Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia closes FY21 with 66% jump in sales

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Malaysia, ended Financial Year 2021 (April 2021 – March 2022) on a high note despite two years of being affected by the pandemic.

The company sold 19,217 units in FY21, representing a 66% jump despite the Total Industry Volume (TIV) shrinking by 6.7%, as compared to the same period in Financial Year 2020 (April 2020 - March 2021).

This noteworthy achievement puts the company comfortably in the top three spots of the non-national automotive category.

 Xpander.

The Mitsubishi Xpander continues to dominate the non-national MPV segment in Malaysia, and
also leads the sales for the Mitsubishi Motors brand.

The seven-seater closed the financial year with 9,065 units sold, which contributed 47.2% to the company’s overall total sales.

The robust Mitsubishi Triton pick-up truck is also maintaining a solid market share of close to 21.4% and remains one of the favourite choices within the pick-up truck segment despite healthy competition from its newly launched rivals.

Mitsubishi Motors has sold 9,420 units of Triton in FY21 which is a 24% increase compared to FY20.

 Triton.

MMM chief executive officer Shinya Ikeda said the past two years in general have been tough on the automotive industry not only with the rising cases of Omicron but floods that affected the Klang Valley and East Coast region, as well as parts or chips shortage.

“There were many hurdles for the industry to overcome, thus for our sales performance to grow is a significant triumph for us. We take this chance to thank the Malaysian government for initiating and extending the SST exemption these last couple of years.

“With this, our customers could enjoy extra savings while it also gives us the time to fulfil all booking orders made,” he said.

Ikeda also said the company is aware that a large number of customers aim to purchase their cars before the SST exemption expires by end of June.

“We are continuing our best efforts to meet the booking numbers, and we have already increased our production capacity while maintaining a high level of product quality.

“Our customers are the ones that put us here, thus providing them with utmost convenience and
confidence towards the brand is our utmost priority,” he said.


GM cuts vehicle prices on 40 models in China

                DETROIT: General Motors Co has cut vehicle prices in China after sales fell last month in the world's largest automotive market.

The No. 1 US car maker's joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp set price reductions of as much as 53,900 yuan ($8,681) on 40 models across its Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac brands, according to a statement on Tuesday on Shanghai GM's website.

GM and its Chinese joint ventures saw sales in China slip 0.4 percent last month, as demand in its largest brands all fell. Sales of Wuling, Buick and Chevrolet brands declined 5.1 percent, 8.5 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively.

A slowing economy has weighed on domestic demand in China, and foreign car makers also are facing more intense competition from their Chinese rivals, especially with SUVs.


Tolls, stickers or free? Spain mulls future of motorways

                MADRID: Who's going to pay for Spain's motorways? Debate is raging over the funding of its 12,000km of motorways after the government made some roads toll-free after the concessions expired.

"Don't stop!" Since Sept 1, that has been the message plastered across many toll booths in the northeastern Catalonia region, largely along a section of the AP-7 motorway between the French border and Barcelona that is very popular with European tourists.

With the ending of concessions held by subsidiaries of Spanish toll road operator Abertis, control over nearly 500km of motorways has reverted back to the state and the government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Halting the tolls there will hand road users "an annual savings of more than €750 million (RM3.7bil)", said Transport Minister Raquel Sanchez.

In a country where almost 85 percent of motorways are toll-free, payments on three stretches ended in 2018 and another two in 2020, meaning that in just three years, 1,029km of highway have passed from private to public hands - saving drivers 1.4 billion euros in tolls.

Not renewing the toll road concessions when they came to an end was a pledge made by Sanchez when he became premier in 2018, with the aim of overhauling Spain's motorway management model, which varies hugely across the country and is a major source of frustration for drivers.

A sensitive issue

But the areas where tolls have been lifted won't stay like that for long.

"We're looking to set up a tariff system according to usage," the transport minister said, pledging to bring in a new model that would be "publicly run, fair and homogenous throughout Spain".

Over the years, Spain has tried a range of different approaches with some roads under public ownership, others privately-held, some run by the state and others by the region, explained Maria Angeles Baez, an expert in the Spanish road system from Granada University.

