Bentley set to debut new Flying Spur in late 2019

                LONDON: An all-new Flying Spur is coming later this year from Bentley Motors as it celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

Bentley released a teaser video highlighting a cabin that boasts of a three-dimensional, textured leather upholstery, apparently an automotive world-first. The new material is just one of many new, advanced features and technologies that Bentley said it would introduce with the third generation of its grand touring sedan.

The British luxury car maker claimed the new Flying Spur, like the Continental GT, is a ground-up development that pushes the boundaries of both technology and craftsmanship to deliver segment-defining levels of performance and refinement.


Sime Darby group ramps up its mobility strategy

                PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Bhd is launching future-focused plans for its Motors division, with the establishment of a Mobility special taskforce to explore new trends and opportunities for growth in the automotive sector.

The areas of interest include shared mobility and in the electrification of the industry.

As part of this mobility strategy, the group has invested a total of approximately RM42mil to-date in mobility players.

Sime Darby acknowledges the evolution in the industry and is taking dynamic steps to future-proof its Motors business.

Sime Darby group chief executive officer Datuk Jeffri Salim Davidson said the group has developed a mobility strategy as part of the efforts to revolutionise and transform its Motors division to be ready for the future of automotive.

“Our thrust into Mobility is our Engine Two to Sime Darby Motors’ Engine One, which we are continuing to fortify to its full potential,” he said in a statement.

Engine One refers to the group’s existing Motors business which it is continuing to strengthen, while Engine Two relates to its future-focused strategies to capitalise on new mobility trends.

Sime Darby is well-positioned to be the strategic partner for new mobility players offering a turnkey solution for all mobility needs through a wide range of fleet management services and across the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem.

Its fleet management solutions range from the provision of vehicles via various ownership schemes and maintenance, that includes mobile car servicing, to telematics which enables monitoring and predictive maintenance for fleets.

With EVs transforming the automotive landscape, Sime Darby aims to capitalise on its many strengths along the value chain to become the leading EV specialist in the region through the assembly, distribution and retail of EVs, as well as by playing an active role in the charging infrastructure value chain.

Sime Darby’s recent investment of RM42mil in car sharing company Socar and online used car platform Carro demonstrated the group’s ambitions to expand in mobility.

Sime Darby group chief strategy officer Datuk Thomas Leong said the group is taking on a more active and dynamic role in the transformation of the mobility industry as it is one of the leading automotive players in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We are taking on a more active and dynamic role in the transformation of the mobility industry. We remain on the lookout for more exciting investments and collaborative opportunities with other strategic partners to help us 'see ahead' into the future,” he said.

 Sime Darby Motors City in Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

Sime Darby Motors is the automotive arm of Sime Darby, with operations across nine markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

The automotive unit is actively invested across the entire value chain of the automotive business; from assembly, importation, distribution and retail to aftersales services and rental.

More information on Sime Darby’s mobility offerings can be found at www.simedarby.com/mobility.


2019 CarSifu awards: Why cars won

BACK > PAGE 1 of 3Best Compact CrossoverCitroen C3 Aircross

This versatile urban B-segment SUV powered by a fuel-efficient 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine stands out with its unique body styling, practicality, safety features and class-leading space.

Highlights include its cargo volume - the 410-litre boot can be increased to a load volume of 520 litres - and a reverse camera with top view.
Best Mid-size SUV/CrossoverSubaru XV GT

Being compact and capable, the Subaru XV GT is known for its prowess both on and off-road.

Wearing 17-inch wheels, this is a crossover that's meant for those with a lifestyle that can be both active and adventurous.

Best Large-size SUV/Crossover (2-Row Seating)Proton X70 Premium

As the first model from the Proton-Geely union, the Proton X70 sets the right tempo in styling, voice command features, digital connectivity and pricing that are hard to beat by its rivals.

The top-of-the-range variant, the X70 Premium, gets even more features, among them the advanced driver’s assistance technology like Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot Information System which were previously available only in more expensive luxury cars.

Best Large-size SUV/Crossover (3-Row Seating)Hyundai Santa Fe R 2.2 CRDi Premium

The Hyundai Santa Fe R 2.2 CRDi Premium (left) is a four-wheel drive, turbodiesel that offers high levels of comfort and quietness and can turn into a rip-roaring road eater too.

The 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine puts out 193PS and 440Nm and is mated to a new eight-speed automatic and Hyundai’s variable all-wheel-drive system.

Looks-wise, at the front are dual-tier headlights with a slim row of LED daytime running lights and also the Cascading Grille.

The cabin features the freestanding infotainment display, slim air vents and uses high-quality materials.

The increased length and wheelbase offer the best-in-class legroom for the second row, while third-row headroom has also been increased.

Best Compact Luxury SUV/CrossoverVolvo XC40 T5

In addition to exuding style and flair with large 19-inch wheels and powerful stance, the XC40 T5 is also smart and safe.

Among its key appeal are adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous Pilot Assist drive as well as front and rear Park Assist.

Meanwhile, the City Safety autonomous collision avoidance and mitigation with intersection support can also detect pedestrians, cyclists and large animals, making the XC40 not just only safe for its occupants.

Its 2.0-litre turbo engine with 252hp coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission ensures more than adequate power for high-speed outstation drives.

Best Mid-size Luxury SUV/CrossoverLexus NX 300 Premium

Futuristic meets artistic, the Lexus NX 300 Premium encases its occupants with the perfect blend of what Japanese artisans have to offer and the most modern of designs.

Best Large-size Luxury SUV/Crossover (2-row Seating)BMW X5 xDrive40i

The fourth-generation X5 has racked up more luxury, more tech, and more safety on top of an option to improve offroad driving.

It also delivers more power and performance since switching from a 4-cylinder engine to a straight-six.

It's the first X model to get a host of chassis system upgrades such as two-axle air suspension, Integral Active Steering and an Off-Road package to enhance the car’s versatility, dynamic ability and comfort levels.

Driver assistance systems have been expanded to include Driving Assistant Professional and Parking Assistant Plus with Reversing Assistant.

Best Large-size Luxury SUV/Crossover (3-Row Seating)BMW X7 xDrive40i

Easily one of the largest luxury vehicle on local roads, the X7 sports activity vehicle can be ordered as a seven- or six-seater without compromising the individual spaces of all onboard.

Despite its size, the X7's combination of 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo engine with 340hp, intelligent air-suspension and xDrive all-wheel-drive system ensures the vehicle maintains a sporty performance and handling in BMW tradition.

Among its long list of safety features are Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning and front collision warning with brake intervention.

Best Mid-size Performance Luxury SUV/CrossoverMercedes-AMG GLC 63S 4MATIC+

As one of the quickest sports utility vehicle in Malaysia, the GLC 63 S 4MATIC+ with its V8 twin-turbo engine pumping out an overwhelming 510hp, offers a sportscar-like driving excitement, performance and road handling with ample space for five persons on-board.

Despite offering a thrilling drive, the GLC 63 S is luxurious and sporty inside with a black and red theme with Nappa leather and Artico man-made leather.

Best Pick-Up TruckFord Ranger Raptor

Priced at around RM200,000 - the Ford Ranger Raptor is designed for the true enthusiast off-roader and is the only factory-built performance truck across the Asia Pacific region.

It is built to exude brute power, performance and durability and is fitted with high-tech features that help to provide an adrenaline rush in the field.

MORE > GO TO PAGE 3 of 3


Police out to catch road users who run red light

                KUALA LUMPUR: Police today launched their Red Light Operation following the high number of offenders caught beating the red light.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Azisman Alias said the operation would be carried out until Dec 31.

He said 52,170 summonses were issued from January to November this year involving 26,764 motorcycles, cars (20,751), lorries (2,208) and 2,447 other vehicles.

He added that a total of 69,267 summonses were issued to road users for beating the red light last year.


Here's Emira: Lotus unveils last combustion-only car

                LONDON: After honing its brand around low-slung racers, Lotus Cars is introducing an entry-level sports car comfortable enough for everyday use.

Priced at less than £60,000 (below RM346,000), the all-new Emira is set for delivery from mid-2022 and will help Lotus ramp up volumes at its production site in Hethel, England. Featuring the brand’s typical curved lines and lightweight design, the car will offer new levels of practicality and comfort, the manufacturer said Tuesday in a statement.

“The Emira is a game-changer for Lotus,” managing director Matt Windle said. It’s a “milestone on our path to becoming a truly global performance car brand.”

READ MORE:
Jenson Button drives Emira
Lotus Emira in detail

With the Emira, alongside a plan to build electrified SUVs at a new plant in China, Lotus is making progress on expanding its business from selling just a handful of cars each year that appeal to racing fans.

SUVs will be a major shift for the company that’s known for agile, well-handling models like the Elise and the wedge-shaped Esprit favoured by James Bond.

To finance the push into EVs and gaining scale, China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group is weighing an initial public offering of the iconic British brand, people familiar with the matter said in April. A listing could value the business at more than US$15 billion (RM62bil), the people said.

Lotus plans to roughly triple production from around 1,600 cars annually in the UK and add a new plant in China with capacity to make 10,000 vehicles.

The Emira, which Lotus previously said will be its last petrol-only model, will come with a choice of two engines, a 2-litre turbocharged motor from Mercedes-Benz AG’s AMG unit, as well as the supercharged 3.5-litre V6 from Toyota that also powers existing Evora and Exige models.

Lotus is developing an electric hypercar, the US$2 million (RM8.3mil) Evija that’s billed as the world’s most powerful auto. It’s looking to partner with Renault SA’s Alpine unit to develop a battery-powered sports car that will help save costs in the shift to making EVs.


Digital version aids real all-electric Porsche Macan prototype in development

                STUTTGART: By the time the all-electric Porsche Macan is launched in 2023, it will have covered some three million test kilometres worldwide in varying conditions.

