She's Mercedes celebrates 5th anniversary

                PETALING JAYA: For five years now, Mercedes-Benz has been engaging in an intensive dialogue with women around the world through its international 'She's Mercedes' initiative.

A digital booklet is being published to mark the anniversary, which is full of facts about women and their societal roles who have made their mark internationally.

The focus is on female role models of the past and of today, highlighting the achievements women have made along the way to a more diverse society. Recent trends are in line with these advancements – and provide an outlook onto a possible future.

“With 'She's Mercedes', for the last five years we have been offering women the opportunity to get to know the Mercedes-Benz brand in a completely different way,” says Bettina Fetzer, Head of Marketing Mercedes-Benz AG.

“In the form of a community, we enable an open and creative exchange on visionary future topics, courage and self-confidence. In this way, we are strengthening our claim to develop Mercedes-Benz into an approachable and luxurious ‘love brand’ that’s attractive to men and women alike.”

To mark the anniversary, Mercedes-Benz has created new opportunities for the 'She's Mercedes' community to find inspiration even in times of increased digital encounters. For example, interested parties can apply for “mentoring sessions” on the 'She's Mercedes' website.

In addition, “Female Creator Panels” will be held online from the beginning of December.

In 60-minute digital podium discussions, role models and experts from Daimler AG – as well as external speakers from various fields such as business research and society – will provide exciting insights into their work and discuss current topics that move the 'She's Mercedes' community.


New Kia Forte shows up with new design identity and advanced tech

                LOS ANGELES: This is the new Kia Forte for North America.

The compact sedan arrives with a host of enhancements including new front and rear design elements, a newly available 10.25-inch widescreen navigation display, and an expanded suite of new and upgraded Drive Wise ADAS technology.

The compact sedan offers six standard ADAS features and a total of 15 systems, including Lane Following Assist, Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control, Highway Driving Assist3, and Safe Exit Warning.

The Forte is available in four trim levels – FE, LXS, GT-Line and GT.

For 2022, the EX model has been discontinued and a new GT-Line Sport Premium package has been added.

Other new package offerings across the model range include LXS Technology, GT-Line Technology, and GT Technology, each with a unique combination of tech and ADAS systems2.

For those seeking a sport-infused version of the Forte, the GT-Line trim offers a combination of performance styling and premium features.

The wide array of content includes unique 17-inch wheels, sport exterior design elements, LED fog lights, sport combination seats with SynTex/cloth, sport steering wheel, a 10.25-inch navigation touchscreen1, and Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist2.

At the top of the lineup, the Forte GT brings a performance experience with a 201-horsepower turbo 4-cylinder engine.

Kia says this 200+ hp sports compact sedan is a standout in the segment for its balanced driving dynamics and boasts a standard 7-speed DCT.

It is also one of few such offerings with an available manual transmission.

“Strong sales of Forte have helped Kia achieve its best third quarter sales in company history and the refreshed 2022 model is poised to continue that successful momentum,” said Kia North America and Kia America president & CEO Sean Yoon.

“With its contemporary design, a robust suite of standard ADAS features, and the 201 horsepower of the exciting GT trim, the 2022 Forte continues to raise the bar in the compact sedan segment.”

The Forte will continue to be built in Monterrey, Mexico.


Formula One has a 50-50 chance of going racing, says Agag

Agag says Formula E will follow Formula One's idea of organising some races behind closed doors. — Reuters
LONDON: Formula E founder Alejandro Agag reckons both his electric series and Formula One have a 50-50 chance of getting races run due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has stalled both championships.

The Spaniard, whose city-based series started last November and completed five races before the virus forced it off the streets, said it was unclear how much was going to be possible as restrictions eased.

He said Formula One bosses, who have plans to start their season without spectators at Austria's Red Bull Ring in July before racing behind closed doors at Silverstone in Britain, were doing "the right thing trying".

"We are going to try the same thing. We are going to try to put some races behind closed doors," the Spaniard told Reuters in an interview via Zoom.

"I guess it's a 50-50 chance. The same for us," he added when asked whether he felt Formula One would manage to get races held.

Formula E has a logistical advantage in that it has far smaller teams and controls all the cars, which are currently stored in Valencia in Spain, after the most recent race in Morocco at the end of February.

It also needs only a few more races to have a valid championship, with the normal season due to end in July but expandable into August and September.

"We will try and make at least two or three more races in a closed circuit. I think that should be possible in the month of August. But again, who knows?," said Agag.

"I'm thinking 90% they will be in Europe. We still have an option outside of Europe that we're looking at, that is still alive, but we will decide later on."

Agag reckoned Formula E needed between 950-970 people to put on a race, including broadcasters and safety staff, which would allow them to get under the limit of 1,000 imposed by some countries.

Formidable hurdles remained, however.

"Are the borders going to be open? We don't know yet. The quarantine period if you go to one place being imposed we don't know yet," he said.

"So I would try to do what Formula One is doing, but I am not sure if it is doable."

Formula E's last two rounds of the season are scheduled for New York and London at venues that are now being used as temporary hospitals for those suffering from the virus.

Both locations are likely to be scrapped, but Agag suggested Britain remained an option.

"We could race in Britain. We are talking with some tracks in the UK to do it and maybe even more than a race," he said, mentioning Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Donington Park as potential venues.

Agag is also busy planning an Extreme E off-road environmentally conscious electric SUV 'docu-sport' series that is due to launch next year.

The eight teams' cars would be crewed equally by male and female drivers.


Indonesia set to wrest crown from Thailand as regional auto hub

                JAKARTA: Indonesia has the opportunity to replace Thailand as the automotive production hub in Asean, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported citing Indonesian Antara news agency.

This is evident from the output trend of vehicle production, policies and infrastructure, which continue to undergo improvements followed by increasing production capacity, domestic consumption and export volume, said Marcus Scherer, Head of the Global Automotive Sector of Ipsos Consulting.

He hoped that the policymakers, relevant parties and global automobile producers will consider this aspect, as it has a great impact on future automotive spare part supplies.

To date, Thailand is the largest automotive producer in the Southeast Asian region with annual production of two million cars compared with Indonesia, which manufactured 1.1 million units every year.

However, the production gap between the two countries is expected to halve by the end of 2020.

Indonesia exported some 23 per cent of its car production in 2015, while Thailand sold some 55 per cent of its domestic production abroad.

In a bid to become Aseans leading car production centre, Indonesia should overcome the production gap through combined solutions, including enhancing production capacity.

The country needs to increase direct investment to US$2.6 billion for the construction of new factories and improve production abilities of existing factories.

The Ipsos report highlighted that although exports have been significant this time, Indonesia still has considerable potential thanks to its domestic consumption market of 250 million people. This will encourage investors to harbour expectations for solid sale growth.

Meanwhile, Chukiat Wongtaveerat, a senior consultant manager at Ipsos Bangkok, said that Indonesias business climate has not brought significant benefits to the automotive industry.

According to the World Banks ranking on the ease of doing business, Indonesia is in 109th position among 198 countries, while Thailand stands at 49 th. The Indonesian Government set a target to reach the 40th position by 2018.

Marcus said that current conditions in the country showed a positive trend, such as easing regulations on foreign ownership and simplified licencing procedures.


VW teases new SUV that will slot itself under Tiguan

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen (VW) has officially released a teaser of new compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) that will slot itself under the Tiguan.

The unveiling for this particular SUV has been earmarked for Oct 13.

This compact SUV seems to portray a sportier appeal emphasised by the LED bars that will flank - what we assume to be - the newly-designed VW-logo.

There's quite a bit of certainty that this compact SUV will be petrol-powered for the majority with perhaps a 1.8-litre turbocharged engine mated to a seven-speed DSG at the very least.

Although, in the US, there are 1.4-litre turbocharged VWs running about with a choice of either a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG.

But the real preference still goes to the 2.0-turbocharged powertrain.


Blaze the tracks with new BMW M4 GT4

                MUNICH: BMW has started selling the M4 GT4, priced from 169,000 euros (RM812,000).

It comes with a comprehensive starter package.

The M4 GT4 uses proven production technology and innovative developments from the M6 GT3. The engine and transmission, including control electronics, were adopted from the M4 Coupé (combined consumption: 8.3 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 194 g/km).

The carbon bonnet comes from the M4 GTS (combined consumption: 8.5 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 199 g/km). In addition, the M4 GT4 has carbon-fibre doors, motorsport-specific front splitters and rear wings, and a racing exhaust system.

The seat, brakes and pedal box make use of solutions that are also included in the top model in customer racing, the M6 GT3. The interior is still padded up for driver comfort so that he or she can focus fully on driving.

This time, the BMW engineers went in a new direction in terms of engine control software. The M4 GT4 is the first BMW Motorsport car to be fitted with power sticks, which can be pre-programmed for different engine performance levels.

Thanks to the system, which has been approved by the SRO Motorsports Group and is well protected against manipulation, Plug-and-Play gives BMW Motorsport customers the ability to react quickly and flexibly to changes to the Balance of Performance in various races.

"We are offering our customers a sophisticated and reliable GT4 car, which incorporates all of BMW Motorsport’s expertise, coupled with the strong basis provided by the BMW M4 Coupé. The development of the BMW M4 GT4 focused on mileage, cost efficiency and ease of maintenance,” said BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt at the presentation event in the paddock at the Nürburgring.

In recent months, the BMW M4 GT4 has been tested by many BMW works drivers, Juniors and customer racing drivers at various racetracks, with different tyre types and in a wide range of external conditions. The purpose of this testing was to adapt all the technical applications, such as the DSC stability system and ABS, to meet the demands of motor racing in as much detail as possible. The car has already proven its reliability and performance in races on the Nordschleife and at the 24 Hours of Dubai (UAE).

The outing at this weekend’s Nürburgring 24 Hours is the next tough test in the development of the M4 GT4.