"Faced with the need to improve the road network and the scarcity of financial resources, the state opted for the concession system, which was rolled out in two periods: from 1967-1975 and 1996-2006," she told AFP.

Although the toll-based motorway system "encouraged economic growth" in certain areas it was not well received by the public, she said.

And government plans to set up a new system of charges are creating fresh tensions.

Motorway maintenance is expensive, costing around 80,000 euros per kilometre every year, a sum which places a huge burden on a country like heavily-indebted Spain.

In its economic plan sent to the European Commission to unlock its share of the EU's multi-billion-euro Covid recovery funds, Madrid pledged to review its motorways funding model and set up a payment system that would guarantee "the necessary income" to preserve the state's road network.

"It doesn't make much sense for this maintenance to be footed largely out of the state budget which is ultimately paid for by the public, including those who don't use the motorways," the transport minister said.

Consultation process

So how will the funding work? Many options are on the table, including the idea of an annual motorway charge sticker, along the lines of the Swiss system, which lets drivers onto all motorways in exchange for a fixed fee.

Another possibility is payment per kilometre via a system of portals that recognise the passing vehicle and automatically charge the driver's bank account.

The Spanish press has been talking about a relatively modest charge of 0.01 to 0.015 centimes (up to $0.02) per kilometre for cars and 0.05 centimes for lorries.

Whatever model wins out, the solution is likely to mean a charge will be imposed on many roads that until now have been free - and the prospect is angering motorists.

Faced with such opposition, the government has committed to a consultation process that should last several months.


2017 Tokyo Motor Show starts taking shape

Clockwise from left: Honda Sport EV Concept; Toyota GR HV Sports Concept, Nissan Leaf NISMO edition; Suzuki e-Survivor; Toyota Century; Mitsubishi Evo Concept.
TOKYO: The 45th Tokyo Motor Show is almost upon us and with it one of the most fascinating, original and eccentric of all vehicular events on the automotive calendar.

Every one of the country's 14 carmakers will be out in force with displays, discussions and concepts unified under this year's thematic banner of "Beyond the Motor" and will be attempting to answer the question "What's next for individual mobility in an increasingly digital age?"

In terms of new production and conceptual models expect an avalanche of new metal. Suzuki alone will be unveiling seven new concepts - from a plug-in electric jeep called the e-Survivor to a luxury reimagining of the kei car (Japan's micro vehicle class that qualifies for tax breaks and other incentives) - as a luxury micro minivan.

Toyota, Japan's biggest car maker and the world's second largest automotive firm in terms of sales is promising nine potentially show-stopping reveals. It's already detailed a new sportscar concept, the GR HV Sports concept, a new take on the minivan/MPV, the Tj Cruiser, which fuses traditional people-carrier practicality with the best that SUVs have to offer, plus a conceptual version of the next Toyota Crown sedan and the third generation of its Century Limousine.

Mitsubishi is using the show to relaunch the Evo badge. But while the original rally-inspired performance car was based on the otherwise sensible Lancer sedan over 10 generations, the new model is set to be a sports crossover that's propelled forward by batteries.

Honda, Yamaha and Mazda are focusing on driving fun and each is bringing a sportscar to this year's show. Yamaha's is the second iteration of the Gordon Murray co-developed sports coupé concept that stole the show in 2015, suggesting that the sleek two-seater is going to be a production reality very soon.

Mazda is using the show to explore sentiment towards a sporting four-door-coupé, while Honda will be looking for feedback on its Sports EV Concept, a performance car that promises external design cues that are both retro and revolutionary and an electric drivetrain.

But in terms of performance cars, the biggest potential unveiling will be of the new Nissan LEAF Nismo edition. Though just a concept, the electric car with racing performance and aerodynamics package has already been greenlit for production in 2019.

The 45th Tokyo Motor Show opens its doors to the press on Oct 25 and to the public from Oct 27.

 The roomy interior of the Tj Cruiser.


Bentley releases Bentayga S – the most sporting of Bentaygas

                LONDON:  Bentley has just announced details of the new Bentayga S, bringing extra sporting agility to the Bentayga family.

