocked the global car industry.

The German company also suspended three top engineers, sources familiar with the matter said, as it tries to get to grips with a crisis that has knocked more than a third off its market value and could harm Germany's economy.

Volkswagen has admitted cheating diesel emissions tests in the United States but Germany's transport minister says it also manipulated tests in Europe, where it has much bigger sales, and it faces the worst business crisis in its 78-year history.

The German prosecutor's office said it was investigating Winterkorn over "allegations of fraud in the sale of cars with manipulated emissions data" based on charges filed by about 10 unidentified individuals.

Winterkorn, replaced as chief executive on Friday by company veteran Matthias Mueller, said when he quit last week that he was not aware of any wrongdoing on his part and wanted to give the company a new start.

The crisis is an embarrassment for Germany, which has for years held up Volkswagen as a model of its engineering prowess and has lobbied against some tighter regulations on automakers. The German car industry employs more than 750,000 people and is a major source of export income.

"The car industry is crucial for the German economy. It (the

scandal) can have a big impact on the German economy," Deputy Finance Minister Jens Spahn told a conference.

In a sign of Volkswagen's own efforts to tackle the crisis, sources close to the matter said it had suspended Heinz-Jakob Neusser, head of brand development at its core VW brand.

Also suspended were Ulrich Hackenberg, the head of research and development at premium brand Audi who oversees technical development across the group, and Wolfgang Hatz, R&D chief at sports-car brand Porsche who heads group engine and transmissions development, they said.

One source said Hackenberg was taking legal action against the decision. Volkswagen and Audi declined to comment, while the suspended executives could not immediately be reached.

Winterkorn, who was at the helm of Volkswagen for nine years and was the highest paid CEO on Germany's blue-chip DAX stock market last year, also could not be reached for comment.

A source close to Volkswagen's board said its executive committee would meet on Wednesday to discuss the appointment of US law firm Jones Day to lead an external investigation.

But the crisis shows no sign of dying down.

Two German newspapers said on Sunday Volkswagen's own staff and one of its suppliers had warned years ago about the illegal use of so-called "defeat devices" to detect when a car was being tested and alter the running of its diesel engine to conceal their emissions of toxic nitrogen oxides.

Environmental campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E) said on Monday there was a wider industry problem, as it published new data showing some new Mercedes, BMW and Peugeot cars use 50 percent more fuel than laboratory tests indicate.

T&E said its data did not prove other firms were using defeat devices. But it said the gap between lab and road tests had grown to such an extent for emissions of both carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides that further investigation was needed to discover what carmakers were doing to manipulate results.

"The Volkswagen scandal was just the tip of the iceberg," said Greg Archer, clean vehicles manager at T&E, adding the gap between lab tests and road performance cost a typical driver 450 euros (US$504) per year.

ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, which represents top carmakers, has said there is no evidence the use of defeat devices is an industry-wide issue.

In a statement on Monday, it said it supported the development of updated testing. US and European regulators have said they are working on tighter rules.

Volkswagen's market value has fallen by more than 25 billion euros since it admitted to cheating US emissions tests. It faces investigations and potential fines from regulators and prosecutors, as well as lawsuits from cheated customers.

Customers and dealers have criticised a lack of information from the company about what will happen to the 11 million vehicles it has said were fitted with defeat devices worldwide.

There were signs on Monday the vehicles would be recalled and refitted, with Volkswagen's Swiss distributor saying a plan to refit almost 129,000 cars in its country would be presented to Swiss transport authorities in October.

Volkswagen's flagship Audi brand said 2.1 million of its cars were affected by the scandal, including the A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, TT, Q3 and Q5 models.

Spain's industry minister said he would ask Volkswagen's local Seat brand to pay back subsidies it had received for 'fuel-efficient' cars that broke rules.

"VW is in a dramatic situation. It will be far from easy to restore the reputation of the company and win back trust from customers," new CEO Mueller said in a letter to Porsche staff seen by Reuters.

Some analysts question whether he is the right man for the job, given his more than three decades at the company.

"He has made a career within the VW system, so how could he credibly argue that all will change to the better now?" said Commerzbank's Sascha Gommel.

Manufacturers globally now fear more costly regulations and a drop in diesel car sales.

Diesel engines use less fuel and emit less carbon - blamed for global warming - than standard gasoline engines. But they emit higher levels of toxic nitrogen oxides, linked to deaths from lung and heart disease.

In most of the world, diesel engines in passenger cars are a niche product. But their fuel economy and low carbon emissions have made them popular in Europe, where they account for half of vehicles sold.

Volkswagen and other European manufacturers have promoted "clean diesel" technology, but the suggestion this was achieved by cheating on tests could affect the viability of the entire diesel sector.


India's Maharashtra hopes to persuade Amazon, Uber, others to go electric faster

                NEW DELHI: India's Maharashtra state will offer companies like Amazon.com Inc and Uber new incentives to electrify their delivery fleets ahead of a 2025 target for cleaner air, says its environment minister.

One of India's richest states and home to the financial hub of Mumbai, Maharashtra is an important market for e-commerce, ride-hailing and food delivery companies. Last year, it set a target for such companies to electrify 25% of their fleet by 2025.

Now it wants to bring the target forward by offering companies higher incentives for bulk purchase of electric vehicles (EVs), the state minister, Aaditya Thackeray, told Reuters in an interview.

"We are trying to be on the earlier side of 2025 and see if companies can get certain more incentives and move sooner. This not only benefits us in terms of cleaner air but also benefits them in terms of economies and their revenue models," he said.

Companies the state is likely to approach in the next month include Amazon, Uber, Walmart's Flipkart, Softbank Group-backed ridesharing firm Ola and food-delivery companies Zomato and Swiggy.

The push comes weeks after India's capital, New Delhi, issued strict draft rules for companies to get a licence on condition that a certain percentage of their new fleet is electric.

The Maharashtra government has yet make its offer to the companies and Amazon, Flipkart, Uber, Ola, Zomato and Swiggy did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters about the possibility of speeding up the electrification process.

Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato and Swiggy have previously set out EV targets for 2025 and 2030, and Uber is working with EV companies to introduce electrification in its fleet.

Green shift

But the proposal to bring forward the target could worry some industry executives who fear a significant shift towards electric vehicles could come with costs because of a lack of affordable, long-range vehicles and insufficient charging infrastructure.

"When one state makes such a move it becomes a template for others to follow without fully understanding the business implications," said an executive with a fleet company who declined to be identified.

Thackeray, who is spearheading the state's broader climate-change agenda, says he is aware of the challenges and has plans to make Maharashtra a leading EV manufacturer.

The state is already a major auto hub and home to domestic carmakers like Tata Motors that will invest in building more EVs, as well as global players like Mercedes Benz, which will assemble its luxury electric sedan there.

Maharashtra offers some of the highest incentives of any Indian state to EV manufacturers and buyers in the form of lower taxes. It is also building a network of charging stations along highways and in state-owned parking lots in Mumbai.

Thackeray plans to shift public transport to clean fuels and has mandated government departments to convert their vehicles to electric. He has also talked with investors on ways to boost investment in clean transport and energy.

"This whole shift towards a green economy ... it is a huge economic revolution. There is a lot of gain in terms of revenues for the country, profit for corporates and jobs for private individuals," he said.

But Thackeray says to increase EV supply and demand, India needs to lower import taxes on cars to allow companies like Tesla Inc, with which the state has held talks, to test the market.

"Global manufacturers need to see India as a major market. Once demand is created here they will naturally come and produce. Until then, we need to incentivise imports," he said.


BMW Digital Key now available for Android smartphones

                MUNICH: The BMW digital key is now available for Android operating system-based smartphones.

But it only works on a few phones phones and in only a few countries for now. Malaysia is not included.

With this update, the number of compatible smartphone models is increasing and thus also the pool of BMW drivers who will be able to use the BMW Digital Key in the future.

The BMW Digital Key is now available for Android smartphones, starting with Samsung Galaxy S21 Series and Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.

With the BMW Digital Key, customers can easily unlock and lock their BMW simply by holding their smartphone next to the handle of the driver's door.

The engine can also be started when the mobile phone is placed in the BMW wireless charging compartment.

To ensure maximum ease of use and security, the BMW Digital Key is stored on the secure element of the smartphone.

It can be easily configured via My BMW app and is then available as an option for almost all BMW models.

In the next release, it will be possible to pass the key on to five friends. The functionalities of the BMW Digital Key Plus based on ultra-wide band will also be introduced for Android smartphones in a future release.