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Google partners with auto suppliers on self-driving car

                DETROIT: Internet search company Google Inc has begun discussions with most of the world's top automakers and has assembled a team of traditional and non-traditional suppliers to speed efforts to bring self-driving cars to market by 2020, a Google executive said on Wednesday.

"We'd be remiss not to talk to ... the biggest auto manufacturers. They've got a lot to offer," Chris Urmson, director of Google's self-driving car project, said in an interview.

Those manufacturers, he said, include General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, Toyota Motor Corp, Daimler AG and Volkswagen AG.

"For us to jump in and say that we can do this better, that's arrogant," Urmson said. Google has not determined whether it will build its own self-driving vehicles or function more as a provider of systems and software to established vehicle manufacturers.

Google's self-driving prototype cars, he said, were built in Detroit by engineering and specialty manufacturing company Roush.

GM is open to working with Google on self-driving cars, Jon Lauckner, GM's chief technology officer, said on Monday.

Urmson's expectation that the first fully autonomous vehicles will be production-ready within five years mirrors the view expressed a day earlier by another Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla Motors Inc.

Musk, who spoke Tuesday at the Automotive News World Congress conference, said he expects the lack of clear federal regulations covering self-driving cars could delay their introduction until 2022 or 2023.

Urmson, however, said his Google colleagues "don't see any particular regulatory hurdles."

Google has been briefing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the chief US auto regulator, "from early on in our program," Urmson said. "The worst thing we could do is surprise them."

Urmson said Google is developing and refining self-driving systems and components with such auto parts suppliers as Continental AG, Robert Bosch, ZF and LG Electronics. Google's prototype cars use microprocessors made by Nvidia Corp, a Silicon Valley chipmaker that also supplies Mercedes-Benz and other automakers.

Continental said it began discussions in 2012 about supplying parts for Google's self-driving car. Google asked the German supplier to provide tires, some electronics and other components, according to Samir Salman, chief executive of Continental's NAFTA region.

Google shortly will begin deploying a test fleet of fully functioning prototypes of its pod-like self-driving car, which dispenses with such familiar automotive parts as steering wheel, brakes and accelerator pedal. While each of the Google prototypes will have a "test driver" on board, the cars have no provision for human intervention in steering or braking.

Urmson suggested the no-frills look of the Google prototypes, a far cry from the opulent appearance of the self-driving F015 concept vehicle unveiled last week by Mercedes, does not necessarily reflect the final design for production.

He described the Google prototype as "a practical, near-term testing platform" that will evolve over time.

"Airliners today don't look like the Wright brothers' flyer" of 100 years ago, he said.

Urmson said self-driving cars represent a "transformative" moment in the evolution of transportation, an opportunity to extend motoring to blind, elderly and disabled persons who otherwise could not drive.

"You're really changing the relationship you have with transportation. You're changing what it means to get around."

Regarding Google's desire to partner with traditional automakers and suppliers, Urmson said Detroit is more innovative than is sometimes acknowledged. Automakers are "doing something incredibly complicated."

"You look at a car ... and people forget just how much magic there is in that thing."


Maserati driver whose car dragged cop will have luxury vehicle forfeited to the state

Lee was earlier convicted and sentenced over various offences including driving while under disqualification. - ST
SINGAPORE: The driver of a Maserati that dragged a police officer for more than 100m in 2017 will have his car forfeited to the state, a district court heard today.

The value of the car was not disclosed.

Lee Cheng Yan, 39, was earlier convicted and sentenced over various offences including driving while under disqualification.

Under the Road Traffic Act, in cases of repeat offenders convicted of driving while under disqualification, the court has to order the forfeiture of the vehicle when the prosecution applies for such an order.

Lee, who is now behind bars, was earlier dealt with in court in two sets of proceedings.

In July 2020, he was sentenced to four years and seven months’ jail and a S$3,700 fine on multiple charges, including voluntarily causing grievous hurt to a traffic police officer. He was also given a lifetime driving ban.

Lee was under a driving ban on Nov 17, 2017, when he was stopped by the officer in Bedok Reservoir Road for not wearing a seat belt.

While the officer was standing next to the driver’s door, Lee suddenly reversed the car and accelerated forward.

The policeman was dragged along Bedok Reservoir Road when his uniform got caught in the driver-side door of the car. When he fell onto the road, Lee sped off without rendering help.

While Lee was on bail pending his appeal against his conviction and sentence, he repeatedly drove a BMW rented by a friend.

He was handed more charges for traffic offences. In one incident on March 12, 2021, he drove through a police roadblock, drove dangerously by speeding at 140kph and ran two red lights.

In January 2022, he was sentenced to a further jail term of one year, nine months and 16 weeks. Lee was also ordered to pay a US$1,000 penalty over graft charges.

On Jan 18, 2023, he pleaded with a High Court judge to reduce his sentence totalling more than six years.

Lee repeatedly said he was remorseful for what he had done. He asked for leniency so he could reunite with his two daughters earlier.

Lee also asked for his car to not be forfeited, adding he wished to use the sales proceeds to provide for his daughters, who are in Japan.

Justice Aedit Abdullah rejected Lee’s appeal and chided him for not learning his lesson.

The judge said: “You don’t seem to understand the seriousness of what you have done.”

In January, Lee’s sister told District Judge Kamala Ponnampalam that Lee had pledged the car to their elderly parents.

The sister also said that his family is supporting his two daughters in Japan and that Lee had taken large loans from their parents to settle his legal fees.

Stressing that Lee had pledged the car to their parents to repay his loans, she added: “While my brother legally owns the vehicle, the fact that he has pledged the proceeds of the vehicle to return my parents the money – we can argue (that this fact) makes my parents the de facto owners of the vehicle.”

But on Monday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Timotheus Koh told the court that Lee is the owner of the vehicle and the car was under Lee’s name when he committed the offences earlier.

DPP Koh said: “Offenders should not be allowed to transfer ownership of vehicles to avoid forfeiture.”

Lee’s sister declined to comment when approached.


US opens special probe into fatal Tesla pedestrian crash in California

                WASHINGTON: US auto safety regulators have opened a special investigation into a fatal pedestrian crash in California involving a 2018 Tesla Model 3 where an advanced driver assistance system is suspected of use.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) cited the California incident in an emailed update on Thursday but did not identify the specific crash.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on June 7 that a Tesla went airborne and struck and killed a woman. NBC-7 in San Diego said a 39-year-old man was charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of drugs in the incident.

NHTSA had previously opened 35 special crash investigations involving Tesla vehicles in which advanced driver assistance systems like Autopilot were suspected of being used since 2016.

NHTSA typically opens more than 100 special crash investigations annually into emerging technologies and other potential auto safety issues that have, for instance, previously helped to develop safety rules on air bags.

A total of 15 crash deaths have been reported in those Tesla investigations, including the most recent incident.

Tesla, which has disbanded its press office, did not respond to a request for comment.

Separately, NHTSA said it was aware of "and in discussions with Tesla" regarding a Florida crash on Wednesday that killed a 66-year-old Tesla driver and a 67-year-old passenger.

A 2015 Tesla rear-ended a tractor-trailer in the Gainesville area at a rest area off Interstate 75, the Florida Highway Patrol said in a police report. Both people in the Tesla were pronounced dead at the scene.

In June, NHTSA upgraded its defect probe into 830,000 Tesla vehicles with Autopilot, a required step before it could seek a recall.

NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation to assess the performance of the system in 765,000 vehicles after about a dozen crashes in which Tesla vehicles struck stopped emergency vehicles — and said last month it had identified six additional crashes.

NHTSA administrator Steven Cliff said on Wednesday he wants to complete the Tesla Autopilot investigation "as quickly as we possibly can but I also want to get it right. There's a lot of information that we need to comb through."


Klang Proton dealership becomes 4S centre

                KLANG: A Proton dealer here has upgraded its 2S outlet into a 4S centre to provide customers better sales and service experience.

The outlet in an industrial area, along the town’s second main road, spans 2,418 sq metres. It consists of 14 service bays, 10 body and paint bays, and can cater to 10 vehicles in the showroom area.

The outlet in Jalan Kebun features a coffee area, kids’ area, free WiFi and a lounge area with seating capacity for 80 customers.

Vantage Speed Sdn Bhd director Tee Boon Kee said the 4S centre has well-trained staff and is sited in a strategic location. "The 4S centre will allow for deeper customer engagement," he said, adding that it is expected to show more than a 50% increase in sales and service throughput.

The latest Proton 4S centre was opened on Sunday by Proton CEO Dr Li Chunrong. Vantage Speed also operates a 1S outlet in Setia Alam.

As at July 31, Proton has approved 93 outlets for upgrade to 3S and 4S centres. This is an 85% achievement against the target of 109 outlets by this October.

“Our outlet upgrades are on track," said Dr Li. "Proton is in a very good position to redeem itself in the market. We are confident that we could achieve approval upgrades of 109 outlets by October, or maybe even earlier than expected."

As of July, Proton achieved 31% more sales than the previous month. In July, Proton recorded more than 8,000 cars sold, and secured 11.7% of market share, a record figure for the car maker in more than 30 months.

 Dr Li signing a plaque to mark the opening of the Proton 4S centre, flanked by Proton Edar CEO Abdul Rashid Musa (second from left) and Tee. With them are (from left) Vantage Speed directors Chua Soo Seong and Datuk Leon Tee Wee Leng.

With the tax holiday set to end this month, Proton is whipping up its sales pitch ahead of the re-introduction of the Sales and Services Tax from Sept 1.

It said prospective car buyers stand to gain from great savings, which vary from RM1,500 for the Saga, RM3000 for the Persona, to RM4000 for Iriz and Ertiga.

For more information, prospective buyers can contact Proton Customer Care at 1800 888 398 or e-mail customercare@proton.com. More details are also accessible from the MyProton mobile app (Android and iOS versions available), www.proton.com or official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ProtonCarsOfficial.


GM, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler back Trump on California emissions challenge

                WASHINGTON: General Motors Co, Toyota Motor Corp, Hyundai Motor Co, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and other major automakers are siding with the Trump administration in its bid to bar California from setting its own fuel efficiency rules or zero-emission vehicles requirements.