The prototypes are able to incorporate the experience gained from countless previous test kilometres – driven in a virtual space.

Digital development and testing not only saves time and costs, it also preserves resources, so it enhances sustainability.

Instead of real vehicles, the engineers use digital prototypes – computational models that replicate the properties, systems and power units of a vehicle to a high degree of accuracy.

There are 20 digital prototypes for the purpose of simulation in a number of development categories, such as aerodynamics, energy management, operation and acoustics.

Porsche manager for digital prototypes at Porsche Dr Andreas Huber said the company regularly collate the data from the various departments and use it to build up a complete, virtual vehicle that is as detailed as possible.

This allows previously undiscovered design conflicts to be swiftly identified and resolved.

The aerodynamics specialists are among the first engineers to work with a digital prototype.

“We started with a flow-around model when the project first started about four years ago,” said Dr Thomas Wiegand, Director of aerodynamics development.

Low aerodynamic drag is fundamental to the all-electric Macan with a view to ensuring a long range.

Even minor flow enhancements can make a huge difference.

The engineers are currently using simulations to fine-tune details such as the cooling air ducts.

The calculations not only take into account different arrangements of the components, they also reflect real-life temperature differences.

New methods now allow very precise simulation of both aerodynamics and thermodynamics.

While a temperature window of 90 to 120 degrees is the target for combustion engines, the electric motor, powertrain electronics and high-voltage battery require a range of between 20 and 70 degrees, depending on the component.

The critical scenarios don’t occur on the road but during fast high power charging at high outside temperatures.

However, the Porsche developers are able to precisely calculate and digitally optimise position, flow and temperature.

Using what is known as a seat box to recreate the driver’s environment, the display and operating concept can be brought to life in an early development phase in conjunction with the digital prototype.

Virtual prototypes can be combined with real-world scenarios at an early stage.

“Simulation allows us to assess displays, operating procedures and the changing influences during a journey from the driver’s point of view,” said Fabian Klausmann of the Driver Experience development department.

Here, the 'test drivers' are not just the specialists themselves but also non-experts.

This allows all interaction between driver and vehicle to be studied down to the last detail, enabling selective optimisation even before the first physical cockpit has been built.

The physical prototypes are regularly adapted based on the virtual refinement process.

By the same token, the findings from road testing are fed directly into digital development.

For this purpose, the vehicles are equipped with extensive measurement technology.

Like the Taycan, the all-electric Macan, with its 800-volt architecture, will offer typical Porsche E-Performance.

“The all-electric Macan will be the sportiest model in its segment,” said Michael Steiner who is Porsche Member of the Executive Board, Research and Development.


Nissan has a vision of the future fuel station

 The IDS Concept.

GENEVA: Nissan has revealed an exciting glimpse into the future – with the first look at its fully connected vision of the future of mobility in association with renowned architects, Foster + Partners.

The landmark partnership concluded that the fuel station of the future could actually be the car itself.

Illustrated in a two minute video, featuring the best-selling Nissan LEAF and futuristic IDS Concept, Nissan’s visionary concept explores how our way of living might change as technology develops.

The collaboration, which concludes a 12-month partnership, offers a snapshot of what’s to come from Nissan’s vision for Intelligent Mobility; a world in which cars interact with their environment as populations adopt zero emission, Piloted Drive technologies.

The design study is being previewed at this year’s 86th International Motor Show in Geneva.

Paul Willcox, Chairman, Nissan Europe, said: “Technology holds many of the answers for the challenges we face in our cities today. However, the true power comes when those technologies are integrated with each other and the world around us."

Incorporating a range of pioneering Nissan technologies, the vision hints at how vehicle-to-grid, battery storage, wireless charging, autonomous drive technology and over-the-air connectivity could combine to revolutionise how energy is used and distributed across Europe’s major cities.

The need for a sustainable and innovative refuelling network is becoming vital as the market shifts toward alternative sources like electric power.

Today, 54% of the world’s population lives in cities and by 2050, seven out of every 10 people will live in urban areas, so there is a need for the infrastructure to support this growth.

Nissan is currently trialing an innovative vehicle-to-grid system in Europe which, when coupled with advances in its second-life batteries, will allow drivers to operate as individual ‘energy hubs’ able to store, use or return clean energy to the grid.

It is predicted that by 2050, almost all global energy needs can be met with renewable energy sources.


Sunway previews cashless and ticketless smart parking system

                PETALING JAYA: Local developer Sunway today showed off a cashless and ticketless smart parking system,

The parking system is linked to multiple e-wallet partners, which include GrabPay, Boost, WeChat Pay, Alipay, Touch N’ Go Digital, and Maybank QR alongside credit partners MasterCard, Visa, American Express, JCB, UnionPay and MyDebit.

The new system is currently limited for use to Sunway season pass holders; it is expected to be open to the public by the first quarter of 2020.

The system is being implemented within Sunway City, which comprises Sunway Pyramid, Sunway Hotels and Menara Sunway.

The RM4mil system allows drivers to proceed into a parking area straight away and exit without handling any physical ticket, card or token.

To use the system, a vehicle's registration number must first be registered through the Sunway Parking portal with a preferred participating e-wallet linked to that number.

Upon entering the car park, a camera would scan the vehicle's plate number and the system would only open the boom gate if the number is registered in the Sunway database.

Upon exiting, a camera would check the plate number again and would allow the "recognised" car to exit while automatically deducting the appropriate parking fee from the driver's e-wallet.

However, for those without an e-wallet or do not have access to the Internet, Touch ‘n’ Go card usage is still accepted for the time being. Sunway shopping malls general manager Jason Chin said the traditional ticket car parking payment system would eventually be halted after one year.

At present, those who register their car numbers during the pre-registration period would be rewarded with a one-time free parking once the system is opened to the public.

Sunway said it aims to have the largest such car plate recognition parking system in the country.

“We want to introduce seamless and exciting shopping experiences to our shoppers," Sunway Malls & Theme Parks chief executive officer HC Chan said in explaining why it is deploying it.

Sunway Malls chief operating officer Kevin G. P. Tan said the data collected from the technology would be used to allow car owners to locate their cars in carkparks in the future.

As an added precaution, a lock feature has been included in the Sunway Pyramid Mobile app (available in App Store and Google Play), which would prevent the system from allowing the vehicle to exit the premises.

The new system, on trial since late 2018, does not apply to motorcycles. Its hardware and software is supplied by Jeishun,  a smart parking company from China.


Bridgestone announces debut of Potenza Adrenalin RE004

                PETALING JAYA: The Potenza Adrenalin RE004 was launched today by Bridgestone Tyre Sales (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

The tyre comes in 17 different sizes ranging from 15 to 17 inches and are available at Bridgestone authorised dealers nationwide. The recommended retail price are from RM300 – RM852, depending on size.

The Potenza Adrenalin RE004 is a premium street sports tyre that promises greater driving pleasure with maximum handling and high responsiveness on both wet and dry surfaces.

Bridgestone said Potenza Adrenalin RE004 offers superb dry handling and wet braking, while complying with ECE R117-02, an international regulation established by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe that governs the tyre requirements for sound emission, rolling resistance and wet performance.

The tyre features a combination of enhanced rigidity via its triple and half grooves, and has a quick response for maximum control and stability during braking and cornering.

The rigid connecting blocks enhance tyre sensitivity while reducing excess movements at high speeds. In addition, the aggressive and dynamic tread pattern are said to deliver superior handling.

Featuring Bridgestone technology and compound innovation, Potenza Adrenalin RE004’s wider rib maximises the contact patch on the road, allowing even pressure distribution and a consistently high level of drive performance. The new compound features an evenly-spread silica that improves both wet and dry performance, as well as lowers rolling resistance to reduce the vehicle’s environmental footprint.

The new tyre will be introduced via Bridgestone Tyre Malaysia’s Facebook Live at 9pm tonight.

Bridgestone Tyre Sales (Malaysia) is a subsidiary of Japan's Bridgestone Corporation.

                         BRIDGESTONE POTENZA ADRENALIN RE004 PERFORMANCE


Maserati's latest hyper-exclusive series looks like it's painted in liquid jewels

                MODENA: Maserati has announced the Royale special series, a limited-edition collection of Quattroporte, Levante and Ghibli models outfitted in a slew of lavish materials and exclusive technologies.

Paying homage to the 1986 Royale iteration of the third-generation Quattroporte sedan, Maserati announced that the series name is being resurrected for the newest generations of the V6-equipped Quattroporte, Levante and Ghibli.

While only 51 units were produced for the original Royale series, 100 will be created for the collection's revival.

According to the company, their engines will range from 3-litre V6 diesel engines putting out 275hp to 3-litre V6 petrol engines capable of generating up to 430hp.

The models will be available in one of two opalescent exterior paint colours — a shimmering dark blue or deep teal — complimented by Anthracite rims and silver brake calipers.

On the inside, owners can choose between two types of posh leather upholsteries to pair with high gloss inserts.

In terms of technology, these models come with a Bowers & Wilkins Sound System as standard along with the Cold Weather, Premium and Driving Assistance Plus Packages to ensure driver and passenger safety at all times in all weather conditions.

Like the rest of the non-Royale range, this special series has a Maserati Touch Control Plus unit, an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Ordering for the 100 Royale series units are open now with the first deliveries scheduled for March.


China's Xpeng expands into Sweden and Netherlands

                SHANGHAI: Chinese electric car maker Xpeng said on Thursday it was expanding further to Europe, taking aim at the Swedish and Dutch markets.

Until now the only overseas foray for Xpeng, which makes the P7 and P5 sedans as well as the G3 and G9 sport-utility vehicles, has been Norway. It began shipping its cars there in late 2020.

Xpeng said in a statement it will open a store in Stockholm this week and will also partner with local auto dealer Bilia.

It has also reached an agreement with the Dutch unit of Swiss vehicle distributor Emil Frey which will develop its sales and service network in the Netherlands and manage its stores there.