BMW has been working to set up global standards in the field of keyless entry systems since 2018 and is considered one of the pioneers in the use of the smartphone as a digital car key.

The latest stage of development is the result of a close collaboration between BMW, Google and Samsung for further improving the ease of use and availability of the digital key.

BMW is also the first manufacturer to offer a system according to the global CCC standard (Car Connectivity Consortium) that is available for both iOS and Android.

Availability of BMW Digital Key for Android smartphones:

Google Pixel 6/Pixel 6 Pro: US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Australia, Taiwan and Singapore

Samsung Galaxy S21/S21+/S21 Ultra: France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain, UK, US.


Govt to set up EEV ecosystem swiftly to keep Malaysia competitive

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s newly implemented National EV Steering Committee is aimed to speed up the energy-efficient vehicle (EEV) ecosystem enablement to keep the country competitive with other regional peers, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

He said the future of Malaysia’s electric mobility and its benefits for consumers and the environment lies in collaborative partnerships across industries in an empowered ecosystem.

"The Cabinet has considered and agreed to improve the governance structure of the National EV Task Force by establishing the committee.

"We want to coordinate the understanding and direction of all stakeholders so that we can form a synergy of solid cooperation in making the national electric vehicle initiative a success based on the whole of government approach,” he told reporters after the memorandum of understanding signing ceremony between Green EV Charge Sdn Bhd and PLUS Malaysia Bhd here today.

Tengku Zafrul said the committee is led by his ministry and represented by various ministries, government agencies and relevant industry parties.

He said the committee will also be made up of members from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Local Government Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change.

"I look forward to working with all the ministers and also their officials at the highest management level. The main purpose is for us to resolve the issues pertaining to the implementation of the EEV ecosystem as soon as possible.

"So far, we have 1,000 electric vehicle charging stations and our target is to create at least 10,000 charging stations by 2025,” Tengku Zafrul said.

Earlier in his speech, the minister said positioning Malaysia as a pro-industry, pro-investment and pro-trade country, while also ensuring that small and medium enterprises and Malaysians’ interests are constantly safeguarded to nurture a more inclusive and broad-based economic growth, remained important for the ministry.

"For as long as I am the minister, you will have my assurance that the ministry will do its utmost to provide the appropriate policies and regulatory framework to achieve our national objectives,” he said.


Speed freak Zef Eisenberg sets new speed records

                LONDON: Record-breaker Zef Eisenberg has raced into the history books with his MADMAX 1200hp road legal Porsche 911 Turbo at Pendine Sands, South Wales on May 18.

He achieved on his first pair of runs the following records:

> Fastest sand speed record ever achieved by a wheel-powered vehicle at 332mph (534kph).
> Fastest flying quarter (one way) wheel powered record at 206.492mph (332.3kph)
> Fastest flying mile (one way) wheel powered record at 196.970mph (317kph).
> Fastest Flying mile (2 way) 962mph (1548.2kph) (same measurement as Sir Malcolm Campbell)
> Only person in history to have achieved over 200mph (321.9kph) on bike and car at Pendine
> Only person in history to have achieved a flying mile record in bike and car in Britain.

Eisenberg, better known for his motorbike speed record exploits, set a two-way average of 187.962mph (302.496kph) in his 911 Turbo specially built and prepared by ES Motors and his MADMAX Race Team.

The record supersedes the Wire' star Idris Elba's 'flying mile' speed record (180.361mph) or (290.2kph) set at Pendine in 2015 and emulates his hero – Sir Malcolm Campbell, who first set the record at Pendine Sands in 1927 (174.8mph) or (281.3kph) in the iconic Blue Bird - a record that stood for nearly 90 years.

The ‘Speed Freak’ racer successfully secured four new records in total, smashing his own top speed of 201.5mph or 324.3kph at Pendine in May 2018 and 182.49mph or 293.69kph flying mile record set by Zef in April 2019 in his supercharged Hayabusa motorbike, making him the only person in history to hold the flying mile and fastest speed records in both bike and car at Pendine.

A jubilant Eisenberg said “a huge thank you to ES Motors and my own MADMAX Race Team for working tirelessly on the extensive Porsche preparation, engine build and tune, to ensure we had the engineering and power to achieve this very challenging record. An additional thanks to the event organisers; Straightliners and Speed Record Club for finding and setting a 2-mile course with difficult sand conditions.

The Porsche was originally a standard 2014, 550hp 911 Turbo. The MADMAX Race Team built a bespoke 4.1-litre race engine with new internals, gearbox, clutch and drive shafts, along with an upgraded E85 fuel system and sophisticated charge cooling set-up to stop engine detonation. A lot of work was done to ensure that the monstrous power would come in as progressively as possible in order to limit wheelspin on the loose sand surface.

To cope with such an extreme output, the PDK transmission had to be upgraded, and the suspension lifted to allow adequate ground clearance for the sand. Apart from a full FIA roll cage, competition seats and safety harness, the Porsche’s interior is completely standard, as weight is actually your friend on the sand. It’s about stability – putting enough weight on the tyres to increase traction.” He explains.

“The Porsche behaves very differently on sand than tarmac,” said Eisenberg. “The sand creates a lot of resistance and tyre slip. In the end we could only use 850hp (1000hp at the engine) to avoid too much wheel spin, compared to just 550hp (engine) from a factory car.”

Eisenberg is elated to have secured this iconic record at Pendine Sands, “Pendine has such an illustrious history,” Zef said “racers have been flocking here since the 1900s trying to set speed records. The world land speed record heroes of yesteryear like Malcolm Campbell and J.G. Parry-Thomas in the air have all raced here. It really is the holy grail of land speed”.


BMW 330i M Sport: Locally assembled at RM289K

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Malaysia today unveiled the new BMW 330i M Sport priced at RM288,800 (on the road, without insurance, and with BMW Group Malaysia’s latest 5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty, Free Scheduled Service Programme and BMW Tyre Warranty Programme).

It is RM40,000 cheaper than the fully imported model that arrived in March.

The locally assembled modelcomes with:

> BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme
> BMW 2-Year/ 24 Month Tyre Warranty Programme for its Run Flat Tyre offering and services
> BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline
> The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW White Card
> BMW Service Online

With the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, monthly instalment plans start from RM3,298 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure).

Colour offerings include Alpine White, Black Sapphire, and Mineral Grey.

Colour offerings in Portimao Blue will be available from January 2020 onwards while Sunset Orange will be available from March 2020 onwards.

Inside, owners have a choice of Black Vernasca leather upholstery or Cognac Vernasca leather upholstery.

The premium sports sedan has 18-inch M light alloy wheels, blue-painted callipers that display the M logo on the M Sport brakes, and adaptive LED headlights with Bi-LED technology.

Exterior features include the notably larger kidney grille and slim, three-dimensional taillights fitted in an L shape with emphasis on the use of smoked glass, and an aerodynamic spoiler lip affixed to the rear along with two distinct 90-millimetre tailpipes.

Powered by a 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo petrol engine, the 330i M Sport outputs 258hp with a peak torque of 400Nm from 1,550 to 4,400 rpm.

It also makes the century sprint in 5.8 seconds.

With the updated 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission, fuel consumption is rated at 6.4 litres per 100km.

Owners can look forward to a lighter, more rigid vehicle as the total weight has been reduced by 25kg (kerb weight of 1,545kg).

With a drag coefficient of 0.23, the car boasts best-in-class aerodynamics.

The rigidity levels of the body structure and suspension attachment have been greatly enhanced as well, with a 50:50 axle load distribution and a low centre of gravity.

The M Sport suspension highlights BMW’s first-ever lift-related dampers.

Other features include a fully-digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch touch sensitive Control Display, the M Sport leather steering wheel with multifunction and shift paddles, Intelligent Personal Assistant and Digital Key, as well as the safety innovation offered in the form of the Park Assist and Reverse Assist, afforded by the Parking Assistant system.


2018 Honda Civic Type R: Practical rocket

                Honda’s Type R moniker easily conjures up an image of a speed demon but this latest Civic to wear the red badge still offers family-friendly features.

THE fifth-generation Honda Civic Type R has tarmac scorching numbers which was underlined by a lap record for the fastest front-wheel-drive car at the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany in April last year.

Built as a rip-roaring, riotous steed for speed demons, Honda’s marketing spiel for the performance hot hatch  is “Exhilarating speed meets street-smart practicality.”

We have driven the third-generation Civic Type R which arrived here in 2007, and that was a veritable monster in a four-door sedan body with a powerful 225PS/215Nm 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine matched to a six-speed close ratio manual transmission with limited slip differential.