The automakers announced on Monday they were filing to intervene on behalf of the Trump administration after California and 22 other states sued in September to undo the Trump administration’s determination that federal law bars California from setting stiff tailpipe emission standards and zero-emission vehicle mandates.

The decision could prompt a furious backlash from Democrats and environmentalists.

It also poses a risk for automakers if a Democrat wins the White House in next year’s election and reverses Trump’s actions on vehicle emissions, and also reinstates California’s right to set its own rules and the tougher national emissions standards enacted by President Barack Obama.

Other automakers including Ford Motor Co, Honda Motor Co and Volkswagen AG, which announced a voluntary deal with California in July on emissions rules, are not joining the effort to intervene.

John Bozzella, president and chief executive of Global Automakers, a trade group representing major foreign automaker, said the companies had little choice to back the administration.

“It’s been the federal policy for the better part of 40 years that the federal government has the sole responsibility for regulating fuel economy standards, but it doesn’t have to get to that,” Bozzella said, who spoke on behalf of an ad-hoc group dubbed the Coalition for Sustainable Automotive Regulation.

“We can still reach an agreement” on fuel economy rules, he said, adding that companies still support a “middle ground” between California and the Trump administration that would see rising attainable fuel efficiency requirements. He said the Trump administration did not ask the automakers to intervene.

A spokesman for California Attorney-General Xavier Becerra did not immediately comment.

Senator Tom Carper, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, had harsh words for the automakers.

“Instead of choosing the responsible path forged by four automakers and the state of California, one that will move us toward the cleaner, alternative fuel vehicles of the future, these companies have chosen to head down a dead-end road,” Carper said in a statement.”

A group of major environmental groups including the Sierra Club, the Union of Concerned Scientists and Natural Resources Defense Council sued in September to block the determination.

The Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed in August 2018 freezing fuel efficiency requirements at 2020 levels through 2026.

The Obama-era rules adopted in 2012 called for a fleetwide fuel efficiency average of 46.7 mpg (5 l/100km) by 2026, with average annual increases of nearly 5%, compared with 37 mpg (6.4 l/100km) by 2026 under the Trump administration’s preferred option.

The final rule is expected to modestly boost fuel efficiency from the initial proposal, with some automakers anticipating around 1.5% annual increases, but still much less stringent than the Obama rules.

Bozzella emphasised the group is not taking a position on what those required should be but reiterated they should continue to rise annually.

“The decision to intervene in the lawsuit is about how the standard should be applied, not what the standard should be,” Bozzella said.

The announcement showed an industry split.

After the four automakers — including BMW AG— announced the voluntary California agreement, the Justice Department sent letters to them warning the agreement “may violate federal antitrust laws,” according to documents seen by Reuters.


Locally-assembled Mercedes-AMG C 43 and GLC 43 4MATIC arrive from RM409K

                SEPANG: The Mercedes-AMG C 43 and GLC 43 4MATIC - both previously launched in May 2017, have been reintroduced once more as locally-assembled (Completely Knocked Down - CKD) vehicles that hail from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's production plant in Pekan.

Priced on-the-road with GST without insurance, the C 43 is now RM90,000 more accessible at RM408,888, while the powerful GLC 43 luxury compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) gets a RM70,000 price dip to RM468,888.

"With superior power, dynamic handling, aggressive design and luxurious appointment, this incredible AMG 43 pair of automobiles now come with irresistible value to the passionate Mercedes-AMG driver", said Mercedes-Benz (Passenger Cars) vice president of sales and marketing Mark Raine.

 Raine with the Mercedes-AMG C 43 (left) and GLC 43 4MATIC.

The all-wheel-driven vehicles remain unchanged in terms of their respective offerings, including their 367hp / 520Nm 3.0-litre (2,996cc) twin-turbo V6 engine that's mated to an AMG-tuned nine-speed 9G-TRONIC gearbox (with paddle shifters) to help keep fuel consumption down and accelerative qualities up - allowing them to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 4.7 and 4.9 seconds respectively before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250kph.

Hidden under their sheet metal are the AMG Dynamic Select system (Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual), dedicated Manual mode, start-stop functionality, sailing function, speed-sensitive sports steering system, 360-degree camera footage, reverse-camera with dynamic guidelines, keyless-entry with push-start button, cruise control, powered tailgate with hands-free operation and parking pilot.

Inside, the cabin's notable mentions are its automatic dual-zone climate controls, Artico leather-Dinamica microfiber combination upholstered seats, front powered sports seats with four-way lumbar support and memory function, Burmester surround sound system, DVD player, touchpad controller, COMAND Online, AMG Line interior, rear powered-sunblind, rear door window roller sunblinds,  stowage space package, AMG mats, combination black piano and trapeze-cut aluminium trim, ambient lighting, AMG door inserts and double cup holders

Externally, the C 43 gets fitted with an AMG Line body kit, Night Package, 19-inch AMG five-twin spoke light alloys, LED Intelligent Light system, adaptive highbeam assist plus, power-folding mirrors, rear spoiler lip, underbody protection, adaptive brake lights, a panoramic sunroof to name a few and an AMG ride control sports suspension.

As for the GLC 43, it instead uses an AMG-tuned Air Body Control sports suspension system and gets fitted with larger 21-inch AMG five-twin spoke lightweight alloys, exterior chrome package, black roof rails, brushed-aluminium side running boards with rubber studs and an Easy-Pack load compartment cover.

In conjunction with the launch, the company took the opportunity to announce that Nabil Jeffri  is its first Malaysian AMG brand ambassador.

 Nabil (left) with Raine during the launch of the Mercedes-AMG C 43 and GLC 43 4MATIC.

At 24-years old, Nabil is currently the youngest F1 test driver and is taking part in the highly-acclaimed 24 Hours of Le Mans race after having garnered his experience from racing in the German Formula Three Championship - finishing second with Team Eurointernational in 2014, and in GP2 Series with British team Arden International, representing Malaysia at the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix in Barcelona.

"On behalf of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, it is our pleasure to have Malaysian racing driver, Nabil Jeffri as the face of the Mercedes-AMG brand, representing our new locally-produced Mercedes-AMG C 43," added Mark.


MACC to probe alleged driving licence scam, says JPJ

JPJ says it would not tolerate any corruption. — Bernama
PUTRAJAYA: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) will work with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe allegations by a social media influencer on illegal driving licences or "lesen terbang".

The JPJ said the matter is being taken seriously and the influencer, Azrul Affandi Sobry, would be asked to assist in the investigation.

"We will not compromise on any form of misconduct involving JPJ employees if what Azrul Affandi said about JPJ enforcement members being involved in selling illegal licences is true," it said in a statement here today.

Through a post on social media, Azrul Affandi alleged there were JPJ officers who were involved in selling driving licences illegally by accepting bribes even though (candidates) did not pass the test set at the driving institute.


BMW sticks with rear drive in 2 Series Coupe

                MUNICH: When BMW rolls out the new generation of the 2 Series Coupe to dealers in the coming months, starting at US$37,345 (RM156,000), the German carmaker will continue to rely on rear-wheel drive.

However, the architecture of the 1 Series and 2 Series will no longer be used for this purpose, says the carmaker. Instead, the 3 Series will serve as the basis for the new edition. The M240i, the top model for the time being, comes with all-wheel drive as standard.

Compared with its predecessor, the new two-door model has grown considerably: At 4.54 metres, it is 10cm longer than before, the width has increased by 6cm to 1.84 metres, and the wheelbase of 2.74 metres is now 5cm longer.

According to BMW, this should not only improve handling, but also the space available for occupants. The boot still only holds 390 litres.

An M Performance version will be available right at launch: Starting around US$49,545 (RM206,206), there is the M240i with a three-litre, six-cylinder engine that, according to BMW, produces 374hp, reaches 250kph and manages the sprint from 0 to 100kph in 4.5 seconds.

In addition, there is the 220i as a base model and the diesel 220d with 184hp each. A 230i with 245hp and an M2, whose output BMW has not yet named, will follow later in the range.


First drive of new Volkswagen Tiguan

A competitively priced continental sports utility vehicle (SUV) for the Malaysian masses may sound too good to be true but German marque Volkswagen made it happen. The all-new Volkswagen Tiguan, which is offered in two variants, Comfortline and Highline, now comes priced at RM148,990 and RM168,990 respectively putting it in the same bracket as its Japanese competitors.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM), the distributor of Volkswagen cars in Malaysia, achieved such low prices by locally assembling the new Tiguan in its plant in Pekan, Pahang as well as being certified as an Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV).

Both variants feature the same powertrain - a 1.4 litre TSI engine mated to a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.

It produces 150PS and 250Nm of torque from 1,500rpm to 3,500rpm. It is also frugal with the official fuel consumption figure at 6.7 litres per 100km.

The new Tiguan is bigger in every way compared to its predecessor.

It is 60mm longer, 30mm wider and its wheelbase is 77mm longer.

Being over 50kg lighter than before, this keeps fuel economy high.

Looks-wise, the new Tiguan is now sharper and leaner with an atheletic stance while still maintaining very clean lines across the body.

Between the variants, the big difference can be seen with the headlamps.

The Highline has a sleeker more distinct LED headlamps and daytime running lamps and the grille is decked out in chrome while the Comfortline comes with the no-frills halogen reflector headlamps.

However, both variants offer a lot of features for the price.

The safety elements comes standard with six airbags, driver alert system (rest assist), electronic stability control, anti-lock braking system with brake assist, multi-collision brakes and ISOFIX mounts.

The base-variant Comfortline comes equipped with 17-inch Montana alloys, black roof rails, Park Distance Control, auto lights and wipers, LED tail lamps, Rhombus fabric upholstery, Composition Media eight-inch touchscreen head unit with Bluetooth, SD card, USB, AUX-in, eight speakers and steering paddle shifters.