With striking design cues and unique detailing, the Bentayga S is the latest version of Bentley’s benchmark, go-anywhere luxury SUV.

For the first time since the launch of Bentayga in 2015, an S version is now available – reflecting feedback from the huge number of customers that enjoy the dynamic performance of their Bentayga on-road.

Building on Bentley’s established "S" brand, the new enhanced sports Bentayga provides an even more engaging drive, with Bentley Dynamic Ride active anti-roll control fitted as standard and an enhanced Sports chassis mode. A 15 per cent increase in damping stiffens the chassis and provides a platform for a more dynamic SPORT mode ESC tune.

Bentayga S also features a revised visual presence through the distinctive addition of black details, and a more sporting soundtrack courtesy of a newly designed, free-flowing sports exhaust – both of which increase the Bentayga’s already imposing presence on the road.

The Bentayga S is distinguished by a range of distinctive exterior features, including new unique 22” wheels with three finishes, "S" badges on the lower edge of the front doors, and Blackline Specification as standard. The profile has increased presence due to the larger rear spoiler, gloss black side sills and lower bumpers, front and rear. Dark tint lenses to head lamps and tail lamps, black door mirrors and black split oval tailpipes complete the striking exterior.

Inside a luxuriously refined cabin, a unique Bentayga S style can be found using new seats, unique stitching, a new colour split and Alcantara to reflect the striking exterior and increased dynamic ability.

Colour accents on the instrument panel, centre console, door pads and seat bolsters as well as Alcantara to seat cushion and back inserts, steering wheel and gear lever, give the Bentayga S a bold and contemporary style.

"S" badges can be found on the passenger fascia as well as new graphics in the driver’s instrument panel and illuminated treadplates, denoting the model.

The Bentayga S  is available in four, five or seven seat configurations. Since it entered the market in 2016, more than 25,000 customers have taken delivery of a Bentayga. The fourth model in the Bentayga range joins the efficient plug-in Hybrid, the 4.0-litre turbocharged V8, and the powerful 6.0-litre, 12-cylinder Speed.

The Bentayga S features Bentley’s 4.0-litre, twin-scroll turbocharged V8 petrol engine, which develops 542bhp and 770Nm of torque, with a 0–100kph time of 4.5  seconds and a top speed of 290kph. This class-leading performance is complemented by a range of 654km, with CO2 emissions of 294 g/km.

Deploying the power as effectively as possible, Bentley Dynamic Ride is fitted as standard and was the world’s first electric active roll control technology that uses a 48V system. The system can react within 0.3s with up to 1,300 Nm of torque to counteract lateral rolling forces when cornering, ensuring maximum tyre contact to deliver class-leading cabin stability, ride comfort and exceptional handling.

Similar to the recently launched Continental GT Speed, where the boundaries of grand touring comfort versus engaging performance have been extended through chassis mode selection, the Bentayga S now offers increased capability through an enhanced SPORT mode over a standard Bentayga.

In SPORT, improved steering feel, greater turn-in response and further reduced body-roll is possible due to an additional 15 per cent increase in air suspension damping and a unique Electronic Stability Control and Bentley Dynamic Ride tune.

Recalibration of Bentley’s Torque Vectoring by Brake system – whereby the car lightly brakes the inside rear wheel at corner entry to sharpen the front axle turn-in – has made Bentayga S even more responsive to drive.

A new sports exhaust is included as standard, with free-flowing primary and secondary pipes improving flow and combining with reduced perforations in the muffler to deliver enhanced character and volume, giving a more performance-oriented feel.

The Bentayga’s comprehensive off-road abilities remain, with the optional All-Terrain Specification bringing four dedicated off-road modes (Snow and Wet Grass, Dirt and Gravel, Mud and Trail, and Sand) along with a 500mm wading depth.

A new fluted seat design is available in four, five and seven seat configurations. The introduction of a new, unique and modern seat design provides a more sporting aesthetic with clean simple stitch lines through the shoulder areas. The new stitching design defines the fluting, available to match either primary or secondary hide colour, and combines with the Alcantara elements to complete the new aesthetic. The seat backrests are finished with an embroidered "S" motif.