Xpeng intends to opens a store in the Netherlands next month, it added.

Led by former Alibaba executive He Xiaopeng, China's seventh-biggest EV maker is developing smart-car technologies including a smart cabin and autonomous driving.


VW Golf GTI: The everyday crowd favourite

                After setting the hot hatch benchmark in terms of fuel economy, performance and practicality since its introduction, the current Volkswagen Golf GTI is still a hard one to beat.

The Golf GTI was the one that torched the hot-hatch scene with its small package, sporty good looks, powerful “blown” 2.0-litre engine and heaps of practicality that had it fulfilling multiple roles on a daily basis. From transporter to track-goer, it simply fluttered into the hearts of many.

Thanks to these main reasons, the Volkswagen brand began selling like hotcakes - prompting a plethora of aftermarket parts to quickly flood the market from cabin accents, exterior parts, infotainment systems, wheels and exhausts as well as performance parts.

Even though it’s priced on-the-road without insurance at RM247,662 today, the Golf GTI moniker still remains an attractive one for the same reasons as before and still manages to put people in a “wide-eyed and bushy-tailed” state.

Although it has undergone a few changes from the days since the Mk5, the Mk7 continues to build on its predecessor’s successes and appeal.
Exterior

The Mk7 GTI is definitive in its styling cues and with each new generation, the body panels have all but slightly changed with a little more curvature or an added crease here and there.

Undoubtedly, the Mk7 GTI’s front end has become a little more “rakish” for that sporty appeal - thanks to the Jetta Mk6’s hood, and a pair of full-LED automatic headlights that have been given a more angular effect to its daytime running lights (DRLs) which also doubles as dynamic turn signals.

The front end’s grille sports a red accent that’s been applied to the breadth of it and even continues into the headlights to add further differentiation from the generic looks of the entry-level 1.4 TSI.

Slats flank the lower portion of the bumper with integrated LED fog lamps and along with the inconspicuous front lip as well as the gaping lower honeycomb grille gets the senses “buzzing” with performance.

The same honeycomb design is also found in the lower portion of the headlights as well as the rear lower valance which are flanked by chromed circular exhaust tips.

While rolling on 18-inch Milton Keynes alloys fitted with 225/40 series tyres, it does try its best to fill out the wheel arches but a little more “poke” outwards would significantly raise the visual appeal - much like the range-topping Golf R and its 19-inch wheels.

Other than the aforementioned, together with the GTI-badge and the full-LED tail lights with dynamic indicators, that’s all there is in terms of differentiation from the standard Golf 1.4 TSi.
Interior

Anyone familiar with the brand will know what to expect - a typical Volkswagen interior that assures of comfort and convenience, and with a GTI-badge, it just means that occupants will get to feel their backs pressed into the backrest a little more than usual.

The fit and finish are done well with some use of cheaper plastics in the low-visible areas, but ultimately the cabin shouts premium none-the-less with all its kit and a pair of stainless steel pedals.

There’s also a combination of piano-black plastics on the centre console along with satinated aluminium accents around the cabin which can also be found on the gear knob as well as the GTI-badged flat-bottom sports steering wheel with paddle shifters.

Word to the wise though, do keep a handy microfibre cloth around because those piano-black inserts are simply a fingerprint magnet as is the touchscreen infotainment head unit.

The level of sophistication is very apparent with a large 12.3-inch full-colour digital instrument cluster display staring back at the driver as well as an inconspicuous auto-dimming frameless rearview mirror.

There’s also keyless entry with push-start button, stainless steel pedals and illuminated door scuff plates that level up the “premium” feel.

Not to mention, the eight-speaker 8.0-inch touchscreen adds to the convenience level with the inclusions of Bluetooth connectivity, USB port, MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple Carplay being made available.

The Vienna perforated leather upholstery has splashes of red in it and does well to let unknowing occupants entering the cabin know that this isn’t just a standard run-off-the-mill Golf.

The driver’s seat with three memory functions has ample bolstering, albeit a little stiff, but that’s just part and parcel of a performance ride and it does well to “hold” its driver in place when attacking tight corners.

Although the Mk7 marked the departure of the organ-type accelerator pedal in the Golf model variants, the adopted suspended pedal was still comfortable and light to use.

But the right foot did miss having something more significant beneath it which did help increase ergonomics and hence comfort levels for long-haul drives.
Practicality

For something that has quite a considerable amount of performance already, there’s plenty of usable space.

Accessibility to both front and rear is easy with the wide-opening doors, especially so with keyless entry.

Inside, the GTI’s cabin is friendly with plenty of room for the shoulder and head at the front while rear-seated occupants are provided with good amounts of legroom to stretch out a little during long hauls.

The driver is treated to 12-way power-adjustable seat and in a non-sarcastic manner, there’s the highly generous amount of three memory slots.

The 380-litre boot is also adequate for most users and if anything that figure gets boosted to 1,270-litre with the 60:40 split-folding rear backrests folded down.

Clear, simplistic and intuitive would best describe the large 8.0-inch touchscreen ‘Discover Media’ Navigation infotainment system that also comes with a reverse camera that’s clear in both day and night conditions as well as allows for an iPod/iPhone interface, SD card slot, AUX-IN, a Performance Monitor, Driving Mode selection and eight-speakers.

To bring things further into perspective, there’s also a crisp and clear dedicated 12.3-inch Active information display for the driver alone.
The drive

Here’s where the fun begins. Really.

The GTI 2.0-litre (1,984cc) turbocharged engine has very usable power available from jamming through traffic to cruising along highways and especially while carving up corners.

Regardless, its performance figures of 230PS (from 4,700 - 6,200rpm) and 350 Nm of torque (from 1,500 to 4,600rpm) is managed by a buttery smooth yet ultra-quick shifting six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) - or more commonly known as a dual-clutch transmission. It just feels very much like a well-rounded car to helm.

This is also a very well behaved car that can be driven by the most novice of drivers or even the most experienced purists and still have a heck of a time with it.

In heavy traffic, Eco mode would be the ideal driving mode here, which incorporates start/stop functionality to help save fuel in this instance and engine restarts are smooth with minimal cabin intrusion - just enough to let the driver know.

Out and about along highways, the same can be said and in such a situation, it is highly recommended to activate Comfort mode where almost all semblance of harshness from the large wheel and tyre combination is done away with.

This is where the suspension is allowed for travel which gives it the ability to soak up a wide range of undulations and uneven road surfaces.

Although most comfort modes allow the car to wallow somewhat, the GTI still manages to keep its poise and posture.

In Sport mode, the GTI becomes a willing thoroughbred that’s eager to put the power down.

The suspension stiffens and the speed-sensitive electromechanical progressive power steering gets a little heftier as well as sharper.

At this point, comfort was left at the first corner while the revs climb quickly and the GTI will be eager to stay there - right in the engine’s power-band, ready for its driver to paddle-shift through the lightning-quick DSG dual-clutch transmission.

The engine’s response is far quicker now and eager to stay higher in the rev range where the power resides.

Aside from its eagerness to accelerate, its stopping-power is equally capable of shedding speed quickly with a decent bite with very little notion of fade during road-going abuse.
Verdict

Surprisingly, throughout a weekend of abuse, we’d dare surmise that the GTI isn’t actually a “heavy drinker”.

Considering we’ve thrown a whole slew of road-going traffic situations at it, but other than that, it’s a very livable car to be with.

Regardless of whether its a novice or a purist who’s behind the wheel, there’s somehow a notion that transpires through in that this car will take good care of you with its combination of very usable practicality, safety and more than enough power to excite the senses.

And for a hot hatch that’s straight out of Germany, the GTI suddenly seems like a bargain even if it carries a price that’s under RM250,000.

SPECIFICATIONSVW Golf GTI (MK7)Engine: 1,984cc, four-cylinder turbochargedMaximum power: 230PS from 4,700 to 6,200rpm
Maximum torque: 350Nm from 1,500 to 4,600rpm
Transmission: six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) - dual-clutch transmission
Features: Seven airbags, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Brake Assist (BA) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Anti-skid Regulator (ASR), Anti-theft alarm system with immobiliser, interior monitoring and towing protection, Automatic Post-Collision Braking System (APCBS), Brake pad wear indicator, Driver Alert System (Rest Assist), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Engine Drag Torque Control (EDTC), Extended Differential Lock (XDS), Hill Hold Control (HHC), Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), ISOFIX child seat anchoring system with top tether, Proactive Occupant Protection System (POPS), Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator (TPLI) Safety-optimised front head restraints, Seatbelt warning and reminder for front passengers, Space and weight saving spare wheel, Speed sensitive electromechanical progressive power steering, Automatic LED headlights with 'Coming Home' and 'Leaving Home' function and LED daytime running lights, LED taillights with dynamic indicators, Automatic wipers with intermittent control, Electrically adjustable foldable and heated exterior mirrors with environment lighting and kerb view, Dynamic Light Assist (DLA) advanced light beam control, Dynamic headlight range control with dynamic cornering light, Front LED fog lights, 18-inch x 7.5J ‘Milton Keynes’ wheels with 225/40 tyres, Park Assist 3.0 (parking steering assistance), Park Distance Control with optical display (4 Front & 4 Rear) and Maneuver Braking, Rear view camera intergrated in the VW tailgate logo (Rear Assist), Rear fog light, App-Connect® smartphone connectivity (MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto), Ambient Lighting, ‘Climatronic’ air conditioning system with dual-zone temperature control, Cruise control with speed limiter, Driver and front passenger illuminated vanity mirror, Driver Settings Personalisation, Electromechanical parking brake with Auto Hold, Frameless auto-dimming rear view mirror, stainless steel pedals, and illuminated door scuff plates, GTI multi-function sports steering wheel with paddle shifters for AID, infotainment, Bluetooth telephony, GTI 'Vienna' perforated leather seat upholstery, Height and reach front driver’s centre armrest with storage, ‘Honeycomb Black’ decorative inserts for dashboard on front passenger, side and door trim panels, ‘KESSY’ keyless access with push-start button, LED front footwell lighting, LED reading lights (Front & Rear), Overhead sunglass compartment, ‘Piano Black’ decorative inserts for dashboard on driver side and for centre console, Rear air conditioning vents, two cupholders, Rear window wiper with intermittent function, 12.3" high definition Active Info Display (AID) 12v socket in front and luggage compartment, 12-ways electric adjustable driver seat with memory feature including electric lumbar support, 380 litres of boot space (1,270 litres with rear seats folded), 60:40 split-folding rear seat backrest with load-through hatch, 8-inch touchscreen ‘Discover Media’ Navigation infotainment system with USB and iPod/iPhone interface, SD card slot, AUX-IN, Bluetooth, Performance Monitor, Driving Mode Selection and eight speakers.