The Highline has a more premium interior thanks to the Vienna leather upholstery and a fully digital 12.3-inch Active Info Display instrument panel.

There’s also 18-inch Kingston alloys, silver roof rails and LED headlamps with LED daytime running lamps and Dynamic Cornering Assist, and electric tailgate. 3-Zone Climatronic air-conditioning, Park Assist 3.0 for parallel and perpendicular auto parking, ambient lighting, an eight-inch touchscreen system with navigation and reverse camera and an option for MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

The new Tiguan is a five-seater and has a roomy interior for front and rear passengers.

Plus, rear occupants have access to fold up trays with cupholders which are mounted on the back of the front seats.

It is also very practical as it offers a boot space of 615 litres and if you need more space, the rear seats fold 60:40 for a terrific 1,655 litres.

Even the front passenger seat can be folded flat for extra long cargo.

We tried out the new Tiguan recently with a drive to Ipoh, Perak in both the Comfortline and Highline variants.

As both variants feature the same powertrain under the hood, they drive quite similarly and I could hardly tell the ride quality difference between the 17-inch and 18-inch wheels.

The Highline variant has a more premium feel with its leather interior.

Otherwise, both cars offer very low noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels and very comfortable rides.

They pull away nicely at low rpms and are fun to drive even on windy trunk roads.

There was a slalom course set up when we arrived in Ipoh and we discovered the handling and turning radius of the Tiguan to be impressive for its class.

The only thing that didn’t impress me was the exhaust note which tended to sound a bit tepid but that’s a minor complaint.

If you are in the market for a continental SUV, the new Tiguan will definitely impress you with its price, performance and features.

And where aftersales is concerned, VPCM includes five years factory warranty with five years of free roadside assistance and a service interval of 15,000km.


Speed limit reduction, goods vehicles banned from roads over CNY period

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry has announced a road ban for goods-carrying vehicles on Jan 20, 21, 24 and 25 to reduce traffic congestion during the Chinese New Year period.

It said in a statement today that the ban would reduce the risk of road accidents.

"This ban is enforced taking into account the significant increase in traffic, especially for private vehicles returning to home towns. The national speed limit reduction order will also be enforced along with this road ban," according to the statement as reported by Bernama.

Federal and state roads will have the speed limit lowered by 10kph. Federal roads will see the limit lowered from 90kph to 80kph, while state roads will see a temporary reduction to 70kph from the usual 80kph.


BMW has M performance parts available for new M3 and M4

                MUNICH: BMW's M performance division has provided numerous parts in the areas of drive, brake and suspension systems for the newly unveiled M3 and M3 Competition as well as the M4 and M4 Competition.

The parts are said to sharpen these cars even more with greater weight savings and added performance.

Available for these cars is the lightweight ceramic-coated titanium exhaust system with carbon or matching titanium tips which help shave off 5kg from the standard exhaust system.

The coil-over suspension is able to reduce the car's ride-height from 5.0mm to 20mm to help further lower the vehicle's centre of gravity.

Stopping power comes from the M Performance sports brake pads to shorten braking distances and have a high level of thermal resistance.

There will be extensive use of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) which can be found in the form of the front splitter, Aero Flicks, side air breathers and side skirts.

At the rear, there's also the winglets, rear spoiler and rear diffuser that's also made out of CFRP.

For wheel options, there's the 19 (front) and 20-inch (rear) Y-spoke style 963M forged wheels in Frozen Gunmetal Grey with M Performance lettering.

If that doesn't whet the appetite then might we suggest the larger 20 (front) and 21-inch (rear) cross-spoke style-1000M forged wheels in Gold Bronze matt or Jet-Black matt with M Performance lettering.

Inside, customers are able to upgrade the interior both visually and functionally with carbon-insert doorsills, "M" colours and edging in leather with contrasting stitches, matching front and rear floor mats and a carbon interior trim that set against the combination of open-pored matt-coated carbon and Alcantara.

An Alcantara kneepad on the centre console rounds off the range of interior features.

Drivers will be able to opt for the Pro steering wheel wrapped in Alcantara with a motorsport-inspired blue centre marker on the 12 o’clock position and a handstitched M seam finished in M colours.

Another option would be to have the steering wheel trimmed in a combination of carbon and Alcantara or carbon and leather instead.

And to add more "weave" to the interior are carbon paddle-shifters that are covered in open-powered carbon fabric instead of the usual chromed surfaced.

There are also the LED door projectors with a choice of either the "M" logo and other M Performance motifs that can be projected onto the road.

While the keyFOB can be protected by Alcantara with carbon insert, the vehicle can also receive the same kind of protection with an indoor cover that helps to emphasise certain design features such as the double kidney grilles while showcasing its colours M Logo and M Performance lettering.

The cover is made out of elastic, breathable polyester with a soft lining that's said to be gentle on paintwork and is machine washable.


New President and CEO, and vice-president of Customer Services for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz has appointed Sagree Sardien as President & CEO, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia & Head of Region, Mercedes-Benz Cars SEA II and Edmin Naidoo as vice-president of Customer Services MBC Malaysia & SEA II.

Sardien's appointment took effect on June 1 while Naidoo's was effective July 1.

She takes over from the incumbent, Dr Claus Weidner, completes his tenure in Malaysia since 2015 and Naidoo’s new role commences as Jeffrey Simon finishes his three-year term in Malaysia.

With over 20 years automotive experience and 13 years of those with Daimler, Sardien started as the Head of Operations in South Africa for Daimler’s Fleet Management division.

During her tenure, she held various leadership positions across the Daimler organisations in Fleet operations, Logistics, Sales, Product management and Customer Services, in South Africa.

In 2018, Sardien moved to Stuttgart, Germany, where she was the Head of Sales for Region Overseas markets, comprising Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa.

Sardien said: “I am excited to join the Malaysia and SEA II regional team. In the last few years, Mercedes-Benz has grown from strength to strength in the premium automotive segment in the region. It is an incredible and opportune time to join the company, and I look forward to contributing to the implementation of our ambition to shape the future of mobility and
support the transformation of the automotive environment.”

Sardien was also responsible for the implementation of the Retail of the Future business model in the South African market, transforming the sales environment to Model D between 2016 - 2018, where Mercedes-Benz maintained the #1 Premium Brand position in the country.

Edmin Naidoo, has been with the Mercedes-Benz brand for over 25 years, with experience in the Customer Service retail and wholesale business.

Prior to taking on the current role here in Malaysia, Naidoo served as the Director Customer Services at Mercedes-Benz Australia Pacific, preceding his 15-year stint at Mercedes-Benz South Africa.

In collaboration with the Customer Service team of Region Overseas, Naidoo was also responsible for introducing best
practice steering tools, digital KPI dashboards and Customer Services chat-bot for retailers, advancing the standards of digital transformation in the region.

Naidoo is passionate about introducing digitized concepts to the market, enabling customers and retailers to enjoy the
advantages of the Digital Service Drive Transformation.

Naidoo said: “We are entering an exciting time where innovation including data at the core allows us to create hyper-personalized ecosystems, where our customers can experience true Mercedes moments that are Best-in-Class.

“I am excited to join the SEA team to build upon our achievements in shaping the future of service products that offer our customers a Mercedes of Service Experience,” he said.


China takes steps to heal virus-hit economy as infections fall

Workers wearing protective suits check customers' health QR codes at the entrance of a re-opened shopping mall in in Wuhan on Monday. — AP
WUHAN: China ramped up efforts on Monday to heal the world’s second-biggest economy as health authorities reported a further drop in new coronavirus cases, although the country remains wary of carriers of the disease coming from abroad and infected people who exhibit no symptoms.

The city of Wuhan, the source of the pandemic, reported no new cases for a sixth day, as businesses reopened and residents set about reclaiming a more normal life after a lockdown of almost two months.

Smartly turned-out staff waited in masks and gloves to greet customers at entrances to the newly reopened Wuhan International Plaza, home to boutiques of luxury brands such as Cartier and Louis Vuitton.

“The Wuhan International Plaza is very representative (of the city),” said Zhang Yu, 29. “So its reopening really makes me feel this city is coming back to life.”

Electric carmaker Tesla Inc has also reopened a showroom here.

Sunday’s tally of 31 new cases in mainland China — comprising one locally transmitted infection and 30 imported cases — was down from 45 the previous day, the National Health Commission said.

As infections fall, policymakers are scrambling to revitalise an economy nearly paralysed by months of curbs aimed at controlling the spread of the flu-like disease.

On Monday, the central bank unexpectedly cut the interest rate on reverse repurchase agreements by 20 basis points, the largest in nearly five years.

The government is pushing businesses and factories to reopen, as it rolls out fiscal and monetary stimulus to spur recovery from what is feared to be an outright economic contraction in the quarter to March.

China’s exports and imports could worsen as the pandemic spreads, depressing demand both at home and abroad, Xin Guobin, the vice minister of industry and information technology, said on Monday.

Virus concerns

Worried about a second wave triggered by returning Chinese, many of them students, China slash international flights from Sunday for an indefinite period, after it began denying entry to almost all foreigners a day earlier.

Average daily arrivals at airports this week are expected to be about 4,000, down from 25,000 last week, an official of the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on Monday.

The return to work has also prompted concern about potential domestic infections as travel curbs are rolled back, especially regarding carriers who exhibit no, or very mild, symptoms of the highly contagious virus.

Hubei authorities say 4.6 million people in the province returned to work by Saturday, with 2.8 million of them heading for other parts of China.

Most of the departing migrant workers went to the southern provinces of Guangdong and Fujian, the eastern provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and northeast China.

Northwestern Gansu province reported a new case of a traveller from the central province of Hubei, who drove back with a virus-free health code.

Authorities in Zhejiang province said asymptomatic patients with pneumonia would face the same quarantine conditions as confirmed cases, including 14 days in isolation centres.

Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday that China will strengthen screening, quarantine and treatment of cases including people who were in close contact with confirmed or asymptomatic coronavirus patients.