A unique and elegant fascia badge adorns the dashboard in front of the passenger, with a similarly themed Bentayga S treadplate that illuminates when stepping in or out of the vehicle.

The Bentayga S shares a fully digital driver’s information panel with the Bentayga Speed, with pronounced dial graphics that take influence from high-end chronographs. The display brings a contemporary look to the cockpit, can be customised to the driver’s requirements and features real-time lighting effects with elegant animations.

The high-resolution screen can be viewed in either Classic or Expanded format. In Classic, the display shows the traditional two-dial design of speedometer and tachometer. In Expanded, the right dial is replaced with an area for maps and media information.


Tax-free’ car stocks sold out

                KUALA LUMPUR: It is just over a month before the GST-free period ends, but most car companies are reporting no more “tax-free” car stocks.

Several major car showrooms are already overbooked and customers requesting GST-free cars are being turned down.

However, there are car companies which are accepting orders before the GST-free period ends for delivery past the Aug 31 deadline.

In such cases, the car company concerned would absorb the new tax imposed on the car by the Government.

Annison Francis, a sales representative with the Mazda showroom in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, said there was no more stock for GST
zero-rated cars.

However, he said his showroom was still accepting bookings during this period until the new Sales and Service Tax (SST) kicks in on Sept 1.

“If customers place their bookings during this period and get their loans approved, we will fulfil the zero-GST price even after Sept 1,” he added.

Honda salesman Nicholas Foong, who works with Tenaga Setia Resources in Section 51, Petaling Jaya, said his showroom “was totally cleared out”.

Popular models such as the Honda Civic and CR-V topped the booking list, he added.

“Since June 20, we have been directed to explain to each potential customer that there is a possibility that they might not get their car before Sept 1 when the SST kicks in,” said Foong.

“We only have several hundred units coming in per month to fulfil orders, so those who have already paid their booking fee and have the loan documents ready get priority.

“Even our display units have been sold. I’ve got friends selling other car brands who are also working in empty showrooms.”

Rosemilia Mustafa Kamal, who works at NZ Wheel’s Mercedes-Benz showroom in Jalan Kapar, Klang, said demand differed according to the models.

“For the C200 sedan and GLC200 and GLC250 crossovers, there is no ready stock as these are popular models. We are in fact overbooked for these,” she said.

Business manager Carrie Lourdes said she had been eyeing a Honda Civic when the GST zero-rate period was announced.

“But when I was told that the waiting period would go well beyond Sept 1, I decided to just wait and see the newer models which are due to be launched by the end of this year and in 2019,” she added.

Engineer Eddie Tuen decided not to wait and got himself a Toyota Camry Hybrid at a GST-free price.

“My road tax was expiring mid-July and I decided to go for a car with good resale value,” said Tuen.

Without GST and getting a further discount on top of that, Tuen said he saved RM16,000 on the purchase price.


Long wait over: New VW Golf, Golf GTI arrive as CKD models. Golf R launched, too

                PETALING JAYA: The VW Golf R-Line and Golf GTI previewed to Malaysian media in Sekinchan last November are officially launched today.

In an apparent move to make it "three's company", Volkswagen pulled a surprise by unveiling the Golf R as well.

The launch ceremony, held at the Sepang International Circuit, also saw media members given an opportunity to drive the R-Line and  GTI on the track.

The R-Line's pricing is still awaiting government approval, with indicative pricing of RM155,000 to RM165,000, while the GTI is priced from RM212,711 (OTR inclusive of SST exemption). Both models are assembled at the VW plant in Pekan, Pahang.

The GTI assembly in the Pekan plant marks a major milestone, as it is the first plant outside of Germany and China to do so.

The R is fully imported and priced from RM357,584. Limited units are available.

Contrast the prices with the previous Golf Mk7.5, which retailed for around RM167,000 and the GTI was priced at nearly RM240,000.  On the other hand, the price of the latest R is a big jump compared to around RM296,000 before.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia managing director Erik Winter welcomed the media to the launch in an online call. He said he was unable to be present in person as he was under Covid-19 quarantine.