Price (on-the-road without insurance): RM247,662


Isuzu adventure to Tip of Borneo

When my editor assigned me to accompany Isuzu Malaysia’s third Dura-Mission, which saw the expedition heading up to the literal Tip of Borneo and into the mists on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu, I was a little apprehensive.

Although I had gone on other off-roading trips as a passenger/observer, this would be the first time I was onboard as a driver and added to that, the last time I had driven anything manual was over a decade ago.

The media convoy consisted of 10 vehicles — the latest Isuzu D-Max V-Cross 3.0L diesels, along with eight crew vehicles, including two “Monsters” — lifted D-Maxes with Simex mud-tyres, light arrays and winches as convoy leaders.

For the media convoy vehicles, modifications were limited to just removing the rear bumper (to minimise damage if the vehicle fishtailed during slippery conditions), and a slight lift to accommodate Viking mud tyres for the off-road portions.

Luckily for me, I had an experienced motoring journalist as my driving partner, and throughout the three days on or off the road, I learned much about the truck, and off-roading from him.

The official roll-out started out sunny and bright, where we were promptly flagged of by Isuzu Malaysia chief operating officer Daisuke Ishida, and for a good 30 minutes or so, the convoy travelled more or less intact to the trailhead.

 A sight to behold. A bird’s eye view of Kundasang Valley, with the early morning clouds rolling in a little after 7am.

With a spacious interior, riding shotgun was as comfortable as a car, and even the back passengers did not complain during the bumpier drives on the road.

The V-Cross also allows for instant change from two-wheel drive to four-wheel, with the dial on the transmission tunnel. The only thing being that, one has to stop the vehicle to shift from “Four High” to “Four Low” torque for more challenging terrain.

I had taken over the wheel from my driving partner during a toilet stop, and I soon discovered the advantages of the D-Max’s low torque, soon quickly re-learned how to drive a manual vehicle after over a decade of neglecting this vital skill.

The skies started turning grey soon after we entered the trailhead from Kampung Taburan, and it soon drizzled and rained by turns, turning the laterite trail into a churning muddy mess, fun conditions for off-roading going by the walkie-talkie chatter.

It was with no small amount of embarrassment, that our vehicle was the first to get stuck in a pretty deep rut, which I could not reverse or rev my way out of and the recovery vehicle had to come up to the front to assist us.

Other parts of the 30km off-road section saw Hezeri coming out to help direct and guide individual media vehicles through some muddy sections, despite the pouring rain.

Perhaps the most intimidating part, was one river fording, where the previous night’s rains had swollen the river to over 1m-deep with strong currents.

Each D-Max had to cross individually and clear the trail for the following truck to progress.

After lunching along Pantai Teringai, our next stop before nightfall was Bavanggazo Longhouse, a well-known homestay and example of Rungus longhouse architecture, albeit with some modern amenities to make life easier. The Rungus, a sub-set of the larger Kadazandusun ethnic group in Sabah, are primarily concentrated in Kudat and Pitas areas in the Kudat Division, their primary trades being fishing and farming.

Longhouses normally comprised about 10 households in one, but larger ones can hold between 50 to 70 households.

Part of the visit included the longhouse dance troupe which performed a series of dances for the visitors, such as the Manaradan and Sumundai-Mongigol to welcome visitors and as ceremonial.

Nose flutes (seruling) are quite common in the Pacific, and the Dura-Mission’s participants were also given a performance by one of the longhouses’ more senior female residents.

Merrimas Villa is located a few hundred metres away from the Tip of Borneo in Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, and although we had targetted to reach the tip to catch the sunset, the earlier rains and delays on the track meant it was not to be.

Nonetheless, the view is terrific, and in the morning one can actually catch sight of Balambangan Island off the Sabah coast.

Day 2 saw us heading down to Kota Marudu, about 146km from the Tip of Borneo, with the off-road section beginning as we entered Kampung Rosok, next to the army weapons grounds.

This time, there were no stuck vehicles but shovels were broken out instead to help create a solid path, and even then, the Monsters had to deploy their winches to help the media D-Maxes cross the incline.

 Crew and media members of the mission trying out the tarap during lunch break at Kandukut, with a green and sunny view of the Crocker Range.

Lunching in Kandukut, everyone got to enjoy a scenic vista of the Crocker Range, while the crew also broke out streetfoods purchased earlier such as roasted sweetcorn and a jackfruit relative called tarap for everyone to try.

After another river fording, we then drove for some 90km before hitting Kundasang and Mesilau Nature Resort, one of the two jump-off points for hiking up Mt Kinabalu.

The morning of the final day saw Isuzu Malaysia treating the media group to a helicopter tour of Mount Kinabalu and its surroundings, lifting off from the Kundasang Golf Club.

Embarking and disembarking had to be done quickly but cautiously, as the fog and clouds began rolling in within 40 minutes after 7am.

 The Rungus performing several traditional dances, such as the Manaradan and Sumundai-Mongigol, for the media convoy at Bavanggazo longhouse.

Just after the storied Tamparoli suspension bridge in Tuaran, Sungai Kiulu is a fun recreational place for those who enjoy zip-lining (the flying fox) or moderately-challenging water rafting and several media and crew availed themselves of the opportunity.

After drying off and changing, we then headed back to Kota Kinabalu for our flight back.

At this point, I was perhaps, most amazed by the D-Max’s fuel economy, as the entire trip had logged 640km, without taking into account the extra fuel we burnt on the off-road sections, yet the fuel gauge still showed the vehicle good for another 100 to 200km drive before a refuel.


McLaren spins off a toy P1

                LONDON: Here's a Christmas gift idea for the small 'uns. Get him a McLaren P1 toy car.

McLaren Automotive continues its McLaren P1 fifth anniversary celebrations with the announcement of an alternative-fuelled version, powered purely by feet attached to a human motor aged less than three years old. At least that’s the manufacturer’s recommendation.

The "foot-to-floor" edition can be bought online from December priced at £35.99 (RM200) and be delivered in time for Christmas. It is the latest addition to a wide range of licensed models and products available long after all 375 full-size examples of the P1 were sold.

The McLaren P1 toy car collection also includes the P1 electric Ride-On and the P1 Tecnomodel collectible, the latter of which is likely to appeal to buyers who are older than the three years old target group of the "foot-to-floor".

Other licensed P1 products include die-cast models from AutoArt, TSM, Kyosho, Motormax, Kinsmart and Hot Wheels; resin models from Amalgam, TSM and Tecnomodel and Scalextric slot cars. An Airfix "Quick Build" model is also available, as are radio-controlled models from New Bright, Rastar and Maisto.

A short video has been released illustrating the differences between the four options of McLaren P1 power.


Hertz ties up with BP for EV charger installations in North America

                MIAMI: Hertz Global Holdings Inc said on Tuesday it has partnered with a unit of oil giant BP to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across North America to power its fleet of eco-friendly cars.

The car rental firm, which did not disclose the terms of the deal, aims to electrify one-quarter of its fleet by the end of 2024.

Hertz has made large-scale EV purchases from Tesla Inc, General Motors Co and Polestar amid rising consumer preference for EVs. It has laid out plans to have 3,000 charging stations in North America by the end of 2022.

As per the deal, bp pulse will manage the EV charging hubs, which will be open to Hertz customers as well as the general public.

Bp pulse aims to install more than 100,000 chargers globally by 2030, with about 90% of them being rapid or ultra-fast chargers.


Nabbed — tech-savvy car thief, wife and mum-in-law

                IPOH: All the jokes about mother-in-laws seemed to be lost on a man who has been detained together with his wife and her mother for suspected involvement in car thefts.

Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Sum Chang Keong said the 30-year-old man was a member of group which had been nicknamed “Specky Gang” because its members were mostly tech-savvy guys who wore glasses.

Police were still verifying the extent of the involvement of the 27-year-old wife and the 51-year-old mother-in-law.ACP Sum said three of them were nabbed on Monday evening after a car chase.

"Upon a tip-off, we trailed a grey Toyota Estima from First Garden to a traffic light in Buntong where we saw a man alighting from the vehicle to get into a silver Honda HRV.

"As we approached them, both cars sped off and we pursued the Estima," he said after a monthly district police gathering at the Pasir Pinji police station yesterday.

Police caught up with the vehicle at the Sungai Pari roundabout where they found the two women while the man surrendered himself.

ACP Sum said the police found various items, believed to be used for their criminal activities, in the Estima.

These included an alarm jamming device, Allen key, spanner, black cellophane tape and three bags with 34 fake road taxes and two forged registration number plates.

“The man also led us to his house in Taman Sepakat, Menglembu where we found the HRV," he said, adding that the vehicle was reportedly stolen in Jelapang earlier on Monday.

ACP Sum said the man had six previous records for car thefts and house break-ins.

“He was formerly an inmate at the Simpang Renggam detention centre. He isn’t your average thief.

“He is well-versed with computers and his group members are experts in stealing cars," he said, adding that they would usually target luxury cars.