China is likely to release data on asymptomatic patients, state-controlled financial magazine Yicai reported, citing an unnamed expert close to policy-making. No time frame was given, however.

Many asymptomatic people are infected patients undergoing an incubation period, and in some areas, up to 70% of such asymptomatic carriers will eventually become confirmed cases, Yicai quoted the expert as saying.

At Wuhan International Plaza, shoppers had to queue 1-1/2 metres apart for temperature checks while flashing “green” mobile telephone codes attesting to a clean bill of health.

“Being able to be healthy and leave the house, and meet other colleagues who are also healthy is a very happy thing,” said Wang Xueman, a cosmetics sales representative.


China rolls out fresh policies to boost hydrogen vehicle sales

                BEIJING: China, the world’s biggest automobile market, rolled out fresh policies to support hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to improve the industry’s supply chain and technologies, the finance ministry said today.

China is also the world’s largest market for new energy vehicles (NEVs), which include battery electric vehicles as well as plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

While previous policies to support NEV makers had offered subsidies on sales, the fresh rollout will require local governments and companies to build a more mature supply chain and business model for the industry.

Local governments and companies need to prove their joint projects are able to lower the price of hydrogen fuel, increase the number of hydrogen-charging stations, enlarge hydrogen fuel cell vehicle fleets and improve related technologies, according to the document.

Authorities will offer rewards to the projects after an assessment of these key performance areas, the ministry said.

The rollout comes a few days after Reuters reported that China’s policymakers and the government may publish a fresh policy, citing people familiar with the matter.

China has over 7,000 hydrogen vehicles, compared with over 4 million pure battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Global automakers including Toyota Motor and Hyundai Motor have already announced launch plans for hydrogen vehicles in China.


2016 Detroit auto show: Highlights

                DETROIT: Highlights from day one of the auto show on Monday in Detroit, where luxury ruled the day as automakers celebrated record-breaking US sales.

‘Thor’s Hammer’
Signature‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights helped Volvo’s luxury XC90 capture the show’s coveted 2016 sport utility of the year award. The Swedish automaker later unveiled the latest version of its luxury sedan, the S90, with classy clean lines and plenty of chrome details.

Hyundai’s leap into luxury
Looking to replicate the success of Japanese rivals Toyota, Honda and Nissan, Korea’s Hyundai launched a separate luxury brand - Genesis - saying “our intent is to take on the very best luxury brands in the world and to beat them.” It revealed the G90, which will be the brand’s flagship sedan as it works to build Genesis to six models by 2020.

Lexus pumps some iron
Lexus pumped passion and plenty of power into its new sports car: the LC 500 coupe. The Japanese automaker hopes its standout design and powerful stance will draw new customers to the previously staid brand.

Volkswagen looks to shift gears
Embattled German automaker Volkswagen sought to shift gears away from its pollution-cheating scandal by showing off a concept for a plug-in electric off-roader: the Tiguan GTE sport utility vehicle. The rugged vehicle has a range of 20 miles (32 kilometers) on pure electric power and 580 miles on a single tank of gasoline.
VW’s luxury Audi brand revealed the fifth generation of its hydrogen fuel cell concept, the h-tron quattro.BMW flexes muscles
BMW rolled out the M2 and X4 M40i SUV in their world debuts. Sharing space with the two new models were the X1, 7 Series, 330e PHEV, i8 and i3.

Honda and Ford go heavy-duty
Honda and Ford bucked the luxury trend with muscular new pickups. “This truck is cool, tough and athletic -- like I used to be,” Honda executive vice president John Mendel quipped about the Ridgeline. Ford’s F-150 Raptor SuperCrew offers more legroom and storage and plenty of off-road agility for rock crawling and sand running.

Chrysler woos moms with minivan
Fiat Chrysler is hoping to woo moms back into the dreaded minivan with a major revamp of its Town and Country, which it renamed the Pacifica and insists will “reinvent” the segment. Loaded with the latest in technology, safety features and conveniences, it has room for five car seats. The hybrid version will get up to 80 miles per gallon.


Vettel anticipates Aston Martin move like 'little boy in a toy shop'

Vettel aims to return to winning form with Aston Martin after a disappointing term at the Scuderia. — Reuters
BERLIN: Sebastian Vettel would have enjoyed a first few laps for his new team Aston Martin today.

But he was snubbed because the test drives in Abu Dhabi are reserved mainly for Formula One rookies like Mick Schumacher, although ex-champ Fernando Alonso managed to sneak in as well ahead of his planned return to Renault after some years outside F1.

So the four-time world champion Vettel went home instead on Sunday after finishing 14th in the season finale and a career-worst 13th in the championship at the end of a six-year term at Ferrari.

As a result of the largely disappointing term at the Scuderia, where he never managed to be as successful as Michael Schumacher who won five titles there, Vettel is now looking forward to his new challenge.

"It is like being a little boy in a toy shop for the first time," the 33-year-old German said. "I am starting a new challenge. I am really looking forward to it."

Aston Martin make their debut as a works team rebranded from Racing Point, the fourth-place finishers in the 2020 constructors' list, two better than Ferrari.

Vettel takes the place of unfortunate Sergio Perez to drive along with Lance Stroll, whose billionaire father is the main investor.

Vettel won Red Bull's first and so far only world titles 2010-2013, and at Aston Martin they will be hoping to help challenge the top teams led by Mercedes with the help of his expertise and 53 grands prix victories.

The capture of Vettel "is a clear statement of the team’s ambition to establish itself as one of the most competitive names in the sport," the team said when the deal was announced two months ago.

"Sebastian is a proven champion and brings a winning mentality that matches our own ambitions for the future as Aston Martin F1 Team."

Aston Martin was the only real option for Vettel to stay in the sport after being told before the season in spring that he was no longer wanted at Ferrari who chose to focus on team-mate Charles Leclerc.

The partnership failed to deliver Ferrari's first drivers' title since 2007 as desired but they parted ways in a dignified manner.

"This race is not one I will remember. But what I will remember are the gestures of all the team members, the mechanics, the engineers, the catering guys and so on ... and will carry it with me forever," Vettel said.

"I will miss Charles. Obviously he gave me a headache here and there, and we are at very different stages of our lives and careers. But he’s certainly a good kid and I think he will go a long way, he will be the man of the future. I hope he gets the car he deserves."

Team principal Mattia Binotto highlighted that Vettel was the third most successful Ferrari driver with 16 wins.

He leaves us many happy memories and also a few regrets for what might have been. It’s a shame, but that’s life, for a driver and for a team," Binotti said.

"One thing is for sure, even if as from next year he will be a rival on track, he will always be part of the Ferrari family."


Iveco to fully own venture with Nikola on electric, hydrogen trucks

                MILAN: Iveco Group will buy full ownership of its joint venture with US start-up Nikola Corp, which develops battery electric and fuel cell heavy-duty trucks, the Italian truck maker said today.

With the move, Iveco will cut ties with the troubled Nikola, after forming the joint venture in 2019 to help the Italian group, then part of CNH Industrial and a latecomer to electrification, catch up with large European rivals such as Daimler Truck and Volvo.

Nikola said in February poor demand had hurt delivery of its battery-powered trucks, that its cash reserves had dwindled and that it expected 2023 gross margins to be deep in the red.

Despite Nikola's problems, battery electric trucks developed by the venture based in Ulm, Germany are already circulating in the US, while orders are being collected in Europe. Fuel cell hydrogen trucks are expected to hit the road next year.

Iveco said in a statement that the deal announced today would produce a 44-million-euro (RM22mil) one-off negative impact on its first-quarter income statement that it expected to absorb through cash flow generation, without changing its cash flow target for this year.

Equita analyst Martino De Ambroggi said the move would not have a relevant impact on Iveco as any contribution from Nikola was expected only beyond the group's current business plan.

As part of the agreement, Iveco will focus on Europe for the further development and commercialisation of its own battery electric (BEV) and fuel cell (FCEV) electric trucks, while Nikola will concentrate its operations in North America, the two groups said in a joint statement.

Iveco will have free access to and continue developing vehicle control software for the jointly developed BEVs and FCEVs. Nikola will be granted some of Iveco's technology licence for North America and related component supply.

Iveco's overall investment, through available liquidity, will be partly in cash, for US$35 million, and partly in shares, with the purchase of 20 million Nikola shares.

Iveco will retain a "meaningful" amount of Nikola shares, they said.


Aston Martin Valhalla concept arrives for Southeast Asian tour

                SINGAPORE: Aston Martin's transformational Valhalla concept car has arrived in Southeast Asia.

The driver-focused mid-engined hybrid supercar is in Singapore ahead of a series of exclusive appointments and public displays at Aston Martin Singapore until Monday, Feb 20.

The Valhalla is a formidable technological showcase, featuring chassis, aerodynamic and electronics expertise forged in Formula 1 and cutting-edge hybrid powertrain technology.

Originally planned with a mid-engined 950bhp petrol/battery-electric powertrain, the Valhalla gets carbon fibre structure and aerodynamics shaped by the pioneering philosophy first seen in the revolutionary Aston Martin Valkyrie.

With further development, Valhalla is now set to produce 1,012PS through its full hybrid system.

Its all-new PHEV powertrain features electric motors and a rear-mid-mounted 4.0-litre twin-turbo bespoke V8 engine with a flat-plane crankshaft for increased responsiveness to push out 800PS.

The 150kW/400V battery hybrid system utilises a pair of E-Motors with one mounted on the front axle and the other on the rear axle.

The electric system contributes a further 204PS for a headline combined power output of 1,012PS.

When driven in EV mode battery power is directed exclusively to the front axle.

In other driving modes battery power is split between the front and rear axles, the percentage sent to each axle constantly varies according to driving demands.

In certain situations, 100% of battery power can be sent to the rear axle, supplementing the full force of the V8 engine for maximum performance.

Transmission is an all-new 8-speed DCT exclusively designed and built for Aston Martin.