This new Civic Type R, on the other hand, is a street fighter in a five-door hatchback body and is vastly more powerful with a 310PS/400Nm 2.0-litre VTEC turbocharged engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox again.

Exterior

This Civic Type R has the biggest footprint  compared with its predecessors, and its aggressive silhouette which only comes in one colour option - Championship White,  is really a head-turner on the road.

The muscular, taut lines and pronounced wheel arches, the carbon fibre effect splitter in front, and the three tailpipes - all these make for a very distinct visual statement that naturally draws the eyes.

Its classic hot hatch styling cues aren’t all designed for visual effect; its muscular body has a best-in-class balance between lift and drag, thus providing improved high speed stability.

Its overall aerodynamic profile helps to ‘suck’ the car onto the road, and overall drag coefficient is reduced by three per cent compared to the previous Civic Type R.

The lightweight aluminium bonnet with an integrated air duct, is 5.3kg lighter than the steel bonnet on the standard Civic hatchback in Europe.

This Civic Type R is produced in Swindon, England with its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine sourced from the United States.

At the rear, the smaller centre tailpipe helps to produce a louder sporty exhaust roar as you pick up speed, but at mid-load engine speeds, it helps to reduce the exhaust booming sound which can be harsh on the ears.

In any case, even at low speeds, there’s no mistaking the aggressive and hungry growl of the car which keeps enticing you to push it all the way to the 7,000rpm redline.

Interior

The interior is a nicely designed mix of red and black fabric seats, a smooth spherical gear lever knob made from machined alloy, and practical touches like automatic air conditioning as well as a touch screen for phone connectivity, audio controls, vehicle settings, and some apps like Calculator and image/video gallery.

The driver can tweak the Driver Information Interface to show data like average fuel consumption, remaining travel range, average speed, and engine lubricant life span.

You also get one touch powered up/down function only for front windows, a 1.0A USB port, a 1.5A USB port, a HDMI port and a 12V/180W power outlet.

The high-backed front sports seats provide very solid lower back support, and are just the sort of seats you want on a long journey or to take a short nap in.

The driver also gets improved forward visibility, thanks to thinner A pillars and a more compact dashboard upper surface that sits 65mm lower than its predecessor.

To summarise, the Civic Type R offers class leading interior space (for a hot hatch) and a fair bit of nice kit.

Practicality

Thanks to the larger footprint, there is a more spacious cabin which feels quite roomy.

There is a deep and spacious central bin to store items between the front  seats, while the electric parking brake saves space and also, provides the convenience of automatic brake hold during traffic congestion.

You will also find door bins on all four side doors, as well as a decent 420-litre boot, with a removeable tonneau cover.

There are more storage options with a cup holder in front, and a compartment below the touchscreen and air conditioning controls.

Rear seats split or fold 60:40 for a spacious 786 litres of storage space and the flat boot floor makes loading and storing wide and long items easy.

As a family hatchback, it is well designed with comfortable seats and lots of storage spaces.

However, there are no front or rear parking sensors and one really needs to be careful when parking this car as you do not want to incur costly repairs or inconvenient insurance claims.

Safety

- Six airbags
- Rear seat ISOFIX points
- Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
- Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
- Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
- Auto Brake Hold (ABH)
- Brake Assist (BA)
- Hill Start Assist (HSA)

Equipment

- LED headlights
- Automatic headlights
- LED daytime running lights
- LED front fog lights
- Type R rear wing
- Type R triple exhaust with finisher
- Drive Mode Switch (Comfort, Sport, +R)
- Rev Match system
- Walk Away auto lock
- Smart Entry with push startbButton
- Cruise control
- Full colour LCD meter
- Dual zone air conditioning
- Touch Panel air conditioning control
- Alloy shift knob
- Alloy pedals
- Type R leather sport steering wheel
- Type R sport seats
- Tonneau cover
- Rear foldable 60:40 seats
- 7-inch touchscreen
- MP3 / iPod
- Two USB ports and one HDMI port
- Hands-free telephone (HFT)
- Eight audio speakers

Performance

The car bursts into menacing life once you step on the clutch pedal and push the engine push-start button.

The default driving mode is Sport mode, and the car offers two other modes - Comfort and the track focussed  +R mode.

Each driving mode adjusts the adaptive dampers, steering force, gear shift feel and throttle response of the car.

In Comfort mode, the steering feels a bit less taut and the car’s blistering energy seems to be slightly muted.

But no matter what mode you choose, the Civic Type R always feels like a Batmobile bursting into heart-pounding action.

The performance numbers are from the 2.0-litre VTEC turbocharged engine is simply mouth-watering; 310PS at 6,500rpm, and peak torque of 400Nm from 2,500rpm to 4,500rpm.

This translates into a 0 to 100kph sprint in just 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 272kph; meaning it is both the fastest sprinter and quickest car in its class.

During a drive on the German Autobahn last year, it was all too easy to reach nerve-racking speeds in this high octane marvel of engineering.

Driving a six-speed stick shift has never been easier with gearbox’s rev-matching technology, which eliminates undesirable transmission “shock” during excessive or insufficient revving.

Ride and Handling

The Civic Type R provides an awesome driving experience, and takes corners with the grip like a lizard stuck in glue.

Torque steer (under hard acceleration, a front-wheel drive car has a tendency to pull to one side) is much reduced thanks to a new dual-axis strut front suspension, and you can really drive confidently through the corners at unbelievable speeds.

This is also thanks to the wider track and high performance Continental SportContact 6 tyres sized 245/30 R20, a lower centre of gravity, higher body rigidity, and various aerodynamic improvements.

Body roll is hardly felt at high speeds in corners, and there is a lot of precision which allows you to have plenty of motoring fun.

The Civic Type R is built and designed to largely forgive mistakes and lack of driver training, in situations where one can easily get carried away with enthusiasm.

The powerful Brembo brake package with red callipers is marvellous, and work well in slowing and stopping the 1,391kg car.

However, regardless of the driving mode, the ride quality is still quite hard and on irregular surfaces, our passengers complained about it being quite harsh and bone jarring.

Fuel consumption

7.7 litres per 100km (combined cycle)

Reliability

-  Five years warranty with unlimited mileage
-  Free Labour Service applicable up to 5 times within 100,000km or 5 years

Price

RM301,928 without insurance (0% GST)

Summary

Yes, it can be as gentle as a kitten, albeit one that growls hungrily and keeps wanting to run at dazzling speeds, but it is definitely not very comfortable on the many irregular surfaces and rut peppered roads in the Klang Valley.

We were told in no uncertain terms by close associates who are used to their docile family rides not to ever look for them, if we are driving this race-bred machine.

It can seat five people and there are nice kit like ISOFIX points for child seats, automatic headlights, a space-saving electric parking brake with Auto Hold function, a 7-inch touchscreen mated to eight audio speakers and lots of cubby holes to store items like phones, power banks and water bottles.

All very civilised and family-friendly indeed, but it’s when you are seated in the driver’s seat and the car growls angrily to life, after you push the push-start button and step on the clutch pedal, that you begin to realise this is not the sort of car the typical family would use.

And when the car takes off at frightening speeds in the default Sport mode with some really loud exhaust roar, as you let loose the speed demon that’s been waiting impatiently, and take road curves at seemingly impossible velocities and still stay amazingly planted, that you understand why this is the most extreme Civic Type R yet.

The latest Civic Type R is a intoxicating and heady brew, which is best experienced for exhilarating adrenaline rushes on the track.

Gallery: 2018 Honda Civic Type R


Daihatsu Gran Max get minor change from RM73,000

                SHAH ALAM: Daihatsu Malaysia has introduced the Gran Max with minor change (MC) 2022 that gets several new features.

Among the updates are power windows, a multimedia player system with reverse camera and a 12V-24V fast charging USB port.

The multimedia player system also comes with seven-inch high resolution touchscreen display and features Bluetooth, Android 10.0 Operating System, iOS PhoneLink, an USB port and multiple media sources such as radio, MP3 player and AUX jack.

The Gran Max MC 2022 comes with a net selling price of RM73,888.

Daihatsu Malaysia managing director Arman Mahadi said the company aims to provide an overall driving experience in providing comfort, reliability, safety and above all convenience and practicality in every drive.

“Convenience and practicality are one of the strongest consideration aspects for commercial vehicle usage.

“Thus, the concept behind the Gran Max Minor Change (MC) is to honour the hardworking workforce behind every successful business, particularly the men and women behind the wheel of the Gran Max,” he said.