“They would disable the alarm before breaking into homes and stealing their car keys and driving off in the vehicle," he said.

“We are now trying to locate the other group members. We believe they have been operating for about two years.”


Sime Darby buys Sydney luxury car dealerships

                PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Bhd has acquired the business assets and properties of three luxury car dealerships in Sydney, Australia for A$112mil (RM321mil) in a bid to expand in the country’s retail luxury segment.

The group said in a statement that the dealerships represent the BMW, Mini, Volkswagen, Jaguar and Land Rover marques.

With the purchase, Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd will have enhanced presence and brand visibility in Parramatta, which is one of Sydney’s most recognised automotive retail locations, it said.

The purchase agreements were entered into by Sime Darby Motors and Trivett, the automotive retail unit of Inchscape Australia Ltd.

The proposed acquisition is expected to be completed by early December.


Nissan, Renault break up almighty chairmanship in wake of Ghosn's ouster

Members of the media gathering outside the Nissan Motor Co. headquarters in Yokohama today. — Bloomberg
YOKOHAMA: Japan’s Nissan Motor and France’s Renault said they would retool the world’s top car-making alliance to put themselves on more equal footing, breaking up the all-powerful chairmanship previously wielded by ousted boss Carlos Ghosn.

The removal of Ghosn, credited for rescuing Nissan from near-bankruptcy in 1999, had caused much uncertainty about the future of the alliance and some speculation the partnership could even unravel.

The companies, together with junior ally Mitsubishi Motors, today said the chairman of Renault would serve as the head of the alliance but - in a critical sign of the rebalancing - not as chairman of Nissan.

Nissan has said that Ghosn wielded too much power, creating a lack of oversight and corporate governance. It was not clear who would become Nissan’s chairman, vacant since Ghosn was arrested in Japan in November.

But the automakers gave no indication of any immediate change in their cross-shareholding agreement, one which has given smaller Renault SA more sway over Nissan.

The so-called Restated Alliance Master Agreement that has bound them together so far remains intact, they said.

“We are fostering a new start of the alliance. There is nothing to do with the shareholdings and the cross-shareholdings that are still there and still in place,” Renault chairman Jean-Dominique Senard said at a news conference.

“Our future lies in the efficiency of this alliance,” he told reporters at Nissan’s headquarters here.

 Renault CEO Thierry Bollore (left), Renault chairman Jean-Dominique Senard, Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa, Mitsubishi Motors chairman and CEO Osamu Masuko attend a joint news conference in Yokohama today. — Reuters

Senard also said he would not seek to be chairman of Nissan, but instead was a “natural candidate” to be vice-chairman.

Former Nissan chairman Ghosn was released on a US$9 million bail last week after spending more than 100 days in a Tokyo detention center. He faces charges of under-reporting his salary at the Japanese automaker by about US$82 million over nearly a decade - charges he has called “meritless”.

Ghosn, who has not spoken to media since his release, put in a request with a Tokyo court on Monday to attend Nissan’s board meeting the next day, but he was not given permission.

Under the terms of his bail, he would have needed the court’s nod to attend.

Board meeting

Ghosn will not hold a highly anticipated news conference until next week at the earliest and is not planning to attend Nissan’s shareholder meeting next month, his lawyer said.

"Mr Ghosn wants to have some time to mull over what he’s going to say,” Junichiro Hironaka told reporters outside his Tokyo office after meeting with Ghosn throughout the day.

Ghosn left his lawyer’s office in the evening without taking questions from reporters.

In the wake of the scandal, Renault has started its own review of payments to Ghosn. French prosecutors have opened a preliminary inquiry into how he financed his 2016 wedding at the Chateau de Versailles, French media have reported.

His dramatic arrest and the detention exposed tensions between Nissan and top shareholder Renault, complicating the outlook for a partnership that is the world’s largest maker of automobiles, excluding heavy trucks.

Some at Nissan had been unhappy with Ghosn’s push for a deeper tie-up with Renault, which was seen as possibly including a full merger. Smaller Renault bought 43 percent of Nissan ahead of the 1999 rescue.

Nissan holds a 15 percent, non-voting stake in Renault, whose top shareholder is the French government.


S.Korean owners sue VW

                SEOUL: Volkswagen owners in South Korea are following their US counterparts in suing the German automaker over an emissions-cheating scandal, with hundreds expected to file complaints in the coming weeks.

Seoul-based Barun Law said it had filed two complaints with the court on Wednesday morning, claiming the owners were defrauded when they purchased their vehicles.

“We received at least 100 more calls from owners today, and expect to start adding many more plaintiffs from next week,” said lawyer Ha Jong-Sun.

Volkswagen, the world’s biggest carmaker by sales, has admitted that up to 11 million diesel cars worldwide are fitted with devices that can switch on pollution controls when they detect the car is undergoing testing.

They then switch off the controls when the car is on the road, allowing it to spew out harmful levels of emissions.

Ha said the practice amounted to fraud, and said his clients would be seeking unspecified damages, as well as cancellation of the initial sales contract and a refund of the full sale price, with interest from the date of purchase.

“Our clients would never have bought the cars if they had been fully aware of the real emissions controls,” he told AFP.

The cases can be consolidated in a de-facto class action suit, Ha said, although in South Korea each individual plaintiff must file a separate complaint.

Lawsuits, including class-action litigation, are also being filed by VW owners in the United States, and the company is facing investigations in a number of countries.

South Korean environmental authorities met with VW representatives last week to discuss the timing and methods for emissions tests to be conducted here, with results expected to be announced by the end of November.

Of the five models equipped with test-cheating software in the United States, four have been imported to South Korea -- the Golf, Audi A3, Jetta and Beetle.

About 59,000 of those models are on the road in South Korea now, the environment ministry said.


BMW and Mobileye sign deal to advance self-driving car development

                JERUSALEM: Israel's Mobileye and German automaker BMW said on Tuesday they signed an agreement to install Mobileye's data generation technology in BMW cars starting with 2018 models.

The deal to crowdsource real-time data using vehicles equipped with Mobileye's camera-based driver assist technology is critical for enabling autonomous driving through high definition (HD) maps aimed at making driving safer and more efficient, the companies said.

BMW has said it aims to put a fleet of 40 self-driving test vehicles on the road in the second half of this year.

To support the rapid creation and updating of HD mapping, BMW and Mobileye will transfer data to German digital mapping firm HERE, which will use the data to update its real-time cloud service for automated vehicles.

Last week, Volkswagen said it would cooperate with Mobileye on a road navigation system.


Traffic building up on major highways

                KUALA LUMPUR: Traffic flow is getting heavier on main highways heading to the north, south and east coast of the peninsula as of 11am today as more people head out of the Klang Valley.

However, no unusual congestion has been reported so far.

A spokesman for the Malaysian Highway Authority, when contacted, said the number of vehicles is expected to increase from 2pm.

"There was an increase in traffic volume at the Gombak Toll Plaza while congestion was also reported on a 1.5-kilometre stretch before the Genting Sempah tunnel.

"For the northern route, an accident at KM257.8 from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Kangsar resulted in a 3.6-km crawl, while traffic heading south is still smooth," he said.

A Bernama check at three toll plazas, namely in Gombak, Sungai Besi and Jalan Duta, found that the traffic was still smooth despite an increase in the number of vehicles.

The public can get the latest traffic information from the Plusline toll-free line at 1-800-88-0000 and Twitter page at www.twitter.com/plustrafik or LLM line at 1-800-88-7752 and Twitter account at www.twitter.com/LLMinfotrafik.


New official 2019 Lynk & Co 03 images released

                SHANGHAI: The latest photos of the Lynk & Co 03 show the Volvo sister brand is looking to make a big impression in the auto industry with its new line of electrified models.

The Lynk & Co 03, which follows on from the equally unimaginatively-named 01 and 02 SUVs, stays close to the futuristic styling of the concept we were first shown last year at the Shanghai Motor Show.

It takes the distinctive front and rear styling cues of the 01 and 02 SUVs and incorporates them into an altogether sportier saloon body shape.

The extremely distinctive signature face of Lynk & Co is prevalent at the front, but the overall look is a lot more aggressively styled than anything the company has created to date.

Along the waistline of the 03 is a sharp crease and silver trim goes around the window. Some intricate LED lights adorn the rear of the car, which also features twin-exit exhausts and a prominent lip spoiler. The front is conforms to the company's recognizable signature look, which includes split-level headlights that have separate daytime running lights.

The platform the car is built upon is the Geely Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) that's been co-developed with Volvo, and is shared with the likes of the Volvo XC40 and upcoming S40 and V40 saloons and estates.

Geely's CMA platform is very flexible, so it can handle a number of different powertrains.

In the 03 it will be equipped with Volvo's new 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine as an integral part of the plug-in hybrid powertrain.

A 2.0-litre version similar to the unit employed in the XC60 T8 will also be made available. Lynk & Co claims that in testing the 03 has been achieving up to 64km on electric-only power. An electric-only EV is also a possibility, as the platform is in the process of being developed to handle it.


Tesla workers shared sensitive images recorded by customer cars

                LONDON/SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc assures its millions of electric car owners that their privacy “is and will always be enormously important to us.”

The cameras it builds into vehicles to assist driving, it notes on its website, are “designed from the ground up to protect your privacy.”

But between 2019 and 2022, groups of Tesla employees privately shared via an internal messaging system sometimes highly invasive videos and images recorded by customers’ car cameras, according to interviews by Reuters with nine former employees.

Some of the recordings caught Tesla customers in embarrassing situations. One ex-employee described a video of a man approaching a vehicle completely naked.

Also shared: crashes and road-rage incidents. One crash video in 2021 showed a Tesla driving at high speed in a residential area hitting a child riding a bike, according to another ex-employee.

The child flew in one direction, the bike in another. The video spread around a Tesla office in San Mateo, California, via private one-on-one chats, “like wildfire,” the ex-employee said.