This new paddle-shift gearbox has been developed specifically for the hybrid era featuring e-reverse and Electronic Limited-Slip Differential (E-Diff) on the rear axle for maximum traction and handling agility.

Running in EV-only mode, Valhalla will be capable of a maximum of 130kph and has a zero-emission range of 15km.

Unleashing all 1,012PS the Valhalla will reach a top speed of 350kph and will complete the sprint from 0-100kph in just 2.5 seconds.

In terms of outright track capability, a stunning 6:30 Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time is being targeted.

Built around a new carbon fibre tub for maximum stiffness with minimum weight penalty, the Valhalla gets Formula 1 style push rod front suspension complete with inboard mounted springs and dampers reducing unsprung mass.

Together with the rear-end’s multi-link design, Valhalla uses Multimatic Variable Spring rate and Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) Damper units providing adjustable ride frequency for exceptional performance on road and track.

Uncorrupted by the need for aggressive wings that jut into the airstream, Valhalla’s predominantly carbon fibre body blends function and beauty in a manner that befits a new generation of mid-engined supercar.

Spectacular forward-hinged dihedral doors bring drama to the beginning and end of every journey.

Other features include full LED Matrix headlights with adaptive functionality and high-beam assist, Dual Zone Air Conditioning, Auto Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Active Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear View Parking Camera with Surround View option.

Aston Martin chief creative officer Marek Reichman said the Valhalla is an opportunity for the brand's design team to express extreme performance with fresh form and proportion, and to capture the brand’s bold future-forward approach.

“Though the legacy of Valkyrie is clear, Valhalla is now a more mature, fully resolved piece of design. One which combines the pure aerodynamic function you would expect from a marque competing in Formula One® together with the beautiful form, striking proportions and exemplary detailing for which Aston Martin is renowned,” he said.


Nissan and Renault reaffirm alliance, but avoid talk of Nissan chairmanship

Senard speaking to journalists upon his arrival at Haneda International airport in Tokyo on Thursday. — AFP
TOKYO: Top executives from Nissan and Renault on Thursday reaffirmed the importance of an alliance that has been pressured by the ousting of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn, but avoided discussing the potentially contentious issue of Nissan’s next chairman.

The newly appointed chairman of France’s Renault SA, Jean-Dominique Senard, arrived in Japan on Thursday for two days of meetings with Nissan. Speculation has swirled about the future of the alliance, and whether Senard himself would assume the chairmanship of the Japanese automaker.

Some in Japan see the alliance as unequal. But analysts say the three-way tie-up, which also includes smaller automaker Mitsubishi Motors, is necessary to compete better with rivals such as Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corp.

Senard’s visit is the first by Renault’s top brass since Ghosn was arrested in Tokyo in November over allegations of financial misconduct. The downfall of one of the world’s best-known executives has stunned the global auto industry and heightened tension between Renault and Nissan Motor Co.

Senard met Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa and Mitsubishi’s Osamu Masuko for talks that lasted nearly two hours, Masuko told reporters outside his home late on Thursday. The three reaffirmed the importance of the alliance, Masuko said.

Separately, Saikawa told reporters that they did not talk about the issues related to the chairmanship of Nissan, or a full merger between Nissan and Renault, indicating that the discussions were more mundane.

“There were some operational issues we needed to discuss, so that was the focus of our conversation,” Saikawa said.

Some Nissan executives have long been unhappy with what they see as Renault’s outsized influence over larger Nissan. Renault holds 43 percent in Nissan while the Japanese automaker, in turn, holds a 15 percent, non-voting stake in the French firm.

Upon his arrival in Japan, Senard appeared to try to avoid putting strain on the alliance, telling reporters that it was not the time to discuss whether he would also take over as chairman of Nissan, Japan’s Jiji news agency reported.

Senard was appointed chairman of the French automaker three weeks ago, and is also expected to be named to Nissan’s board, given Renault’s stake. He is also expected to meet board members and management teams.

The visit is aimed as a friendly, introductory call, according to sources familiar with the matter. But tension has been building between the two sides, with Renault initially backing Ghosn until he was forced to resign as chairman and CEO last month.

Driving force

The issue of the chairmanship of Nissan is now particularly important because the Japanese firm has said one of the reasons Ghosn was able to carry out his alleged fiscal misconduct was a concentration of power in one executive.

Ghosn himself was the driving force in the alliance, which was sealed in 1999 when Nissan was rescued from near-bankruptcy and enlarged in 2016 to include Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Ghosn had been pushing for a deeper tie-up between Nissan and Renault, including possibly a full merger, despite reservations at Nissan.

Senard’s appointment in late January helped quell a leadership debate which erupted after Nissan dismissed Ghosn immediately after his arrest while Renault had initially stuck by the executive, and has opened a path for Renault and Nissan re-examine the operations and structure of their alliance.

Joining Renault from tire maker Michelin, Senard is generally seen by Nissan as a welcome outsider who could provide more balance to the alliance, over which Nissan has said Ghosn held excessive control given his roles as chairman of Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, along with being Renault CEO.

Senard’s meeting with Saikawa would be the second since they first met face-to-face late last month.

Meanwhile, Ghosn, in custody at a detention centre here for nearly three months, on Wednesday replaced his chief attorney with a legal team headed by one of Japan’s most fiery lawyers in a move seen as taking on a more aggressive strategy in fighting his charges, which he denies.

Renault announced on Thursday that revenue and profit fell in 2018, hit by collapsing diesel sales, exchange-rate setbacks and a withdrawal from the Iranian market. Nissan earlier in the week said its annual profit will plumb six-year lows due to waning global sales and an ongoing slump in its US operations.


2019 BMW 8 Series Coupe: Power and luxury

                MUNICH: The 2019 BMW 8 Series Coupe adds a brand new chapter to the Bavarian premium carmaker’s long history of sensational sports cars.

The new model came through its baptism of fire in the guise of the BMW M8 GTE at the FIA WEC endurance races and in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) held in North America.

The production car now makes it possible to experience outstandingly dynamic performance in an exceedingly luxurious setting.

Heading the model range is the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe which is powered by a newly developed 530hp V8 4.4-litre petrol engine with M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology.

Thanks to a 68hp increase in output with no impact on weight compared to the engine it replaces, the new V8 is now able to generate 530 hp, which is on tap between 5,500 and 6,000rpm.

Maximum torque of 750 Nm is available over a wide rev range from 1,800 to 4,600 rpm for prolonged forward thrust.

The new BMW M850i xDrive Coupe accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds.

The standard specification for the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe also includes exceptionally powerful M Sport brakes along with 20-inch M light-alloy wheels with high-performance tyres.

This BMW M Performance model is also instantly recognisable by its exclusive exterior appointments in Cerium Grey, an M rear spoiler and illuminated door sills bearing the model name.

These are complemented by equipment features that also form part of the M Sport package available for the new BMW 840d xDrive Coupe, including multifunction seats, M leather steering wheel and interior trim strips in a stainless steel mesh design.

The M Sport package additionally comprises 19-inch M light-alloy wheels, M Sport brakes and illuminated door sills with M logo.

This BMW M Performance model will be launched in November 2018 together with the BMW 840d xDrive Coupe featuring an extraordinarily potent six-cylinder in-line diesel unit with 320hp.

The unprecedented use of a diesel engine in this segment produces a delightful mix of supreme pulling power and excellent fuel economy.

The 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line diesel unit with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology delivers a maximum output of 320hp and peak torque of 680Nm, which is available as low down as 1,750rpm.

The engine employs multi-stage turbocharging technology and its performance characteristics permit relaxed cruising at low engine speeds, while also enabling the car to sprint to 100km/h from rest in only 4.9 seconds.

The car’s low-slung design, an elongated silhouette with a slim window graphic and a roofline flowing elegantly into the rear with distinctive “double-bubble” contouring, a long wheelbase and a wide track are the defining elements of the BMW 8 Series Coupe’s proportions.

With exterior dimensions of 4,843 mm in length, 1,902 mm in width, 1,341 mm in height and a wheelbase of 2,822 mm, the two-door car adopts an extremely powerful stance on the road.

The sports car’s immense drive power is visualised to stunning effect by the elaborate, jutting design of the front apron, the large air intakes – which assume an even more imposing appearance on the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe and in conjunction with the M Sport package – and the precise contours of the bonnet.

The low-down BMW kidney grille is hexagonal in shape, with its elements framed by a single-piece surround.

The LED headlights are the slimmest of any BMW model to date.

An almost fully sealed underbody, active air flap control and Air Curtains including Air Breathers help to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the new BMW 8 Series Coupe’s streamlined body.

This distinctive contouring also graces the optional carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof, which is available for the first time on a series-production model from the core BMW brand and lowers the car’s centre of gravity even further.

In the cabin, the rear backrest can be split 50 : 50 as standard and folded down to increase the capacity of the 420-litre luggage compartment.

The standard equipment for the new BMW 8 Series Coupe includes the Adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers.

Integral Active Steering is also standard; it reduces the turning circle when manoeuvring, increases agility and makes changing lanes or taking corners at high speeds even more effortless.

The inclusion of the BMW Operating System 7.0 display and control concept as standard on the new BMW 8 Series Coupe makes sure the driver is supplied with the right information at the right time.

Customisable and personalised displays can be called up in both the instrument cluster and the 10.25-inch Control Display.

Numerous cutting-edge driver assistance systems are available to boost the comfort and safety of the new BMW 8 Series Coupe, in particular.

The line-up includes Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, the Steering and lane control assistant, the Lane Change Warning and Lane Departure Warning systems, the Lane Keeping Assistant with side collision protection and evasion aid, BMW Night Vision, as well as the Crossing traffic warning, Priority warning and Wrong-way warning systems.

Besides steering, the Parking Assistant takes over the job of controlling the accelerator and brakes. The system also comprises the Reversing Assistant, which makes it possible to reverse easily for a distance of up to 50 metres by steering the vehicle back along the exact path it recently drove forwards.