The colour of your car and what it says about you

                KUALA LUMPUR: Did you know that the colours black, grey and white are still the most popular choices for new car owners in Southeast Asia?

Such findings were discovered by AkzoNobel - one of the leading automotive paints and coatings companies, in a recent survey.

The results showed that 22% of respondents choose black as their favourite colour, with 21% and 19% of respondents choosing white and grey respectively.

To understand the rationale behind these choices, let us dive deeper into the colours and what they represent.

The colour black often represents power, ambition and wealth.

This is evident as some of the more luxurious automotive brands such as BMW and McLaren use the colour black in their branding.

Speaking of these brands, BMW and McLaren use AkzoNobel automotive coatings for their vehicles.

BMW uses them on some of their products and car parts, whereas McLaren uses AkzoNobel's automotive paint for all production road cars.

Some other car brands, such as Proton for instance, also often capitalise on the popularity of this colour by recently launching a Special Edition Proton Saga clad in black.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the colour white that is often associated with purity and cleanliness.

On a more practical level, white surfaces are great heat and light reflectors.

This means white cars don’t absorb as much heat from sunlight and the interior of your vehicle won't heat up as quickly when out in the open during a sunny day.

Additionally, white vehicles often have higher resale values - especially so when it's in optimum working condition and with lower mileage.

For the colour grey, which is often seen as diplomatic and strikes a balance between black and white, their vehicle owners tend to be modest and humble individuals who are often happy to
blend into the crowd.

The colour is simple and easy to maintain although it does tend to dull over time and scratches are not as perceptible when compared to other colours.

For colours to stand the test of time, Sikkens - a 200-year-old brand under AkzoNobel, undertook years of research to attain that shiny white, elegant black and stoic grey colours.

Sikkens also specialises in vehicle refinish systems that aim to protect your vehicle to OEM standards and happens to be one of the world's leading coating brands for collision repairers and commercial finishers.


GM to build own 'family' of EV drive systems and motors

                DETROIT: General Motors Co is set to announce plans to put into production an interchangeable “family” of electric vehicle (EV) drive systems and motors, boosting manufacturing efficiencies as it switches to a fully electric lineup.

The move, which follows earlier GM initiatives on next-generation batteries, comes as the Detroit automaker looks to build a vertically integrated electric car business, comparable to Tesla, inside its ongoing operations.

According to a GM media release, the automaker is set to announce that it has designed and plans to produce on its own five interchangeable drive units and three motors, which it calls the “Ultium Drive” system.

GM said its new electric drive systems, sometimes referred to as e-axles in the industry, will have a versatile enough power output to allow them to be used with vehicles ranging from beefy pickup trucks to performance vehicles.

GM already has some EV partnerships, such as with truck startup Nikola Corp, but has chosen to design its own e-drive technology, rather than buy from suppliers that might be able to offer greater scale and lower cost.

Adam Kwiatkowski, GM’s executive chief engineer for global electrical propulsion, said that by designing its own e-axles, GM could better integrate them with an EV’s battery and the rest of the car.

E-axles combine gear, motor and power electronics into a single system and help convert the electricity from batteries efficiently to propel the vehicle.

GM “designed these drive units simultaneously with a full gambit of electric vehicles that fill out our portfolio,” Kwiatkowski told Reuters in an interview last week.

“They become synergistic and make them a really efficient package that’s good for the performance of the vehicle, good for driving customer enthusiasm, and most importantly it’s good for cost efficiency,” he said.

The new self-designed technology means “more of the battery energy now goes to the road”, which helps make GM’s EVs more economical, Kwiatkowski said.

That in turn meant GM could give its EVs greater driving range, or vehicles could have less batteries, he added.

Other benefits include size, leading to a smaller drive train and more room for passengers, and also a more spontaneous motor response, Kwiatkowski said.

“There is very very little, totally imperceptible motor lag, so as soon as you touch the accelerator pedal the vehicle responds in a very smooth fashion.”

The new technology highlights GM’s effort to transform itself and catch up with Tesla, whose share price has jumped over 400% this year as it has reported improved profitability.

GM will still consider buying drive units and components from suppliers in some cases, said Detroit-based company spokesman, Phil Lienert.

However, it will continue to lead the design, development and manufacturing of Ultium Drive units, he said.


Thailand's top court rules Toyota unit must pay US$272m in import duties

                BANGKOK: Thailand Supreme Court today upheld a lower court ruling that the local unit of Toyota Motor Corp owed the government 10 billion baht (RM1.23bil or US$272mil) in extra taxes for importing components not subject to a reduced tariff.

The court was handling an appeal against a 2019 ruling that the company must pay duties on some parts imported from Japan, which were for its Prius petrol-electric hybrid model assembled in Thailand between 2010 and 2012.

The court agreed with the previous decision that the imported items should be treated as complete knock-down kits, with an 80% tariff rate, instead of as auto parts, meaning they were not eligible for a reduced rate of 30% under a Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA).

Toyota's Thailand unit in a written statement said it was paying the lower tax rate for imported Prius parts based on JTEPA, but it respected the ruling and would comply.

The additional tax was owed on more than 20,000 Prius vehicles assembled at Toyota's Gateway factory between 2010 - 2012, according to earlier media reports.

Toyota also produces petrol-engine and hybrid-engine Camry sedans in Thailand, which were not subject to additional tariffs because the majority of parts are procured locally.


Hyundai puts Ioniq 5 N through the wringer before Goodwood reveal

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Company is testing the performance capabilities of Ioniq 5 N at the Nürburgring circuit for its world premiere this month.

For Ioniq 5 N, Hyundai Motor has combined its Electrified-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) with N’s motorsport-bred technologies and expertise to maximise the EV’s high performance capabilities and ensure it meets N’s three pillars of N performance: Corner Rascal, Racetrack Capability and Everyday Sportscar.

To achieve this, Hyundai Motor combined the strengths of Namyang R&D Center located in South Korea and its European Test Center at the Nürburgring, which is an extension of Hyundai’s European R&D center in Rüsselsheim, Germany, where the brand’s European design and engineering teams have been based since 2003.

By having a full-time presence at the track, Hyundai’s N team of engineers are able to evaluate and develop the durability and driving dynamics of its vehicles more effectively and more often.

Hyundai N brand has long used the Nürburgring Nordschleife (North Loop) track to validate motorsport-bred technologies on N brand vehicles and Ioniq 5 N is no exception despite the technical challenges unique for EVs.

Extracting maximum performance from an EV requires strict discipline on heat management compared to cars with internal combustion engines (ICE) and that requires advanced software implementation. This means each hardware upgrade is further reinforced by advanced software-based performance enhancements.

Ioniq 5 N’s heat management through cooling is given particular care as EVs are more challenging to cool than its ICE predecessors.

An enlarged cooling area with N-specific efficient radiator packaging, enhanced motor oil cooler and battery chiller complete the hardware enhancements similar to ICE vehicles. These hardware cooling techniques are further reinforced by new heat management solutions, such as N Battery Preconditioning and N Race.

N Battery Preconditioning pre-sets the temperature of the battery cells to their most power efficient temperature.

N Race gives drivers more direct control on the car’s energy usage, prioritising ‘Sprint’ or ‘Endurance’ driving.

‘Sprint’ is the default state of Ioniq 5 N prioritising full power on demand for the driver. ‘Endurance’ is a setting that maximizes Ioniq 5 N’s range on the racetrack. This is achieved by limiting sudden power spikes that slows temperature build-up and increases endurance.

Regenerative braking from the motors provide primary braking force with hydraulic brakes providing additional braking force if necessary. Hyundai N engineers designed this unique regenerative braking system especially for Ioniq 5 N, offering up to a maximum of 0.6 G decelerative force — an industry leading figure — through regenerative braking alone. Regenerative braking remains engaged even under ABS activation with a maximum of 0.2 G decelerative force.

Ioniq 5 N’s hydraulic brakes are enhanced with larger 400-mm diameter discs, featuring new lightweight material and optimised airflow for cooling. They reduced dependency on disc brakes increases the longevity compared to ICE vehicles.

Many performance enthusiasts have been outspoken about their dissatisfaction with the lack of driver feedback behind the wheel of many EVs.

Hyundai's response was to develop N Active Sound + and N e-Shift in order to deliver greater driver feedback and more precise driver control of the vehicle’s dynamic handling. N brand’s unique emphasis on precise driver feedback is said to differentiate it from past iterations of EV sound.