Other images were more mundane, such as pictures of dogs and funny road signs that employees made into memes by embellishing them with amusing captions or commentary, before posting them in private group chats. While some postings were only shared between two employees, others could be seen by scores of them, according to several ex-employees.

Tesla states in its online “Customer Privacy Notice” that its “camera recordings remain anonymous and are not linked to you or your vehicle.”

But seven former employees told Reuters the computer program they used at work could show the location of recordings – which potentially could reveal where a Tesla owner lived.

One ex-employee also said that some recordings appeared to have been made when cars were parked and turned off. Several years ago, Tesla would receive video recordings from its vehicles even when they were off, if owners gave consent. It has since stopped doing so.

“We could see inside people's garages and their private properties,” said another former employee. “Let's say that a Tesla customer had something in their garage that was distinctive, you know, people would post those kinds of things.”

Tesla didn't respond to detailed questions sent to the company for this report.

About three years ago, some employees stumbled upon and shared a video of a unique submersible vehicle parked inside a garage, according to two people who viewed it.

Nicknamed “Wet Nellie,” the white Lotus Esprit sub had been featured in the 1977 James Bond film, “The Spy Who Loved Me.”

The vehicle’s owner: Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, who had bought it for about US$968,000 at an auction in 2013. It is not clear whether Musk was aware of the video or that it had been shared.

Musk didn’t respond to a request for comment.

To report this story, Reuters contacted more than 300 former Tesla employees who had worked at the company over the past nine years and were involved in developing its self-driving system. More than a dozen agreed to answer questions, all speaking on condition of anonymity.

Reuters wasn’t able to obtain any of the shared videos or images, which ex-employees said they hadn’t kept.

The news agency also wasn’t able to determine if the practice of sharing recordings, which occurred within some parts of Tesla as recently as last year, continues today or how widespread it was.

Some former employees contacted said the only sharing they observed was for legitimate work purposes, such as seeking assistance from colleagues or supervisors.

Labelling pedestrians and street signs

The sharing of sensitive videos illustrates one of the less-noted features of artificial intelligence systems: They often require armies of human beings to help train machines to learn automated tasks such as driving.

Since about 2016, Tesla has employed hundreds of people in Africa and later the United States to label images to help its cars learn how to recognize pedestrians, street signs, construction vehicles, garage doors and other objects encountered on the road or at customers’ houses.

To accomplish that, data labellers were given access to thousands of videos or images recorded by car cameras that they would view and identify objects.

Tesla increasingly has been automating the process, and shut down a data-labelling hub last year in San Mateo, California. But it continues to employ hundreds of data labellers in Buffalo, New York. In February, Tesla said the staff there had grown 54% over the previous six months to 675.

Two ex-employees said they weren’t bothered by the sharing of images, saying that customers had given their consent or that people long ago had given up any reasonable expectation of keeping personal data private. Three others, however, said they were troubled by it.

“It was a breach of privacy, to be honest. And I always joked that I would never buy a Tesla after seeing how they treated some of these people,” said one former employee.

Another said: “I’m bothered by it because the people who buy the car, I don't think they know that their privacy is, like, not respected … We could see them doing laundry and really intimate things. We could see their kids.”

One former employee saw nothing wrong with sharing images, but described a function that allowed data labelers to view the location of recordings on Google Maps as a “massive invasion of privacy.”

David Choffnes, executive director of the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute at Northeastern University in Boston, called sharing of sensitive videos and images by Tesla employees “morally reprehensible.”

“Any normal human being would be appalled by this,” he said. He noted that circulating sensitive and personal content could be construed as a violation of Tesla’s own privacy policy — potentially resulting in intervention by the US Federal Trade Commission, which enforces federal laws relating to consumers’ privacy.

A spokesman for the FTC said it doesn’t comment on individual companies or their conduct.

To develop self-driving car technology, Tesla collects a vast trove of data from its global fleet of several million vehicles. The company requires car owners to grant permission on the cars’ touchscreens before Tesla collects their vehicles’ data. “Your Data Belongs to You,” states Tesla’s website.

In its Customer Privacy Notice, Tesla explains that if a customer agrees to share data, “your vehicle may collect the data and make it available to Tesla for analysis. This analysis helps Tesla improve its products, features, and diagnose problems quicker.”

It also states that the data may include “short video clips or images,” but isn’t linked to a customer’s account or vehicle identification number, “and does not identify you personally.”

Carlo Piltz, a data privacy lawyer in Germany, told Reuters it would be difficult to find a legal justification under Europe’s data protection and privacy law for vehicle recordings to be circulated internally when it has “nothing to do with the provision of a safe or secure car or the functionality” of Tesla's self-driving system.

In recent years, Tesla’s car-camera system has drawn controversy. In China, some government compounds and residential neighbourhoods have banned Teslas because of concerns about its cameras.

In response, Musk said in a virtual talk at a Chinese forum in 2021: “If Tesla used cars to spy in China or anywhere, we will get shut down.”

Elsewhere, regulators have scrutinized the Tesla system over potential privacy violations. But the privacy cases have tended to focus not on the rights of Tesla owners but of passers-by unaware that they might be being recorded by parked Tesla vehicles.

In February, the Dutch Data Protection Authority, or DPA, said it had concluded an investigation of Tesla over possible privacy violations regarding “Sentry Mode,” a feature designed to record any suspicious activity when a car is parked and alert the owner.

“People who walked by these vehicles were filmed without knowing it. And the owners of the Teslas could go back and look at these images,” said DPA board member Katja Mur in a statement.

“If a person parked one of these vehicles in front of someone’s window, they could spy inside and see everything the other person was doing. That is a serious violation of privacy.”

The watchdog determined it wasn’t Tesla, but the vehicles’ owners, who were legally responsible for their cars’ recordings. It said it decided not to fine the company after Tesla said it had made several changes to Sentry Mode, including having a vehicle’s headlights pulse to inform passers-by that they may be being recorded.

A DPA spokesperson declined to comment on Reuters findings, but said in an email: “Personal data must be used for a specific purpose, and sensitive personal data must be protected.”

Replacing human drivers

Tesla calls its automated driving system Autopilot. Introduced in 2015, the system included such advanced features as allowing drivers to change lanes by tapping a turn signal and parallel parking on command.

To make the system work, Tesla initially installed sonar sensors, radar and a single front-facing camera at the top of the windshield. A subsequent version, introduced in 2016, included eight cameras all around the car to collect more data and offer more capabilities.

Musk’s future vision is eventually to offer a “Full Self-Driving” mode that would replace a human driver. Tesla began rolling out an experimental version of that mode in October 2020.

Although it requires drivers to keep their hands on the wheel, it currently offers such features as the ability to slow a car down automatically when it approaches stop signs or traffic lights.

As with many artificial-intelligence projects, to develop Autopilot, Tesla hired data labellers to identify objects in images and videos to teach the system how to respond when the vehicle was on the road or parked.

Tesla initially outsourced data labelling to a San Francisco-based non-profit then known as Samasource, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The organisation had an office in Nairobi, Kenya, and specialised in offering training and employment opportunities to disadvantaged women and youth.

In 2016, Samasource was providing about 400 workers there for Tesla, up from about an initial 20, according to a person familiar with the matter.

By 2019, however, Tesla was no longer satisfied with the work of Samasource’s data labellers.

At an event called Tesla AI Day in 2021, Andrej Karpathy, then senior director of AI at Tesla, said: “Unfortunately, we found very quickly that working with a third party to get data sets for something this critical was just not going to cut it … Honestly the quality was not amazing.”

A former Tesla employee said of the Samasource labellers: “They would highlight fire hydrants as pedestrians … They would miss objects all the time. Their skill level to draw boxes was very low.”

Samasource, now called Sama, declined to comment on its work for Tesla.

Tesla decided to bring data labelling in-house.

“Over time, we’ve grown to more than a 1,000-person data labelling (organisation) that is full of professional labellers who are working very closely with the engineers,” Karpathy said in his August 2021 presentation.

Karpathy didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Tesla’s own data labellers initially worked in the San Francisco Bay area, including the office in San Mateo.

Groups of data labellers were assigned a variety of different tasks, including labelling street lane lines or emergency vehicles, ex-employees said.

At one point, Teslas on Autopilot were having difficulty backing out of garages and would get confused when encountering shadows or objects such as garden hoses.

So some data labellers were asked to identify objects in videos recorded inside garages. The problem eventually was solved.

In interviews, two former employees said in their normal work duties they were sometimes asked to view images of customers in and around their homes, including inside garages.

“I sometimes wondered if these people know that we're seeing that,” said one.

“I saw some scandalous stuff sometimes, you know, like I did see scenes of intimacy but not nudity,” said another. “And there was just definitely a lot of stuff that like, I wouldn't want anybody to see about my life.”

As an example, this person recalled seeing “embarrassing objects,” such as “certain pieces of laundry, certain sexual wellness items … and just private scenes of life that we really were privy to because the car was charging.”

Memes in the San Mateo office

Tesla staffed its San Mateo office with mostly young workers, in their 20s and early 30s, who brought with them a culture that prized entertaining memes and viral online content.

Former staffers described a free-wheeling atmosphere in chat rooms with workers exchanging jokes about images they viewed while labelling.

According to several ex-employees, some labellers shared screenshots, sometimes marked up using Adobe Photoshop, in private group chats on Mattermost, Tesla’s internal messaging system.

There they would attract responses from other workers and managers. Participants would also add their own marked-up images, jokes or emojis to keep the conversation going.

Some of the emojis were custom-created to reference office inside jokes, several ex-employees said.

One former labeller described sharing images as a way to “break the monotony.” Another described how the sharing won admiration from peers.

“If you saw something cool that would get a reaction, you post it, right, and then later, on break, people would come up to you and say, ‘Oh, I saw what you posted. That was funny,’” said this former labeller.