Automakers exploiting VR to keep boredom at bay in autonomous cars

                SHANGHAI: Audi, Nissan and other car makers are banking on talking cartoon characters and other virtual reality experiences to keep drivers and other occupants of future autonomous vehicles entertained, auto industry executives said.

Automakers have long focused on getting drivers to sit tight and pay attention to the road. Now, as the industry moves to self-driving cars and drivers become passengers, they face a new problem: how to tackle passengers’ boredom?

“Once customers do not need to drive anymore...then the question is what kind of things can we offer to customers inside this car,” Boris Meiners, senior director of Audi China’s Digital Business and Customer Experience, told Reuters on the sidelines of the CES Asia technology tradeshow in Shanghai this week.

Startup holoride, co-founded by an Audi subsidiary, for example, demonstrated at the show how it wants to turn road trips into virtual reality (VR) experiences, allowing passengers to swim with whales or through sunken ships in the deep sea while on a drive.

Japanese car maker Nissan showcased a set of goggles for drivers and passengers which could deliver real-time information and project a talking cartoon character which communicates with the wearer.

“We want to fulfil people’s emotional needs,” said Tetsuro Ueda, expert leader at the Nissan Research Centre.

“Rather than the driver, we want to focus on the riding experience for all passengers, including the driver. Because when it comes to the stage of autonomous driving, the driver’s control is less and less, and the interaction with the surrounding passengers is increasing,” Ueda said.

Other global car makers, large technology companies and startups which are pouring capital into developing self-driving vehicles include Tesla Inc, Alphabet Inc’s Waymo and Uber Technologies.

While studies show that it will take time for the public to trust riding in fully autonomous vehicles, companies say they need to start investing in anticipation that the vehicles would eventually catch on.

Audi’s Meiners and Nissan’s Ueda said the virtual experiences their firms are developing would likely only be deployed when the industry reaches “Level 4”, or fully autonomous standards, in which the car can handle all aspects of driving in most circumstances with no human intervention.

“Many engineers are not confident about the rapid implementation of self-driving technology. So these virtual reality attempts may not come soon,” said Yale Zhang, head of Shanghai-based consultancy Automotive Foresight.

Nonetheless, such innovations were popular with attendees at the CES Asia show, attracting the likes of Gao Liang, a 25-year-old engineer who played a game in a Mercedes Benz car that simulated a self-driving vehicle.

“It is so exciting to play a car racing game in a running vehicle,” said Gao, who had just finished the game in the car that shot out air based on the speed and direction of his car’s placement in the game.


Mercedes-Benz fires up spring/summer fashion campaign

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz has launched a fashion campaign and short film to show off its four door coupé, the CLA, with some help from a Swedish director, a British museum, and a German model.

Director Christian Larson had worked with Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Kylie Minogue before helming "Burning Desire" for Mercedes-Benz; musician Eliot Sumner works in the same field as her father, Sting.

Marc Jacobs model Lucie Von Alten had already worked with fashion designer David Koma for London Fashion Week in February, with Koma overseeing creation of the Mercedes-Benz Spring / Summer 2017 Fashion Campaign.

The promotional short, "Burning Desire," is intended to "challenge the traditional concept of campaign imagery" and "personify the rebellious nature of the CLA promoting confidence and individuality," explained the automotive brand's Sport & Lifestyle Marketing Director.

Fire is used throughout due to its nature as "the most commanding visual metaphor for desire," Mercedes-Benz said in a prepared statement.


BMW introduces X4 M40i and MINI convertible

LONDON: With the introduction of the new BMW X4 M40i, the successful BMW X4 series has gained a new top model. In the Sports Activity Coupe segment (SAC), the BMW X4 M40i is setting new standards with even more keenly honed driving dynamics, a high degree of emotionalism and singular exclusivity.

The exterior of the new BMW X4 M40i demonstrates clearly the high standards set by BMW M Performance automobiles. Exclusive accents of colour on the front of the vehicle and the side mirrors finished in metallic Ferric Grey as well as the exclusive 20-inch M light-alloy double-spoke wheels with the Ultra High Performance tyre mix (optional) and the sports exhaust system with valve control and Chrome Black tailpipes on both sides emphasize the unique character of the new BMW X4 M40i.

In the interior too, the typical character of the BMW M is always present. The M leather steering wheel, the M gear shift lever, the sport seats and model-specific door sills provide a foretaste of imminent driving pleasure, just like the “X4 M40i” digital lettering on the instrument cluster.

A newly developed M performance TwinPower Turbo inline six-cylinder petrol engine celebrates its world premiere in the new BMW X4 M40i. This petrol engine delivers 360hp at between 5,800 and 6,000 rpm from its three-litre capacity, providing a maximum torque of 465Nm.

With this high-performance engine and the advanced M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology, the BMW X4 M40i accelerates in less than five seconds to 100 km/h and can reach a top speed of 250 kph (electronically limited).

Meanwhile, the new edition of the first and still the only premium convertible in the small car segment is continued with the new MINI Convertible. The open-top driving fun on four seats combined with optimised qualities in terms of sportiness, efficiency, comfort, functionality, safety, connectivity and quality of both materials and workmanship.

Unmistakable exterior design; precise balance between top-class elegance and sporty flair; characteristic proportions with powerfully sculpted surfaces and a dynamically elongated silhouette; up-to-date interpretation of classic MINI design features: circular headlamps and rear lights with chrome surrounds, hexagonal radiator grille, black peripheral body surround, side turn indicator elements; large selection of body finishes including the variant Caribbean Aqua metallic presented here for the first time.

It features the high-quality textile soft top with fully automatic opening and closing mechanism as well as sliding roof function. The opening and closing of the soft top and side windows takes 18 seconds and is also possible during travel at speeds of up to 30kph.

The new MINI has grown too with increased dimensions as compared to predecessor model by 98mm in length, 44mm in width and 1mm in height; longer wheelbase (an increase of 28mm); larger track width (42mm at the front,  34mm at the rear).

The luggage volume has been expanded by 25% to 215 litres with closed top and 160 litres with open top; standard trim includes rear backrest with split fold, enlarged through-loading facility and Easy Load function.

The characteristic interior design with horizontally structured cockpit, circular or elliptical contours for displays, air vents and door trim elements as well as high-quality colour and material combinations; display and operating concept including instrument panel on the steering column, central instrument with new functions, optional LED lighting display and red start/stop button at the centre of the toggle switch bar in the lower section of the centre console.

The new MINI Convertible comes with five engine variants; new engine generation with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology; 3-cylinder petrol engines with 102hp in the MINI One Convertible and 136hp in the MINI Cooper Convertible, 4-cylinder petrol engine with 192hp in the MINI Cooper S Convertible, 3-cylinder diesel engine with 116hp in the MINI Cooper D Convertible and a 4-cylinder diesel engine with 170hp in the MINI Cooper SD Convertible.


Tesla removes 'autopilot' from China website after Beijing crash

 A man looking around Tesla Motors' Model S P85 at its showroom in Beijing - Reuters
SHANGHAI/SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla removed the word "autopilot" and a Chinese term for "self-driving" from its China website after a driver in Beijing who crashed in "autopilot" mode complained that the car maker overplayed the function's capability and misled buyers.

The Tesla driver crashed earlier this month while on a Beijing commuter highway after the car failed to avoid a vehicle parked on the left side, partially in the roadway, damaging both cars but causing no injuries.

It was the first known such crash in China, though it follows a fatal accident in Florida earlier this year that put pressure on the auto executives and regulators to tighten rules for automated driving.

"At Tesla we are continuously making improvements, including to translations," a Tesla spokeswoman said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

"We’ve been in the process of addressing any discrepancies across languages for many weeks. Timing had nothing to do with current events or articles."

References to autopilot and the term "zidong jiashi", which most literally translates as self-driving although also means autopilot, were taken off the webpage for the Model S sedan by late Sunday, according to a comparison with an archived version of page.

Both terms previously appeared several times on the site. Instead, a phrase that translates as "self-assisted driving" is used.

Tesla China staff have additionally undergone training in response to the Aug 2 crash to re-emphasise that employees must always keep two hands on the wheel when demonstrating the autopilot function, according to a Tesla employee who was not authorized to speak to the media.

Reuters was first to report last week that Tesla said it downloaded data from the Beijing car and confirmed it was in autopilot mode at the time of the crash, although the driver was not detected to have his hands on the wheel.

Other Tesla drivers interviewed by Reuters said China sales staff took their hands off the wheel while demonstrating the function. Under Chinese law, drivers are required to keep two hands on the wheel at all times.

The crash is another hiccup for Tesla in the Chinese auto market, the world's largest, after it initially struggled with distribution and charging issues.

Various Chinese government ministries did not respond to requests for comment on the Tesla crash and self-driving policies.


Lexus whips up the buzz on ES ahead of Beijing debut

                TOKYO: Following a teaser of the new ES grille last week, Lexus has released today an image of the whole car and a video clip to go with it.

The face of the next ES is characterised by a polarising spindle grille and with the revelation of the whole car exterior, we can see that it looks sportier as intended. Lexus will probably reveal the interior at its global launch on April 25 at the Beijing Auto Show. Just like its exterior styling, we can expect the new ES interior to take some styling cues from the flagship LS, which is no bad thing.

First impressions indicate the seventh-generation ES is about the same size as the outgoing model but the wheelbase could be stretched a little to introduce more rear legroom.

The video clip highlights a distinctive boot lid spoiler and taillights.

According to Lexus, the new ES is "more than just a pretty face" and that it will "transform the concept of comfort for luxury consumers all over the world." The ES name stands for "Executive Sedan".

The new ES mid-size sedan is based on the Toyota New Global Architecture, and promises to be lighter and offers better packaging than the ageing GS. In Europe, it is expected to replace the GS which is not selling well.

reveal the whole car Sometimes images of a new car are leaked online and you have to wonder if it's the manufacturer itself that's actually the source of the supposed "leak." But when a leaked image appears online and the manufacturer concerned quickly releases its own official image that isn't a whole lot different from the leak, it seems like the automaker is playing catch-up.