N Active Sound + consists of a 10-speaker system (eight internal, two external) that provides three different sound themes available for drivers: Ignition, Evolution and Supersonic.

Ignition simulates the 2.0 turbo engine of ICE N cars complete with pop and bang sound effects while Evolution is a N signature electronic sound inspired by the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo Concept and RN22e. Supersonic simulates a fighter jet to give the drivers the sensation of a fighter pilot.

All sound options are customisable for drivers to uniquely tailor to their preference.

N e-Shift works closely with N Active Sound + to simulate the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) of ICE N cars. N e-Shift simulates a gearshift by controlling motor torque output and simulates the jolt feeling between shifts.

The goal is to allow drivers to seamlessly use driving techniques honed with ICE cars for a more immersive driving experience that feels closer to ICEs than EVs.

In conjunction with the Nürburgring test, N brand released ‘an Ioniq 5 N film teaser, highlighting Ioniq 5 N’s Racetrack Capability.

The film depicts Ioniq 5 N undergoing intense endurance testing at the iconic Nürburgring Nordschleife, reaching its 10,000km testing milestone.

Ioniq 5 N is scheduled to complete an additional 10,000km durability test before production in order to confirm the vehicle’s enhanced mechanical endurance as well as the seamless functionality of its intelligent software.

Ioniq 5 N will debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, marking Hyundai N’s first participation at this event.

A dedicated Hyundai N stand will host Ioniq 5 N’s world premiere announcement on July 13 as well as other activities designed to engage the public.

In addition, multiple N vehicles, including the hydrogen-powered N Vision 74 will participate on the iconic hill climb.

Additional information and details will be released building up to Ioniq 5 N’s world premiere.


UMW Toyota Motor pitches excellent car ownership experience in weekend promo

                SHAH ALAM: UMW Toyota Motor is angling to boost mid-year sales with a promise of an excellent car ownership experience.

It said in a statement that "owning a car is all about curating comprehensive sales and aftersales offerings that enable consumers to reimagine what they deserve from a carmaker."

The distributor also said it "goes the extra mile and continues to push boundaries to constantly give its customers more."

Head over to the nearest Toyota showroom this weekend of June 18-19 for a test drive of its model line-up and stand a chance to receive exclusive merchandise at the same time.


Jaguar Land Rover (Malaysia) releases zero GST prices

                PETALING JAYA: Jaguar Land Rover (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has updated the company's vehicle price list, in line with the goods and services tax (GST) rated at 0% from June 1, 2018 until the implementation of sales and service tax (SST).

Every new Jaguar Land Rover model comes standard with Jaguar Land Rover Care program.

The program include 5 Years Warranty or 150,000 km whichever comes first, 5 Years Servicing or 65,000 km / 3 years Servicing or 60,000 km (Defender) whichever comes first and 3 Years Roadside Assistance.


Peugeot 2008 compact cruiser

It’s obvious that French marque Peugeot is eyeing young urbanites with its latest offering, the 2008 Urban SUV.

Yes, its name is a give-away where their target market is concerned but like the Bard said “A rose by any other name ... ” (you can Google the rest).

If you are completely ignorant and judge the 2008 by looks alone, then I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s already a winner.

Check out the creases on the hood, the elegant trapezoid floating grille with slats covered in chrome, the boomerang-shaped headlights, the chrome accents around the foglamps and side mirrors, it’s athletic stance. . . one could go on and on.

Actually, the 2008 is a winner, having garnered the European Car Of The Year 2014 by Italy’s Auto Europa, and Top SUV/Crossover Vehicle by Poland’s Golden Steering Wheel awards among others.

Incidentally, the 2008 was launched in Europe last May and Malaysians got a glimpse of it at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2013.

It’s finally reached our shores so that spells good news for those who are not only style-conscious about their rides, but want an abundance of cool features like a panoramic roof, Smart Park Assist (for side parking assistance without any fuss) and have safety in mind (six airbags and a five-star EuroNCAP Safety rating).

And it’s also competitively priced at just under RM120,000.

Nasim, the local Peugeot distributor, recently organised a drive for members of the media and we spent about half-a-day with the 2008 compact SUV.

We were able to test it along highways; crawling through city traffic; and traversing the old and windy roads which took us from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya and back.

It was a bright and sunny day and natural light just seeped into the cabin space thanks to the membrane-thin electric shutter.

With a flick of a switch located just next to the rather large aviation-style handbrake, you can pull the shutter back as much as you want or all the way to enjoy a sun-shiny drive.

I left the shutter on and instead adjusted the auto air-conditioning which comes in dual zone for the driver and passenger.

As soon as I sat on the semi bucket seat, which is a combination of leather and fabric on the driver’s side, I noticed how good the visibility was all round and that’s because it is positioned higher than normal.

I also had a very good view of the head up instrument panel (meaning you look over the steering wheel instead of through it) as well as the 7-inch colour touchscreen which displays all sorts of information and functions for radio, USB/Ipod connection, hands free Bluetooth, vehicle settings and even cruise control and speed limiter.

The dashboard is designed with soft touch textured material and if you get a sense of deja vu because its almost identical to the Peugeot 208 hatchback.

The difference being the leather-wrapped steering wheel is slightly slimmer on the 2008 along with the aviation handbrake design.

In fact, the 2008 shares the same platform with the 208.

The 2008 has a 1.6-litre Dual Variable Valve Lift (VTi) engine mated to an auto adaptive gearbox with Tiptronic and Sport mode and pushes out 122PS at 6,000rpm and maximum torque of 160Nm at 4,250rpm.

It’s easy to drive the 2008 as the steering is accurate, the suspension is just about right – neither too hard nor too soft.

It’s got good grip around corners with a slight hint of body roll.

The brakes have a good bite so you’re really confident driving it especially at high speeds.

And to make you feel even safer it’s got the aforementioned six airbags, an Electronic Stability Programme which includes anti-skid regulation, dynamic stability control, anti-lock braking system, emergency braking assistance and electronic brake force distribution.

Additional safety features include front and rear parking sensors with audio visual assistance, hill start assist, very high strength steel body structure, cornering assist fog lamp and two ISOFIX anchorage points at the rear.

It was noticeable though that the car is a tad under-powered climbing uphill and the naturally aspirated engine with a four-speed gearbox is noisy at higher engine revs.

My conclusion is that the 2008 is a cruiser, for those who like comfortable and leisurely drives while listening to the Arkamys 3D sound audio system with six speakers.

With 360 litres of boot space (and up to 1,194 litres with the back seats folded flat), it offers plenty of space to lug stuff around.

The 2008 is stylishly designed with plenty of practical functionality thrown into it and safety features that will make anybody glad.


Continental wants you to see the ground under you while you drive

                LAS VEGAS: Automotive supplier Continental has been asking an interesting question: What if you could see through your car's bonnet and engine to the road beneath?

Using footage from several cameras, combined and sent to a screen on the dashboard, Continental wants drivers to be able to see more of the road ahead of (and beneath) them.

To give you a better sense of what you're looking at, the screen shows you the outlines of the car's wheels and body, as the manufacturer explained while displaying the new technology at the recently concluded CES tech fair in Las Vegas.

More than a cool-looking gimmick, the feature is designed to give drivers a better feel of the road in rough terrains and help them steer clear of potholes, Continental says.

In another high-tech feature on show at the recent tech fair, the company said it had developed sensors to detect feint vibrations on the bodywork.

This would help a car to recognise that it has started to rain or that the car has been scratched and immediately alert the driver.

And if you never liked the look of loudspeakers in your car, the parts supplier has also found a way to get rid of them for you.

With the help of hi-fi specialist Sennheiser, Continental has developed an audio system that works entirely without traditional loudspeakers.

Instead, the sounds are said to be generated by various surfaces in the car's interior. Continental says that one particular advantage of this is that the driver will have a stronger spacial sense of sounds from the outside world - such as that of a vehicle coming from the side.


Perodua to offer cash rebates to 3,100 customers over delivery delay

                KUALA LUMPUR: Perodua is offering cash rebates to 3,100 customers affected by the temporary production halt of its new Myvi as they would not be able to register their cars before Sept 1.

The car maker said these customers were originally set to receive their Myvi before Sept 1, when the Sales and Service Tax (SST) comes into effect.

On June 1, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate was reduced from 6% to zero, which resulted in a three-month tax holiday.

However, on Aug 20, Perodua announced production of the new Myvi was interrupted due to a vendor supply disruption.

Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Dr Zahari Husin said its personnel would contact these customers whose booked Myvis were supposed to be registered before Sept 1.