Since last November, Volkswagen had begun inviting prospective customers to register their interest for the R-Line and GTI.

For VW fans, it has been a long wait for the eighth-generation Golf, which made its world premiere in 2019. The GTI and R showed up in late 2020.

The R-Line and GTI are available in five colours, including two new ones – matte Moonstone Grey and metallic Kings Red.

Other colours are Atlantic Blue in metallic finishing, as well as Deep Black and Oryx White with pearl effect.

All models come with three years free maintenance, five years unlimited mileage warranty, and five years roadside assistance.

Let's dive in, starting with the most accessible model.

Golf R-Line

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia is accepting pre-bookings for the Golf R-Line as it awaits government approval on pricing.

With more than 35 million units sold since 1974 debut, the Golf is an icon that has kept evolving to this day.

The all-new Golf offers improved performance, enhanced digitalisation, and more intuitive controls. The changes are most noticeable in its clean and contemporary look.

A leaner front grille, narrow LED headlights, and an imposing bumper lend an assured stance to the striking model. Inspired by the performance R range, the R-Line has a sporty styling package fitted to create an edgier look.

VW Golf R-Line Specifications

The interior has been shaped by the goal to ensure that this vehicle is more closely connected to the driver than ever. The all-new Golf offers an entirely digitalised interior landscape, known as the Driver’s Workspace, to provide seamless connectivity and convenience.

The dashboard welcomes a new-generation 10.25” Digital Cockpit; a multifunction steering wheel with haptic-touch control; as well as an advanced 10” Discover Media infotainment system with navigation. Another new feature is the compact and innovative new-generation gear selector – it is the first Volkswagen model in Malaysia to carry this.

To complement its sporty exterior, the R-Line comes with front sport seats fitted in Sardegna fabric and Art Velours side bolsters for deluxe comfort, complete with the R-line logo embossed on the headrest.

Under the hood is a 1.4TSI turbocharged engine that is paired with an 8-speed automatic shift by wire transmission, producing 150PS and 250Nm of torque.

Golf GTI

The latest GTI is the everyday sports car from VW. It is powered by a 2.0 TSI turbocharged engine coupled with 7-speed wet clutch DSG to produce 245PS and 370Nm of torque.

What is unique to the GTI is the Vehicle Dynamics Manager system, which allows further driving personalisation including various pre-determined modes as well as individualised settings to choose from. Fuel consumption is rated at 7l/100km.

The GTI's front sport seats are decked out with red trims and an active climate feature to suit either hot or cold weather.

Seats are wrapped in Vienna leather. The driver seat comes with power-adjustable memory feature and lumbar support.

The GTI is immediately recognisable with its signature honeycomb front grille and red GTI trim. It sports 18” Richmond alloy wheels with red brake callipers, and full LED headlamps and taillights.

The GTI's Driver’s Workspace also uses a 10.25” Digital Cockpit with multiple colour themes and views, including a GTI-specific skin, as well as a multifunction steering wheel with haptic-touch control and heating.

VW Golf GTI Specifications

An advanced 10” Discover Media infotainment system sits at the centre of the dashboard, offering 3D navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and seven speakers.

Intuitive operation of the vehicle is supported by an intelligent voice control system, activated by saying “Hello Volkswagen” or by pressing the voice button on the steering wheel.

Ambient lighting in the GTI can be linked to driving modes. There are up to 30 colours to choose from, in addition to five pre-set colour modes (Infinity, Eternity, Desire, Euphoria, Vitality), and individualised settings.

The GTI is equipped with 3-zone climate control that can be controlled via a touch slider or voice control. The air conditioner comes with Air Care to keep the cabin air clean by filtering out pollen, spores, and particulates.

Key safety features include six airbags, Electronic Stability Control; Post Collision Braking System (to prevent a second collision) and Electronic Differential Lock.

Golf R

Unlike the other two Golf models, the Golf R is fully imported from Germany.

The all-wheel drive R is designed to be track-ready yet be comfortable and suitable for a daily drive.

It is traditionally the most powerful model in the Golf family. As the ultimate performance hatch from VW, the R has set and broken numerous records worldwide.