That's how it appears to be with Lexus and its new ES sedan, which saw a leaked image of the front grille appear online before an official image that's remarkably similar to the leak was put out by the company.

Regardless of how and when the imag


Waze makes itself more useful with speed limit feature

                PETALING JAYA: Waze has added speed limits to promote safety and helps users avoid tickets

To see speed limits, the Waze user don’t need to change a thing. If he is driving over the limit, a visual alert will appear on the Waze speedometer. It will stay there until the car's speed drops below the limit.

For the time being the new feature in Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, El Salvador, France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, New Zealand, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad, Tobago and Uruguay.

The user can customise the alert to appear either when the speed limit is reached, or when it exceeds the limit by 5, 10 or 15%.

Other Waze features that promote road safety are audio alerts with street names, hands-free, voice controlled settings to keep hands on the wheel and eyes on road and push notifications to let user know about unusual traffic on a route.


2016 Detroit auto show: Acura Precision Concept signals a bolder future

DETROIT: The Acura Precision Concept model made its world debut on Tuesday at the 2016 North American International Auto Show here, pointing toward a bolder, more distinctive future for Acura vehicle design. The Acura Precision Concept was developed by the Acura Design Studio in California to express the Acura brand DNA of "Precision Crafted Performance."

With an emphasis on high-contrast details and the intersection of modern, sheer surfaces and muscular, organic sculpting, the Acura Precision Concept communicates Acura's focus on performance and prestige through its ultra-low and wide stance, long dash-to-axle ratio, deeply sculpted surfaces and the debut of a new Diamond Pentagon grille.

"The Acura Precision Concept is more than simply a concept vehicle, it is a design study model that literally will shape the direction of all future Acura products around our Precision Crafted Performance DNA," said Dave Marek, Acura global creative director.  "The Acura Precision Concept is the leading edge of a renewed commitment to delivering Precision Crafted Performance in every facet of the product experience and creating a powerful and very exciting direction for the next generation of Acura models."

The Acura Precision Concept's crouched and athletic stance is further emphasised by its deeply sculpted side surfaces pouring over swelling rear wheel arches covering 22-inch wheels and tyres. The forward-looking concept also features signature lighting designs – in front with its Jewel Constellation LED headlights composed of organically arranged fractal elements, and in back with floating LED taillights.

A key design theme, dubbed "quantum continuum," is seen in the seamless transition of materials and structure from the exterior to the interior of the vehicle, which is further highlighted by the absence of a b-pillar. The large door rocker panel flows into the interior side sill, transitioning into a cantilever for the floating rear seats. The rear center high-mounted stoplight becomes an architecture element piercing the rear glass and then flowing down to help form the structure for the metal airfoil shape of the rear headrests.

The elegant and powerful exterior is matched by its dramatic interior design, where cantilevered surfaces meet with striking tones, expressive surfacing and modern detailing. Of particular note are the double-layered instrument panel, the high-contrast front seat surfaces, the ultra-thin "floating" rear seats, evoking the look of modern lounge furniture, and the hand-crafted audio speaker grilles made of exotic wood.

The driver's space is highlighted by a compact, race-inspired, sports steering wheel with paddle shifters and Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) controls, a floating center meter, a driver's head-up display, a cantilevered center stack and an ultra-wide, thin and curved center display screen.

The Acura Precision Concept also explores a new approach for Acura's digital human-machine interface (HMI), enabling a more intuitive, advanced and seamless connection between man and machine. The ultra-wide and curved centre screen is operated by a floating touch pad suspended on the cantilevered center stack. Upon entry, the system scans each occupant and selects personalised features and functions, including maps, audio and customized vehicle performance settings.


Isuzu mu-X Type-S - the civilised tough rider

                On the move, the Isuzu mu-X Type S looks intimidating and road users seem to instinctively make way - probably because of its aggressively angled headlights that loom larger in the rear-view mirror.

Although the mu-X uses the D-Max pick-up truck’s ladder platform, it aims to serve a different demographic - one that demands space, features, grunt and to a degree - refinement.

In this respect, the mu-X strives to live up to such demands with the limited edition Type S, which offers a few extra bells and whistles over the stock mu-X.

Flooring the throttle lets loose 136PS and 320Nm of torque from the 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine, allowing the vehicle to disappear quickly into the distance.

As long as the driver isn’t heavy-footed, the mu-X won’t be a guzzler from its 65-litre tank.

The five-speed automatic transmission operates smoothly in most situations to relay all the twist to the four 17-inch wheels, using all-terrain tyres.

Although a little spongy, the brakes feel direct and effective.

The suspension is robust enough to take a lot more beatings than a regular passenger car could.

The aft suspension employs a five-link suspension with coil springs and stabiliser and is compliant, allowing rear passengers to travel in relative comfort.

To enhance rear seat comfort, the 60:40 backrests can be reclined. It can also be folded almost flat to help make way for bulky items.

The last two seats will pop up from the boot’s floor when required.

They are cramped to sit in but Isuzu has tried to ensure knees and feet of passengers are not pinched.

There’s some body roll, which is attributable to the high profile all-terrain 255/65 series tyres’ sidewalls flexing during aggressive driving, but then again, these are not specifically road-going tyres and only exist to get the job done on both tarmac and non-tarmac surfaces.

But still, the experience is, like most pick-up trucks in the market today, car-like.

Although the steering isn’t as communicative or responsive as a car, it still isn’t a deal-breaker with the difference being some waddling and yawing when the tyres get some abuse from some aggressive steering inputs.

Even in such circumstances, the rear-end remained planted yet submissive enough to follow the front wheels.

In terms of power deliver, there’s going to be some roar first before the power kicks in and from then on, the 4JK1-TCX engine has no qualms providing what the right foot is asking.

But if the driver feels that too much speed has been garnered, there’s plenty of bite from the brakes once the pedal reaches past the halfway mark.

Overall, the mu-X looks handsome on the outside.

Some convenience features, however, may grate on the nerves.

For example, the keyless entry with push-start button (Passive Entry System in Isuzu-speak) is only for the driver’s door.

Inside, ivory leather upholstery, an 8.0-inch touchscreen DVD player, piano black accents, roof DVD player and rear cabin air vents inject a level of premium-ness.

The electroluminescent e-Lumax meter panel multi-information display is large and legible, but the steering wheel is only tilt-adjustable but not telescopic.

Travelling at highway speeds, the vehicle offers the driver a high-riding position. But in confined places, it can quickly get tiring turning the steering wheel.

What the mu-X has going for it is a commanding view, a robust build quality and an extra layer of premium embellishments not usually associated with truck-based vehicles.

Practicality is also its strong suit plus the ability to accommodate seven people.

The mu-X Type S is an SUV that’s confidence-inspiring, being capable on the road and off the tarmac, which should appeal to 4X4 enthusiasts and those considering joining the club.

It’s priced at RM181,841 (on-the-road with GST and insurance with five-year unlimited mileage warranty).

SPECIFICATIONS - Isuzu mu-X Type S

Engine: 2,499cc, 4JK1-TCX turbodiesel
Maximum power: 136PS at 3,400rpm
Maximum torque: 320Nm from 1,800 to 2,800rpm

Transmission: Five-speed automatic with sequential shift

Features: Two airbags, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, Projector ellipsoid system LED Fog lamps with LED daytime running lights, power adjustable and folding external mirror with LED integrated turn signal, side-step, roof rail, rear spoiler, keyless-entry (driver-side only) with push-start button, automatic climate controls, seconds and third row cooling vents with fan-speed control, Ivory premium leather seat upholstery, silver-finished meter panel with e-Lumax and advanced multi-information display, powered 6-way adjustable driver’s seat, 6-speaker sound system with built-in 8.0-inch touchscreen with reverse camera, multimedia DVD / radio / MP3 / USB / AUX / HDMI / iPod player and Bluetooth connectivity, rear roof-mounted DVD player and 17-inch wheels with 255/65 series tyres.

Price (on-the-road with GST and Insurance): RM181,841


GM delays return-to-work plans to 2023

                DETROIT: General Motors Co on Tuesday said it will not mandate workers return to offices before 2023 after it had told them on Friday that they would be expected to work three days on-campus each week later this year.

The US automaker told employees who have been working remotely that it does "not plan to mandate which days of the week will be collaboration days. In no scenario will our Work Appropriately evolution begin before Q1 2023."

GM on Friday had cited the dramatic improvement in the Covid landscape for the change "to drive the best collaboration, enterprise mindset and impact."

Many companies are still grappling with how much to require white-collar employees to return to offices.

Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano said last week that the company has no requirements but is "encouraging folks to be here several days a week."

GM said Tuesday's clarification was "based on the dialogue that took place since Friday. We intend to spend the next few weeks continuing to listen to your feedback so that we incorporate it into our implementation plans."

GM said it would "communicate more information at the end of next month. Between now and then, we continue to ask for constructive dialogue about our culture, collaboration, speed and innovation."

Thousands of GM workers including hourly workers assembling cars have continued in-person work during Covid-19.


Finance ministry may bank on tech to carry out targeted subsidy

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Finance (MoF) will consider the move to use technology application to channel subsidies to target groups more efficiently.

Its minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, however stressed that now is not the right time to implement targeted subsidies as the country’s economy is still in the recovery phase while inflation remains low compared with other countries.

"What we do not want is to have targeted subsidies, but the execution is not right.

"The implementation approach for the targeted petrol subsidy is also under review," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Wild Digital SEA 2022 here, today.

The implementation of the targeted petrol subsidy will be continued to support the economic recovery phase currently.

"However, (in the future), it (subsidy implementation) would also depend on the economic condition and crude oil prices.

"If the (market) price of oil at that time is low, maybe there’s no need for targeted subsidy as the government can continue to give the subsidy," he said.

Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul said the additional dividend of RM25 billion announced recently by Petronas will be used for government expenditure, besides covering the subsidy costs which are expected to reach up to RM80 billion this year.