“We wish to offer our valued customers a cash rebate upon registration of their vehicles, as compensation for the considerable inconvenience caused to them. In the meantime, we will keep them updated on their Myvi delivery times,” he added.

“We sincerely apologise to not just those whose orders could not be fulfilled before the SST reintroduction, but each and every single customer who has booked our new Myvi after them, as this production disruption will evidently delay deliveries of Myvis ordered more recently.

Zahari said Perodua was doing all it could to ensure Myvi production resumes as soon as possible.

To date, over 68,000 Perodua Myvis have reached owners out of over 120,000 bookings collected since the hatchback’s November 2017 launch, making it consistently Perodua’s best seller throughout the year so far.


Mitsubishi offers Chinese New Year promotions

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) is offering a low interest rate of up to 0.88% for selected Triton variants only  with hire purchase loans from Maybank or Public Bank.

This promotion is being held in conjunction with the Chinese New Year festivities and  is valid until the end January.

Customers who book and register a new Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure X, Triton VGT AT Premium and Triton VGT MT Premium can choose to either enjoy interest rate of up to 0.88%, or cash rebates from RM4,000 to RM6,000.

Mitsubishi owners and pick-up owners who buy selected Triton variants will be entitled to RM3,000 cash rebates and RM2,000 cash rebates respectively, on top of on-going promotions.

The Triton Adventure X now gets an All Round Monitor, Driving Video Recorder (DVR), side body stickers and premium solar and security tint for a greater cabin comfort.

Like the Triton Adventure X, the Triton AT Premium also gets an upgrade including Driving Video Recorder, leather seats and 7-Inch Touchscreen Audio with Apple Carplay and Android Auto as standard.

These accessories upgrades are only offered by MMM authorised dealers nationwide.

Meanwhile, customers who book and register a new Outlander 2.0-litre or 2.4-litre will enjoy cash rebates up to RM4, 000 plus 2-Year Free Maintenance and RM2, 000 plus 2-year free maintenance respectively.

The Outlander 2.0-litre is priced at RM137, 888 while the Outlander 2.4-litre is priced at RM152, 888.

The ASX SUV 4WD and 2WD come with cash rebates up to RM12, 000 and RM8, 000 respectively. The ASX 4WD is priced at RM133, 336 while the ASX 2WD is priced at RM118, 866.

The Outlander and ASX is backed by five years' warranty/unlimited mileage.


Socar Mobility Malaysia appoints new CEO

                KUALA LUMPUR: Socar Mobility Malaysia has appointed Shylendra Nathan as its new chief executive officer (CEO) effective Aug 1.

As the CEO, he will oversee the overall operations of the group, which includes Socar as well as Trevo, and will report to Socar Mobility Malaysia’s board of directors led by chairman Choi Myoung Hwa.

Shylendra takes over from Leon Foong, 10 months after the latter left the company.

Shylendra has 24 years of experience in the Internet and Communications Technology field, with 15 years dedicated to building internet marketplaces in Southeast Asia and South Asia.

His last job was as the general manager for Malaysia at REA Group operating iProperty.com Malaysia Sdn Bhd, which was acquired by PropertyGuru Group. Before that, he was chief operating officer at 701Search and CEO of Onekyat in Myanmar.

Shylendra holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde and an undergraduate degree in Information Technology majoring in software engineering from the Southern Cross University.

Socar, a South Korean-owned company, specialises in car-sharing services while Trevo focuses on peer-to-peer car rental. Trevo is based in Malaysia and is a fully-owned subsidiary of Socar Mobility Malaysia.


Now your BMW can join in the festive celebrations!

                MUNICH: BMW has a special surprise in store for its drivers as the New Year dawns.

Starting Dec 31, an animation can be played in the vehicle display – a New Year’s message accompanied by some fittingly festive music and an orchestrated ambient lighting sequence.

The New Year Festive Animation will be available (in participating markets) to all customers with suitably equipped vehicles from Jan 1-7.

Starting the car brings up a special banner in the Control Display. Clicking on it then activates the New Year programme, comprising a full-screen festive animation in the Control Display with aptly chosen backing music and an accompanying light show courtesy of the ambient lighting system.

Customers also have the option of triggering the New Year greetings sequence manually, either with the help of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant – “Hey BMW, Happy New Year” – or by using the app in the Vehicle menu, which will also be available for one week.

The New Year banner will appear automatically up to three times on starting the car and will be accessible anytime in the Messages menu following the first activation.

A similar function will be offered for Christmas in selected markets starting today.

In this case, the festive greeting can again be launched via the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant using the prompt “Hey BMW, Merry Christmas” or the app in the Vehicle menu. In the relevant markets, it will be possible to play the video message in the car over a period of seven days from Dec 24. The Christmas animation will not be offered in Germany.

These festive animations will be available in 41 countries worldwide for vehicles fitted with BMW Operating System 7.0 (software status 07/2020 or later).


US agency opens probe into 115,000 Tesla vehicles over suspension issue

                WASHINGTON: The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Friday said it had opened an investigation into around 115,0000 Tesla vehicles over a front suspension safety issue.

The auto safety regulator said it was opening a preliminary evaluation into 2015-2017 Model S and 2016-2017 Model X vehicles after receiving 43 complaints alleging failure of the left or right front suspension fore links.

Tesla in February 2017 issued a service bulletin describing a manufacturing condition that may result in front suspension fore link failures, NHTSA said.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The 2017 service bulletin said some vehicles have “front fore links that may not meet Tesla strength specifications. In the event of link failure, the driver can still maintain control of the vehicle but the tire may contact the wheel arch liner.”

NHTSA said 32 complaints involve failures that occurred during low-speed parking maneuvers, while 11 occurred while driving. Another eight complaints may also involve the same issue, NHTSA added.

The agency said “the complaints appear to indicate an increasing trend, with... three of the incidents at highway speeds reported within the last three months.”

On Nov 20, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Tesla in the US District Court in California over suspension issues in Model S and X vehicles claiming vehicles have defects that can result in the front and rear suspension control arm assembly components prematurely failing.

In a blog post in June 2016 Tesla denied any safety defect in Model X or Model S suspensions, but acknowledged NHTSA had asked the company to informally provide information about suspensions without opening a formal investigation.

Last week, NHTSA said it was expanding a separate probe into nearly 159,000 Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles, upgrading it to an engineering analysis, a step required before it can seek to compel recalls.

NHTSA had opened a preliminary evaluation in June over touchscreen failures. The agency said the failure can result in the loss of rear-camera image display when in reverse and reduced rear visibility when backing up, and can impact defogging ability, and audible chimes relating to Autopilot and turn signals.

That probe now covers 2012-2018 model year Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles. The preliminary investigation covered 63,000 Tesla Model S cars.


BMW and MINI service campaign for cars 5 years and older

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Group Malaysia is introducing a series of service and repair packages to owners of selected BMW and MINI models under its latest service campaign.

The BMW and MINI Value Service Campaign caters to models that are five years and older.

The selected models are the BMW 3 Series (F30 and F90), BMW 5 Series (F10 and E60), BMW 7 Series (F02 and E66), BMW X1 (F48 and E84), BMW X3 (F25 and E83), BMW X5 (F15, E53 and E70) as well as the MINI Clubman (F54 and R55), MINI Countryman (R60), MINI Cooper S (F55, F56 and R56).

From now until May 31, owners of such models would get a free engine oil service and 30% reduction in labour charges with every purchase of one of four packages offered under the latest campaign.

Each package comprises a specific set of BMW and MINI genuine parts & accessories, including brake pads and brake discs, batteries, wipers, V-belt, belt tensioner, tyres, as well as engine and transmission mountings.

In the second phase – from June 1 until Dec 31 – owners will qualify for reductions of up to 20% on all BMW and MINI parts and acessories that are offered under the four packages, along with the 30% reduction in labour charges.

For more information, contact an authorised dealer or visit the local BMW website.


Microscopic molecular cars to race in France

                PARIS: Microscopic molecular vehicles piloted by chemists and physicists will line up in the world's first nano-car race in France this month — but don't expect to see anything with the naked eye.

Teams from France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, the United States and a joint Austrian-American group have qualified, but only four will get to compete on April 28-29, organisers of the race said Tuesday.

Sponsored by France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the race will take place at one of its laboratories in Toulouse, in southwestern France, and will be streamed live on YouTube.

Each ultra-miniature car will be built from just hundreds of atoms grouped together to form the engine, body, wheels and pedals.

Instead of holding a steering wheel, scientists will manoeuvre a microscope equipped with four needle-like metal tips that generate an electric current.