To date, over 250,000 units of the R have been produced and sold around the world.

Under the bonnet lies a 2.0 litre TSI engine making a whopping 320 PS (+20 PS) and 400Nm (+20Nm). The car is able to sprint from 0-100kph in 4.7s and onwards to a top speed of 250kph.

The 4MOTION system with R-Performance Torque Vectoring is the new control centre that distributes the engine’s output to the four driven wheels.

A new rear final drive distributes the drive power of the turbocharged petrol engine in the R not just between the front and rear axles, but also variably between the two rear wheels.

This makes it possible to significantly increase the agility particularly when cornering. As a world first, the all-wheel drive is also networked via a Vehicle Dynamics Manager (VDM) with other running gear systems such the electronic differential locks (XDS) and adaptive chassis control DCC.

Thanks to this close integration of the different systems, the new R is capable of offering optimum traction and neutral handling with high precision.

Note that the R for Malaysia is specced with only four instead of six drive modes namely Comfort, Sport, Race and Individual. Special and Drift modes are not on the menu.

Sporty yet subtle, the design of the all-new R belies its powerful performance.

Besides the R emblems, other R-specific characteristics adorn the model to make it distinctive – from signature bumpers and air intake to the newly-designed diffuser in high-gloss black that is flanked by a pair of tailpipes on both sides.

The 19” Adelaide alloy wheels complete the rugged profile of this hot hatch.

The signature blue of the R is reflected in the blue brake callipers and the eye-catching blue strip that runs across the front of the vehicle, whereas the illuminated light strip is trademark Volkswagen.

Another unique feature is the light projection of the R logo when the driver door is opened and closed.

VW Golf R Specifications

The interior evokes sporty luxury with the R-specific decorative trim in Carbon Grey. Another standout feature is the premium front sport seats with integrated headrest and R logo in Nappa leather.

These are furnished with the active climate feature, while the driver seat can be electrically adjusted and provides lumbar support.

Other innovations come in the form of the multifunctional sports steering wheel, where it now has the blue backlit R button that instantly activates "Race" mode with one push.

What is special as well is the larger shift paddles for a better shifting experience.

The advanced 10” Digital Cockpit comes with various customisations, including an exclusively-designed R-View that is only available in this model.

Its auxiliary display would interest fans of motorsport as data such as output, power, torque distribution, charge pressure, lap timer and G-meter are available in live view.

A 10” Digital Infotainment System offers seamless connectivity with inbuilt navigation, and Wireless App-Connect for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

There are 30-colour ambient lighting and 3-zone Climatronic air con for optimum comfort.

The R features a premium Harman Kardon 480-watt audio system with 10 speakers.

The model is available in three colours – its signature Lapiz Blue, Deep Black and Pure White.

The R is equipped with key safety features such as six airbags, side assist with rear cross traffic alert, rear view camera, automatic post-collision braking system, Driver alert system, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), Anti-theft alarm system, and proactive passenger protection system.


Sept 23-29: RON97 petrol up 2 sen to RM2.75

                PETALING JAYA: Retail prices for RON95 petrol and diesel will remain unchanged from Sept 23 to Sept 29 while RON97 petrol will go up by two sen to RM2.75 per litre, says the Finance Ministry.

In a statement today, it said the retail price for RON95 petrol and diesel would remain at RM2.05 and RM2.15 per litre, respectively.

The ministry also said that to protect consumers from global oil price increases, the government would maintain its ceiling price of RON95 petrol at RM2.05 per litre and diesel at RM2.15 per litre, despite increases beyond the current ceiling price.


Radical readies 350hp race-bred Rapture

                LONDON: Radical Sportscars has introduced its new flagship road-legal Rapture sports car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The Rapture - also intended for European markets from launch (with homologation for worldwide territories to follow) is solely built and designed at the company’s Peterborough (Cambridgeshire) production facility in the UK.

A 2,261cc turbocharged EcoBoost (Ford) engine works together with its lightweight spaceframe chassis with FIA-compliant safety cell and crash structure, high-downforce composite bodywork, bi-plane rear wing and double-tunnel rear diffuser.