“People who got promoted to lead positions shared a lot of these funny items and gained notoriety for being funny.”

Some of the shared content resembled memes on the Internet. There were dogs, interesting cars, and clips of people recorded by Tesla cameras tripping and falling. There was also disturbing content, such as someone being dragged into a car seemingly against their will, said one ex-employee.

Video clips of crashes involving Teslas were also sometimes shared in private chats on Mattermost, several former employees said. Those included examples of people driving badly or collisions involving people struck while riding bikes – such as the one with the child – or a motorcycle. Some data labellers would rewind such clips and play them in slow motion.

At times, Tesla managers would crack down on inappropriate sharing of images on public Mattermost channels since they claimed the practice violated company policy.

Still, screenshots and memes based on them continued to circulate through private chats on the platform, several ex-employees said. Workers shared them one-on-one or in small groups as recently as the middle of last year.

One of the perks of working for Tesla as a data labeller in San Mateo was the chance to win a prize – use of a company car for a day or two, according to two former employees.

But some of the lucky winners became paranoid when driving the electric cars.

“Knowing how much data those vehicles are capable of collecting definitely made folks nervous," one ex-employee said.


Top car deals from Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia is offering cash bonus worth up to RM12,000 for selected Mitsubishi models.

New Triton buyers can enjoy cash bonus worth up to RM9,000 and 3 years or 100,000km warranty.

Cash bonus for all Triton variants is as follows:

Buyers of the ASX Compact SUV can enjoy cash bonus worth up to RM10,000 for selected variants and 5-years warranty with unlimited mileage.

The award-winning compact SUV is available for RM105,744.31 onwards with the ASX 2WD GL.

The ASX 2WD is priced at RM115,468.71 and the ASX 4WD is priced at RM129,010.43.

The award-winning Outlander SUV is offered with cash bonus worth up to RM4,000 and a 2 years free maintenance and 5 years or 100,000km warranty.

The Outlander SUV is priced at RM168,600 and recently won the Best SUV/Crossover Mid-Size 4x4 7-Seater award at the inaugural CarSifu Editor’s Choice Awards 2016.

Pajero Sport VGT buyers can get cash bonus up to RM10,000 and 5-years warranty with unlimited mileage.

The Pajero Sport VGT is priced at RM179,716.92.

Eco-sedan Mitsubishi Attrage GS buyers can enjoy cash bonus up to RM12,000.

The Mitsubishi Attrage GS is priced at 75,250.33.


Buy Goodyear tyres and win a new Honda City

                KUALA LUMPUR: From 1 May to 30 June 2019, those who buy selected Goodyear tyres will stand the chance to win the grand prize of a new Honda City, as well as 10 years’ worth of tyre supplies.

Customers can opt for two different sets of promotions – the first features high-end tyres, including the Eagle F1 Asymmetric series, EfficientGrip series, Run on Flat (ROF) and Eagle F1 Directional 5 series, while the second is the more affordable option, which includes the Assurance TripleMax series, Wrangler TripleMax and Optilife range.

Among the tyres offered under the performance tyre category is the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3, an Ultra High-Performance tyre designed to handle the various road conditions.

It comes equipped with GripBooster Technology for better braking and handling, as well as Reinforced Construction Technology for steering precision and durability.

Part of this promotion also includes Goodyear’s quietest luxury tyre, the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance (EGP) and SUV tyre. Both tyres offer the innovation of Quiet Tred, ActiveBraking, FuelSaving and WearControl Technologies, along with an additional FlexContact Technology in the Goodyear EGP SUV tyre to offer consumers a safer and enjoyable driving experience.

These tyres offer superior noise dampening, increased grip and braking performance in wet road conditions, shorter braking distances, reduced rolling resistance and shock absorbing cushion layer to lower tyre vibration for a ride that is not only safe, but incredibly comfortable.

This series of tyres are available for both passenger cars and SUVs.

Another featured tyre is the Goodyear Assurance TripleMax 2 (ATM2). Manufactured with the latest HydroTred technology, it allows cars to have better braking performance, especially on wet roads.

It also has an asymmetric thread design, making it easily adaptable to any circumstance providing better handling and comfort performance for a safe and comfortable drive.

Buying a pair of tyres from any of the offered tyre model will entitle customers to one entry to the lucky draw for the grand prize.

Meanwhile, those who buy four new tyres from the list of high-end tyres can redeem an in-car charger that doubles as an air freshener.

To join the lucky draw, customers will only need to register for the Worry-Free Assurance programme via Goodyear Malaysia’s official website at https://www.goodyear.com.my/.

Goodyear Malaysia through its Ramadhan and Hari Raya Consumer Promotion (Ramadhan and Raya – Goodyear Win a car) offers Malaysians the opportunity to buy a new set of tyres at an attractive offer.

The motivation is to highlight the threat of bald tyres to road users and prevent any further contribution to the 19,538 cases of accidents as reported in Op Selamat 13 last year.

Ben Hoge, managing director of Goodyear Malaysia said: “As a strong advocate of road safety, it has always been our message to our consumers to check their tyres before every road trip. With Hari Raya around the corner, we want to make it affordable for consumers

who are seeking to purchase a new set of tyres from a reliable and reputable international brand. At the same time, we want to reward our consumers for taking the first step to being safe on the road, hence for the very first time in Malaysia, Goodyear will be giving away a brand-new car and a long-term supply of tyres.”

According to the Ministry of Works, up to 10,000 accidents occur on the road due to rethreaded tyres.

This highlights the importance of purchasing new tyres from authorised tyre dealers and how tyres play an imperative role in ensuring drivers remain safe during their daily commute.


2019 CarSifu Auto Show: All eyes on SUVs

                KUALA LUMPUR: Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and crossovers on display at the 2019 CarSifu Auto Show is drawing a lot of attention from visitors what with the variety of cars on display at the Ground Floor Concourse in Mid Valley Megamall.
The participating brands with SUVs on offer are Subaru displaying the Forester mid-sized five-seater SUV and the popular XV crossover, Nissan with the X-Trail Hybrid, Proton with the X70, Honda is featuring the HR-V RS variant, Mitsubishi has the Outlander and Volvo with the premium  XC90 and XC60.

"I'm impressed with the Honda HR-V RS and Proton X70 but I'm leaning more towards the HR-V because of its looks and features," said Ezreen Hisham who was checking out the cars during her lunch break.

Besides SUVs, there are 20 vehicles on display, ranging from the latest budget and premium sedans to pick-up trucks,  and multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs).

Other brands on display include BMW, Isuzu and Ford.Also on display are pick-up trucks as Isuzu has its line-up of D-Max trucks including a new Z Prestige variant with new design cues as well as two accessory packages. Ford brought its latest heavyweight pick-up contenders – the Ranger Wildtrak 2.0-litre Bi-turbo, and the Ranger Raptor which is available in a new Absolute Black colour.

 A crowd gathering around the Proton X70 at the 2019 CarSifu Auto Show.

A cash rebate of up to RM6,000 is being offered for the Ranger Wildtrak while those who book the Raptor will receive an exclusive limited edition Ranger Raptor bomber jacket and car air purifier.

Mitsubishi has the Triton VGT Adventure X pick-up truck with the award-winning 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel engine and Outlander SUV.

Visitors who complete a CarSifu survey will walk away with Himalaya Pastilles peppermint candy.

 Get a taste of Himalaya Pastilles at the CarSifu Auto Show.

"It may seem strange for Himalaya Pastilles to participate at the CarSifu Auto Show but our purpose is to let people know that this peppermint flavoured pastille is not only minty but helps keep drivers awake too," said its marketing manager Andrew Lim which sponsored 2,000 packets of Himalaya Pastilles at the CarSifu Auto Show.

Himalaya Pastille is available in all leading pharmacies and retailers and is distributed by Delfi Marketing Sdn Bhd in West Malaysia and KV Distributors Sdn Bhd in East Malaysia. The brand ambassador is Goh Liu Ying, Olympic Silver Medalist, Badminton Mixed Doubles.

Families with children who visit the show during the weekend will be entertained by Cellworm Crax the clown.

The 2019 CarSifu Auto Show is organised by Star Media Group Bhd and Toyo Tires and Silverstone are the official tyre partners for the 2019 CarSifu Auto Show as well as the Editors’ Choice Awards.

The 2019 CarSifu Auto Show is taking place at the Ground Floor Concourse,  Mid Valley Megamall from 10am to 10pm daily until Sunday.


2017 Tokyo Motor Show: Honda Clarity PHEV

                TOKYO: At the 45th Tokyo Motor Show, Honda Motor highlighted concepts and vehicles that underlined its vision of having green vehicles as two-thirds of its global sales by 2030.

"As of today, Honda's cumulative global sales of hybrid vehicles has exceeded 2 million units. We will expand our line-up of hybrid vehicles, by adding hybrid types to CR-V and Step WGN," said Honda Motor president and CEO Takahiro Hachigo.

"We will continue to strengthen hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EV (electric vehicle) models," said Hachigo.

Among the key Honda exhibits at the Tokyo Motor Show 2017 are:

Clarity PHEV:

The Clarity PHEV, a new-generation plug-in hybrid model, features an exterior form with low vehicle height, spacious cabin that seats 5 adults and a large-capacity cargo area.

The Clarity PHEV is scheduled to go on sale in Japan in summer 2018.

By using the Honda Sport Hybrid i-MMD (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive) - a two-motor hybrid powertrain, the output and capacity of the battery were increased, and the EV range of more than 100km was made possible.

Gallery: Honda Clarity PHEV 2017


Unique Rolls-Royce Koa Phantom delivered

                GOODWOOD (UK): Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presented a one-of-the-kind customised Phantom Extended featuring rare Hawaiian Koa wood inlays and exterior colour matched to a 1934 heritage Packard Twelve to American collector Jack Boyd Smith, Jr.