The white-gowned "drivers" will poke the nano-cars with the energy-inducing instruments to propel them across a racing track made from gold.

"The tip will provide the fuel to move the molecule," said Alain Schuhl, Director of the CNRS's physics unit.

The race will not exactly be a high-speed chase with hairpin turns. It will take the nano-cars at least 36 hours to reach the finish line after covering 100 nanometres — one-thousandth the width of a human hair.

There are a couple of 40 and 45 degree turns thrown in to make things interesting.

One team was stuck for five hours on a turn during a practice session, said race director Christian Joachim.

"It's like a video game — you have to focus on the screen and be attentive all the time," he said. "You need two people, one that gets the images and the other one guiding him on strategy to avoid getting stuck."

The golden surface on which the nano-cars will race is 50,000 times thinner than a line drawn by a pen. To get to the finish line, the scientists will have to apply an average of 400 to 500 electrical discharges of one to two volts each, without breaking the molecule.

As in Formula One, contestants are allowed to switch cars in case of malfunctions.

Beyond the race's entertainment factor, organisers hope the event will serve scientific purpose.

"The objective is to try to control the mechanical movement of a molecule a couple of nanometres long," Joachim said.

Once scientists can handle these cars like getaway drivers, he said, "we'll be able to create super-miniature motors for all sorts of applications."


Bentley first-half profit more than doubles, boosted by customised cars

                LONDON: Luxury British carmaker Bentley's first-half operating profit more than doubled, boosted by increased customisation of cars as sales rose significantly in Europe and Britain despite ongoing global economic uncertainty.

The unit of German carmaker Volkswagen today posted an operating profit for the first six months of 2022 of €398 million (RM1.8bil), more than the €178 million in the same period of last year and also its full-year 2021 profit of €389 million.

"Despite the continued global economic instability, it is promising to see Bentley is showing financial consistency as we reinvent the company," chief executive Adrian Hallmark said in a statement.

Global sales rose almost 3% to 7,398 cars, up from 7,199 in the first half of 2021, while revenue per car jumped almost 15% to €213,000 from €186,000 as high-net worth customers took advantage of a customisation program.

That pushed half-year revenue at the luxury carmaker up 29% to €1.707 billion from €1.324 billion in the same period last year.

The company said sales were up 33% in Europe and 44% in the United Kingdom.

Bentley did not provide numbers for its strongest market, the United States, but said China had been affected by the lengthy lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.


MINI Malaysia kicks off New Year promo

                KUALA LUMPUR: MINI in Malaysia has introduced a new programme for the MINI Countryman SE along with a range of other MINI models – in conjunction with the extended SST exemption period.

The programme entitles all new owners of the Countryman SE to interest rates from as low as 0% (based on Straight Line Financing), monthly instalment plans from RM2,678, and the extended 8-Year High Voltage Battery Warranty.

New customers who buy the 4-Year MINI Service and Repair Inclusive (MSRI) package are also entitled to an extra complimentary year of the programme.

The programme, which runs from now until March 31, also offers savings to new owners of a range of other MINI models, from the MINI 3 Door, MINI 5 Door, MINI Clubman, and the MINI Countryman portfolios.

The Countryman SE features the advanced MINI All-Wheel-Drive System that provides optimal grip and maximum enjoyment for every ride, as well as the eDrive mode that allows drivers to select either electric, combustion engine or the hybrid driving mode to provide a more efficient travelling experience.

Convenience is offered via the MINI Remote Services, which allows for monitoring of the vehicle’s status as well as pre-conditioning of the vehicle before travel – all remotely via a smartphone, anywhere and at any time.

Interior highlights of the electrified MINI Countryman include the Head-Up Display and 4G LTE Sim Card MINI Connected – as they provide seamless on-the-road infotainment.

With lower emissions and high performance, the MINI Countryman SE presents a rewarding driving experience – while saving on fuel.

BMW Group Malaysia managing director Harald Hoelzl said 2021 had brought a host of new opportunities, and the company was pleased to place the Countryman SE at the forefront of its latest programme.

"As we move into 2021, the new MINI Countryman SE programme underlines our continued commitment towards accelerating the adoption of electromobility in Malaysia – especially while the SST exemption is still in place.

"The opportunity also allows us to better deliver the undeniable thrill of MINI ownership to our loyal customers nationwide.”

To view the full list of models and programme offerings, visit https://www.mini.my/sstsavingsspree.


Refreshed Honda CR-V open for booking, launch in Q4

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia today anounced that booking is open for the refreshed CR-V.

The SUV is set to be launched in Malaysia in Q4 2020, with prices to be announced then.

So what's new?

The new CR-V exterior is made to look more rugged and it now comes with advanced safety features as well as new convenience features.

The CR-V gets a black grille combined with LED headlights, while the new front bumper is surrounded by a wing-style chrome fascia to give it a bold appearance.
The back side gets dark chrome and smoked finished taillights. The rear bumper is also garnished with the wing-style chrome fascia and new tail pipe finisher. The 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels are of a new design, too.

A hands-free power tailgate has finally arrived for the CR-V, making it easy to open or close with a kicking motion under the rear bumper. Honda LaneWatch is also now a standard safety feature across the lineup. This system features a camera mounted on the left passenger side mirror with visuals displayed on the car's infotainment screen when turning or changing lanes.

As in most facelifted cases, engine specs remain untouched. The new CR-V is powered by the same 1.5L VTEC turbocharged engine as before, producing up to 190hp and 243Nm, which is more powerful than a 2.4L engine's performance.

However, Honda's press release made no mention whether the two-litre variant will continue to be sold in the refreshed line-up.

As before, Honda Sensing would be fitted to the top variant and comprised a set of active safety features namely: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); Low-Speed Follow (LSF); Forward Collision Warning (FCW); Collision; Mitigation Braking System (CMBS); Lane Departure Warning (LDW); Road Departure Mitigation(RDM); Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS); and Auto High-Beam (AHB).

The CR-V was the first Completely Knocked-Down model to roll out of Honda's plant in Malacca in 2003. It went on to achieve a leading position in the SUV segment and market share with over 100,000 units sold since then.

Since the launch of the current fifth generation CR-V in 2017, more than 36,000 units have been put on Malaysian roads. The CR-V contributed 19% to the overall non-national SUV segment.

The CR-V will make it debut in the same period as the all-new City.
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Honda Jazz, City and CR-V top in JD Power Malaysia quality study

                PETALING JAYA: JD Power 2019 Malaysia has ranked the Honda Jazz, City and CR-V as the highest in their segments under an Initial Quality Study for new vehicle quality study.

“Honda Malaysia’s manufacturing plant in Pegoh, Melaka, will continue focusing on producing vehicles of the highest level of quality, safety and environmental-friendliness, using the latest and most advanced manufacturing technology,” said Honda Malaysia managing director and CEO Toichi Ishiyama.

Two of Honda Malaysia’s best-selling models, the Jazz and City performed well to lead the ranking for city compact segment and entry midsize segment.

The two models scored 68 per 100 vehicles (PP100) and 59 PP100 respectively.

In the Non-National sport utility vehicle segment leader, the CR-V ranked the highest for the second consecutive year with 64 PP100.

This study's results were based on vehicle exterior, engine and transmission, audio entertainment connectivity and others.

The result with a lower score reflects better quality performance and was based on responses from the number of
problems experienced per 100 vehicles.

 Management of Honda Malaysia and J.D. Power Representative taking a commemorative photo with the Jazz, CR-V and City.

“We would like to express our gratitude to all Malaysians for their continuous support and trust in the Honda brand. We will continue to serve our customers better to meet their needs and provide excellent customer satisfaction,” added Ishiyama.

The Honda City, CR-V and Jazz managed to contribute 36%, 14% and 13% respectively to the company’s total sales in 2019.


Dr M’s 'crooked bridge' project may be on again

                KUALA LUMPUR: Johor will meet with the Singapore government on the possibility of reviving the “crooked bridge” project linking Johor and Singapore.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian said the meeting, which will be held on Oct 27 or Oct 28 in Singapore, will be attended by Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

“We will discuss issues including water price, bilateral development and investments. We will try to attract investors from Singapore to Malaysia.

“We might also discuss the crooked bridge project with them to see if they want to join us or otherwise, and also the third bridge project,” he said.

The crooked bridge project was mooted by Dr Mahathir before he retired as premier in 2003.

He had planned to build the bridge, which involved a six-lane S-shaped highway that allows vessels to pass under it, since Singapore refused to demolish its half of the causeway link between the two countries.