The engine, reworked by Radical Performance Engines, features an all-new turbo architecture and air induction system to produce 350bhp and 434Nm of torque - all managed by a six-speed paddle-shift gearbox.

The Rapture sits on an enhanced version of the firm’s proven Nik-link suspension system, optimised for both road and track use, and is complete with adjustable dampers.

For driver comfort, the cockpit incorporates two moulded racing seats, with integral headrests and multi-point harnesses while the dashboard offers an LCD display with data-logging functions as well as heating and a multi-function digital steering wheel.

Each Rapture customer will benefit from a tailored track tuition package to ensure each gets the most out of the new machine.

The order books for the Rapture will open imminently, and the company has already received pre-ord

ers from both France and Germany.

Subject to availability, early build slots are now available, with the first deliveries scheduled for the beginning of August.


Foxconn to use Nvidia chips to build self-driving vehicle platforms

                SAN JOSE: Chipmaker Nvidia Corp and electronics manufacturer Foxconn announced a partnership on Tuesday to develop autonomous vehicle platforms.

Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn said it will make electronic control units (ECUs) for cars based on Nvidia's DRIVE Orin chip made specifically for computing in connected and autonomous vehicles.

The ECUs will serve the global automotive market, Foxconn said.

Companies developing electric and autonomous cars have struggled to bring products to the market in recent years as they grapple with rising costs and difficulties in ramping up production.

Nvidia said its technology, which includes chips to process information from sensors in real time, will help Foxconn overcome some of those challenges.

It sees a market opportunity of US$300 billion in the automotive sector and reported revenue of US$251 million in the third quarter from the segment.

The chipmaker said the tie-up will allow it to scale efforts to meet growing demand for chips made for autonomous and connected vehicles.

Foxconn, which operates a vehicle manufacturing facility in Ohio, said its vehicles will contain ECUs based on DRIVE Orin and Nvidia's DRIVE Hyperion sensors for autonomous driving.

Taiwan-based Foxconn makes electric vehicles for Lordstown Motors Corp and has a contract to make Fisker Inc's second car model, PEAR. It also manufactures Apple Inc products.

The company said in October it hopes to eventually make cars for Tesla Inc as it ramps up electric vehicle manufacturing to diversify its business.


PLUS reminds motorists not to abuse emergency lanes

                PETALING JAYA: Highway users have been told not to abuse the emergency lanes or risked causing accidents, says PLUS Malaysia Bhd.

A PLUS spokesman said those heading to their homes to celebrate Hari Raya Haji and the school holidays to check the travel advisory issued by PLUS and Public Works Department (JKR) and plan their journey accordingly.

She said traffic on several stretches in the north and south was slow moving with no major incidents reported so far.

She added that traffic was slow along the Bukit Berapit area from Permatang Pauh to Perai, from Sungai Petani to Gurun and from Bandar Ainsdale to Seremban R&R.

Star Radio Group traffic presenter Navin Rishal@Navster said as at 4pm yesterday, traffic on the North-South Expressway (NSE) was slow.

“From what we have monitored, the big chunk of traffic jam started from the Sungai Buloh exit to Sungai Buaya, which covers some 22km.

“Traffic was really heavy from Behrang to Tapah, especially around the uphill stretch, causing delays due to lots of slow vehicles on the roads,” he said, adding that the stretch from Behrang to Tapah was heavy as well.

In the northern area, traffic slowed to a 15km-long crawl in Juru, he added. In the southern area, traffic from Putra Mahkota to Seremban and Bangi to Seremban was also slow moving. He noted that traffic heading towards the East Coast was heavily congested along the Karak Highway.

The jam began from MRR2 heading towards Batu Caves and Gombak until the entrance to the East Coast Expressway. He said traffic on the East Coast Expressway to Kuantan was smooth.

JKR has prepared several advisories via Twitter on the choice of different highways and federal roads to use over the weekend. They include the NSE, New Klang Valley Expressway, Karak Highway and all the federal trunk roads.