The bespoked "Koa Phantom" was the result of a three-year collaboration with Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective, consisting of designers, engineers and craftspeople based at the Home of Rolls-Royce in England.

The one-of-a-kind creation joins Smith's personal collection of more than 60 unique motor cars in The JBS Collection Museum in Elkhart, Indiana.

The Koa Phantom is the fifth Rolls-Royce to join Smith's collection.

Having spent significant amounts of time in Maui, Hawaii, Smith and his wife Laura developed a love for the warmth and character of Koa wood.

The unique Koa tree grows only in Hawaii and is protected in Hawaiian State and National parks.

Koa wood can only be harvested from private agricultural land and finding this rare log for the project was difficult.

Smith's ongoing connection to the Koa species is rooted deep within his family, as a Koa wood rocking chair has been a centrepiece in their home for many years.

The couple waited patiently for three years for their perfect veneer, as the Rolls-Royce Wood Specialist negotiated with a supplier for a highly prized log from his own, personal collection.

This specimen displays a unique depth of character rarely seen, with a figure in the grain that creates the effect of velvet.

The craftsmen and women of the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Woodshop embraced the challenge of preserving this rich textural finish in a prized Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended.

The Koa Phantom exterior shines a deep blue by day, but by night, is hidden in the darkness.

The Bespoke ‘Packard Blue’ hue is colour-matched to Smith’s 1934 Packard Twelve Coupe, a rare motor car in his personal collection.

Creating an exact match to an 80 year-old finish was no small feat, and even included shipping parts from vintage cars to the home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood.

The driver’s door bears the personalised initials “JBS Jr” while the passenger door bears the initials of Mrs Smith, “LAS.”

On opening the coach doors, a personalised treadplate reads, ‘Hand-built in Goodwood, England for Laura & Jack Boyd Smith, Jr.’

For the Koa Phantom, the wood itself takes centre stage at the fascia, preserved and exhibited at the heart of the car, showcasing its natural beauty.

Koa wood embellishes the Dove Grey leather interior that is matched to the Packard Twelve and offset by Navy Blue highlights and piping.

The Rolls-Royce monogram on the headrests is matched to the exterior finish while the rear compartment is adorned with a Champagne fridge, accompanied by a pair of crystal champagne flutes and decanter, engraved with the couple’s initials.

A hand-crafted Koa wood picnic hamper, that took more than 500 hours to complete, completes this unique commission.

Inside are hand-made wine glasses and decanters from the Ajka Crystal factory in Hungary, famed for its traditional techniques.

The 12-piece hand-made stainless-steel cutlery set is produced to the highest standards by expert craftspeople using traditional polishing and grinding techniques – a tribute to British steel heritage.

Wedgwood porcelain plates add a final flourish to the hamper.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars chief executive Torsten Müller-Ötvös said the Koa Phantom demonstrated the extraordinary skill of the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective to masterfully incorporate the precious and rare example of a naturally sourced material, Koa wood, into the Phantom’s contemporary interior.

Koa wood inlays in the Koa Phantom.


BMW says chip shortage, raw material prices to hit second half

                LONDON: BMW raised its 2021 profit forecast today after strong quarterly results, but said the global semiconductor chip shortage and rising raw materials prices would hurt its performance in the second half of the year.

BMW has been less affected by the chip shortage than some of its peers which has been attributed to its strong relations with its suppliers.

"We continue to regard BMW as one of the best operators in the autos industry," Bernstein analyst Arndt Ellinghorst wrote in a client note on the results.

"It has been far less volatile than pretty much all its global peers and has hardly ever lost money in any given quarter."

German rivals Volkswagen AG and Daimler AG have both warned the chip shortage would dent their results in the second half, and Daimler has said the crisis could drag on into 2022.

BMW chief executive Oliver Zipse flagged similar pressures later this year.

"In light of a number of prevailing risks, including raw materials prices and a shortage of semiconductors, the second six-month period is likely to be more volatile for the BMW Group," Zipse said in a statement.

Chief financial officer Nicolas Peter said in a statement that BMW was able to offset the challenges of the chip shortage through "sheer hard work" but added "the longer the supply bottlenecks last, the more tense the situation is likely to become."

Like other major carmakers, BMW is working towards the electrification of its model range, with two new all-electric models coming later this year.

As part of a climate plan issued last month that effectively bans fossil-fuel cars from 2035, the European Commission proposed spending by EU member states on charging infrastructure on highways to overcome consumer anxiety about electric vehicle driving range.

But BMW said today that the EU's charging plans are "not ambitious enough".

"We must not allow charging infrastructure to be the bottleneck that decides whether customers buy an electric vehicle or not," Zipse said on a call with journalists.

"We need a stronger commitment to this."

BMW reported a better-than-expected second-quarter profit after a loss a year earlier when the German luxury carmaker was pummelled by the coronavirus pandemic.

BMW's sales jumped nearly 45%, while rising almost 75% in Europe and 88% in the United States.

Sales in China, which drove the carmaker back to profitability in the second half of 2020 after pandemic-related production shutdowns, were up nearly 12%.

BMW reported a quarterly net profit of €4.8 billion (RM24bil), more than double the €2.2 billion (RM11bil) forecast by analysts, Refinitiv Eikon data showed, and rebounding from a €212 million (RM1bil) loss a year earlier.

The results also received a €1 billion (RM5bil) boost after BMW had to set aside less money than initially feared for expected European antitrust fines for alleged collusion with rivals.

The carmaker said it now expects a full-year operating margin for the automotive segment at the upper end of its forecasted range of 7% to 9%.


More EV-related perks in store from revised Budget 2023

Nik Nazmi (right) says through incentives provided by the government for EVs in 2022, the number of registered EVs has increased to over 2,000 so far. — Bernama
CYBERJAYA: More electric vehicle (EV)-related incentives are in store in the revised Budget 2023, says Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will table the revised Budget 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 24.

“The government is looking forward to announcing more EV-related incentives in the revised Budget 2023,” said Nik Nazmi at the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Cyberview Sdn Bhd and Roda Emas Industries Sdn Bhd (REISB) on the development of a smart-mobility ecosystem in Cyberjaya, here yesterday.

The then Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz tabled a RM372.3bil Budget 2023, the largest allocation in Malaysia’s history, on Oct 7, 2022.

Three days later, on Oct 10, the Parliament was dissolved to make way for the 15th General Election on Nov 19, 2022.

On Dec 20, Dewan Rakyat unanimously approved the 2023 Mini Budget and the Consolidated Fund (Accountable Expenditure) Bill 2022.

Nik Nazmi said that through incentives provided by the government for EVs in 2022, the number of registered EVs has increased to over 2,000 so far.

He said Malaysia, through the Low-Carbon Mobility Blueprint 2021-2030, aims to install 10,000 EV charging points by 2025.

“Currently, more than 900 public EV chargers are installed by various charge point operators in Malaysia.

“To support the current and future growth of EVs in terms of charging infrastructure, regulations and standards are being updated to ensure the safety of these premises,” he said.

Nik Nazmi added that the Energy Commission has developed the EV Charging System licence and recommended charge-point operators involved in developing the infrastructure to charge EVs in the country to immediately obtain a valid public licence for the installation of the EV charging system no later than March 31 this year.

In a separate statement, Cyberview and REISB said the collaboration would leverage each other’s strength, knowledge, networks and capabilities in developing a smart-mobility ecosystem that is centred on creating and fortifying the EV infrastructure, adoption of electromobility and improving energy management in Cyberjaya.

“The partnership will also see Cyberview and REISB explore potential collaboration for the expansion of EV charging stations and management systems to other strategic locations in Malaysia,” they said.


Afghan girls try building ventilator from used car parts

The young Afghan team who created the prototype ventilator from used car parts. — Image source: twitter.com/RoyaMahboob
KABUL: A team of robot-designing girls in Afghanistan is trying to build a low-cost medical ventilator from car parts, as health authorities look to boost critical-care capabilities for coronavirus patients in the impoverished country.

If the teenagers succeed and can get government approval for their prototype, they say it could be replicated for as little as US$300 (RM1,300), where normally ventilators sell for around US$30,000 (RM130,000).

"The team is working with local health specialists, as well as experts from Harvard University, to produce the prototype based on a design by Massachusetts Institute of Technology," said Roya Mahboob, who runs an Afghan tech company and sponsors the team of five girls, aged 14-17.

They are part of a bigger group of high-achieving high school girls known as the "Afghan Dreamers", from the western city of Herat, where coronavirus is on the rise after thousands of people returned from neighbouring Iran as it experienced a spike in cases.

The girls made headlines in 2017 after being denied visas to take part in a robotics competition in Washington -- before President Donald Trump intervened and they were allowed to travel.

They are taking engine and battery parts from a Toyota Corolla -- ubiquitious on the streets of Afghanistan -- to produce a prototype they started designing after the Herat governor called for more ventilators as coronavirus cases rose.

Central to the ventilator is a self-inflating plastic sac known as an Ambu bag that medical staff use to help patients breathe. The girls' prototype uses a mechanical system to operate the bag automatically and accurately.

"The complicated part is how to adjust the timing and pressure of pumping, as different patients require different volume and pressure of air based on their age and the severity of their condition," Somaya Farooqi, the team's 17-year-old captain, told AFP.

With a population of 35 million, Afghanistan only has about 300 ventilators.

Wahidullah Mayar, a spokesman for Afghanistan's health ministry, said officials have asked specialists and engineers to help the team.

"We appreciate and encourage these hardworking girls, our sisters, for their efforts to produce ventilators," Mayar said.

Any ventilator prototype would have to be approved by the World Health Organization and the Afghan health ministry before the team could start producing more devices, Mayar said.

As of Wednesday, Afghan officials had reported at least 784 coronavirus cases and 24 deaths across the country. The true number of cases is feared to be much higher, as only limited testing kits are available.