The project was dropped by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he became prime minister, which led to Dr Mahathir fiercely opposing his hand-picked successor.

Osman said Dr Mahathir had asked him in a recent meeting if Johor needed the bridge, and he had said that it was up to the Prime Minister to decide.

“The bridge has its benefits. Perhaps past prime ministers didn't feel comfortable continuing a project started by Dr Mahathir.

“So he said if we want to do it, no problem because it would not involve demolishing the Singapore parts of the bridge, only on our side,” Osman said.

As for the present Johor-Singapore Causeway, Osman said there were plans to widen the pathway to create pedestrian walkways and to allow more feeder buses to ferry people.


Global chip shortage threatens production of cars, laptops, smartphones and more

                SEOUL/BERLIN/SHENZHEN: Makers of cars and electronic devices from TVs to smartphones are sounding alarm bells about a global shortage of chips, which is causing manufacturing delays as consumer demand bounces back from the coronavirus crisis.

The problem has several causes, industry executives and analysts say, including bulk-buying by US sanctions-hit Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies, a fire at a chip plant in Japan, coronavirus lockdowns in South-East Asia, and a strike in France.

More fundamentally, however, there has been under-investment in 8-inch chip manufacturing plants owned mostly by Asian firms, which means they have struggled to ramp up production as demand for 5G phones, laptops and cars picked up faster than expected.

“For the whole electronics industry, we’ve been experiencing a shortage of components,” said Donny Zhang, CEO of Shenzhen-based sourcing company Sand and Wave, who said he faced delays in obtaining a microcontroller unit that was key to a smart headphone product he was working on.

“We were originally planning to complete production in one month, but now it looks like we’ll need to do it in two.”

A source at a Japanese electronics component supplier said it was seeing shortages of WiFi and Bluetooth chips and was expecting delays of more than 10 weeks.

The automotive industry in China, which flagged the issue earlier this month, is anticipating production at some Chinese carmakers to be affected in the first quarter of next year, according to a senior industry association official.

Surging demand

Consumer demand in China, especially for cars, has snapped back unexpectedly quickly from the coronavirus crisis, and orders for products such as laptops and mobile phones in regions still struggling with pandemic restrictions, such as Europe and the United States, have also picked up.

“Since (these products) all compete for the same fab (fabrication plant) resources the shortage is across all of these sectors and others as well. These are just the most apparent right now,” said Kevin Anderson, a senior analyst at Omdia.

Dutch automotive chip supplier NXP Semiconductors has told customers it must raise prices on all products because of a “significant increase” in materials costs and a “severe shortage” of chips, Reuters reported this month.

“Business came back much faster than we expected,” NXP CEO Kurt Sievers told German business daily Handelsblatt in an interview on Dec 11.

“Many customers ordered too late. As a result, we are not able to keep up in some areas.”

Other short-term triggers for the chip shortage include stockpiling by telecoms giant Huawei ahead of mid-September when its suppliers had to comply with U.S. sanctions, CICC analyst Huang Leping said in a note on Dec. 11.

This was aggravated by Huawei’s rivals such as Xiaomi seeking to gain market share by stepping up orders of components, he added.

Xiaomi and Huawei declined to comment.

Electronics makers including Panasonic Corp and Yamaha Corp also warn they face some chip shortages that are slowing production of audio equipment and video cameras after a massive fire in October damaged a chip plant owned by Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corp (AKM), a unit of Asahi Kasei Corp, in southern Japan.

Concerns have surfaced too over strikes in France at chipmaker STMicroelectronics.

Eric Potard, leader of the CFDT union at the group, said the strike resulted in a fall in activity of about 8%. STMicro, however, said it had no impact on production.

‘Full capacity’

The surge in demand has meant 8-inch plants, which tend to make older, less sophisticated chips, are under strain, analysts and industry sources said.

Taiwan’s TSMC dominates the market for contract chip manufacturing, with Samsung trailing a distance second, followed by the likes of SMIC, GlobalFoundries and UMC, according to Trendforce data.

“The problem seems chiefly to be at the foundries,” said a European semiconductor industry source, who said TSMC and GlobalFoundries in particular looked to be under pressure.

“It looks like they are pretty much at the limit,” the source said, referring to TSMC.

TSMC, which counts Apple and Qualcomm among customers, declined to comment, but referred to comments its chairman made this week that described the firm’s capacity as “tight”.

A GlobalFoundries spokesman said demand was growing across the board and was accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic.

An official at South Korean foundry firm DB Hitek, which makes chips for the likes of Apple to use in its tablets, said its 8-inch plants were running at full capacity at least for the next six months, with tight supply anticipated until the second half of next year.

The United States has also curbed the ability of China’s top chipmaker, SMIC, to get US-made equipment and raw materials, exacerbating the supply crunch. SMIC did not respond to a request for comment.

Foundry firms like DB Hitek, UMC and SMIC said in recent company statements their factories were running at full capacity in the third quarter.

“We expect our utilisation rates to remain solid for the time being,” said DB Hitek.


Launched: Updated Volkswagen Golf in two trims - RM155,990 and RM166,990

                KUALA LUMPUR: The 2018 updated 1.4-litre TSI engined Volkswagen Golf is available for bookings, and is priced at RM155,990 (Sportline) and RM166,990 (R-Line).

The new car is sold with 5-year manufacturer's warranty, 3-years free maintenance, and 5 years of roadside assistance.

The Golf has been updated with redesigned bumpers, new conceptualised headlights and LED tail lights.

The Golf 1.4 TSI is available in both Sportline and R-Line trims. The R-Line wasn't available at the Golf launch but is to be introduced on April 26 at the Malaysia Autoshow 2018.

Under the hood of both variants is a 1.4TSI turbocharged engine that is paired with a 7-speed dry clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG), producing 150PS and torque of 250Nm between 1,500 to 3,500rpm.

The Golf has 60:40 folding rear seats and a 380-litre rear cargo space, which can be expanded to 1,270 litres with the rear seats folded.

It has Manoeuvre Braking, which helps to automatically brake the car when it senses objects up to 10km/h to minimise all those dings and minor scuffs during parking.

There's also Automatic Post Collision Brake System, which triggers automatic (emergency) braking down to a (remaining) vehicle speed of 10 km/h, once an initial collision has been detected.

The driver can interrupt the Automatic Post Collision Brake System at any time (by accelerating or braking even more).

Launched in 1974, the Golf is the Volkswagen brand's most successful model.

To date, more than 34 million units of the Golf in its different body variants have been produced and sold around the world.

A new Golf was built, purchased and delivered every 40 seconds, on average, over the past four decades.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is also offering Malaysians the chance to win an all-expense paid trip to the Wörthersee GTI Festival in Austria.

The contest is will end on 27th of March, 2018.

Details can be found at the Volkswagen Malaysia website.

Golf Sportline (RM155,990)

• 1.4-litre TSI 150PS turbocharged direct injection petrol 4-cylinder engine
• DSG 7-speed direct shift gearbox
• Automatic headlights with 'Coming Home' and 'Leaving Home' function
• Full LED tailights
• LED daytime running lights
• 8-inch touchscreen ‘Composition Media’ infotainment system
• USB and iPod/iPhone interface
• SD card slot, AUX-IN, Bluetooth, 8 speakers
• App-Connect smartphone connectivity (MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto)
• 7 Airbags
• Rest Assist (Driver Alert System)
• Proactive Occupant Protection System (front seatbelts)
• 'Climatronic' air conditioning system with 2-zone temperature control
• Front fog lights with static cornering light
• Powered, foldable and heated wing mirrors with environment lighting and kerb view
• 'Zoom' fabric seat upholstery
• 'Premium' colour multi-function on board computer display (MFD)
• Electronic parking brake with auto-hold function
• Extended electronic differential lock (XDS)
• 'Hita' alloy wheels 6.5J X 16-inch
• tyres 205/55 R16
• Park Distance Control with optical display (4 Front & 4 Rear) and Manouvre Braking

Golf R-Line (RM169,990)

• LED headlights with Static and Dynamic Cornering Lights
• R-Line 'Vienna' leather seat upholstery
• 12.3-inch high definition Active Info Display
• 'KESSY' keyless access and starting system
• 'Singapore' alloy wheels 7J X 17-inch
• tyres 225/45 R17
• Driving Mode Selection with Eco Function
• Driver Settings Personalisation
• Full LED tailights with dynamic indicators
• Rear view camera system

MORE Photos: 2018 updated Volkswagen Golf Sportline (RM155,990)