Porsche Rimac alliance spells the end of Bugatti as we know it

                NEW YORK: When Porsche and Rimac Automobil announced their plan on July 5 to fold Bugatti into a joint venture called Bugatti-Rimac, no member of the leadership team from the 112-year-old French brand joined the group that hosted the video event heralding the news.

According to a spokesperson, a public relations specialist from Bugatti did sit in on the call, although she made no official remarks.

The absence of a Bugatti company executive at the table spoke volumes about how much of the brand—traditionally known for US$3 million-and-higher, 16-cylinder objet d’art supercars—might survive in its latest iteration.

Probably not very much.

Rimac founder Mate Rimac says Bugatti will soon become like a Patek Philippe wristwatch: beautiful and highly coveted as a status symbol if, practically speaking, unnecessary in the digitalised modern world.

“With Bugatti, [it will be] like having a very cool analog Swiss watch—with electric input from Rimac for the more nerdy types of buyers,” the 33-year-old Croat told reporters on the call. Rimac will assume the top role at Bugatti.

He will replace Stephan Winkelmann, who has held the position since 2018 and is also president and chief executive officer of Lamborghini.

That’s a flattering comparison. Nearly 200 years old, Patek Philippe is one of the most profitable watch brands in history; there are waiting lists for the chance to own one of its mechanical timepieces. Outside observers, however, see the reorganisation as evidence that Bugatti in its current form lacked a role in Volkswagen AG’s plans.

Consolidation for electrification

Bugatti fits poorly into VW’s new business strategy, which relies on its ability to produce and sell electric vehicles.

In June, VW announced it would halt sales of combustion engine vehicles in Europe by 2035, by which time they stand to be outlawed in many European cities.

Britain’s prime minister, Boris Johnson, has said he will ban new cars and vans fuelled with gasoline or diesel by 2030 to meet the UK’s climate target of net-zero emissions.

Norway’s goal dates even earlier: by 2025. France and Spain have announced a target date of 2040 for a ban on cars with combustion engines.

“Volkswagen AG's timely rollout of battery-electric vehicles in 2021 could be a step towards overtaking Tesla's BEV (battery-powered electric vehicle) crown in 2023 and catching up on software by 2025, a view the market is only starting to see, helped by positive news on battery-cost savings,” said Michael Dean, an automotive equity research analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, in a recent report.

“This is welcome as VW attempts to shrink its valuation gap vs. Tesla.”

What’s more, VW’s sports car brand Porsche is “electrifying sales” for VW AG with a potential 30% BEV mix in 2022-23 and as much as 40%-plus by 2025, Dean said. The growth will closely resemble Tesla's, but will have the high margins of a specialty brand such as Ferrari, justifying a whopping €55 billion to €80 billion valuation scenario for an initial public offering for Porsche, he said.

Bugatti, meanwhile, is still selling such cars as the 1,480-horsepower Chiron Pur Sport, which gets eight miles per gallon in city driving. The brand traditionally does not disclose specific sales results but is known to deliver fewer than 100 vehicles globally each year.

Rimac characterised its acquisition as “removing some distractions” from VW. (The deal stipulates that Rimac will hold 55% of the venture while Porsche/VW will hold 45%. Additionally, Porsche lifted its stake in Rimac to 24% in March.)

Industry analysts seem to agree.

“We view corporate actions taken by VW group to focus attention on its core strategy of electrification across its key brands—VW Brand, Porsche, and Audi—as a net positive,” Tom Narayan, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, told Barron’s.

“At a time when customers, especially younger ones, expect sustainability across all luxury segments, a combustion engine that empties the tank in around 12 minutes at top speed and consumes more than 30 liters of fuel per 100km in inner city driving has no future,” Daniel Langer, CEO of the luxury brand strategy firm Équité, wrote.

The future is frugal

What does have a future at Bugatti are hybrid and electric cars, according to Rimac—and not even the extraordinary kind.

Bugatti will eventually produce some more affordable, less powerful cars at higher production volumes, he said. This would be an extraordinary move for a brand that built its name on extreme elitism, selling the fastest, most expensive, and most beautiful cars in the world.

“For us it’s about … securing the long-term survival of the company,” Rimac said in the videoconference call.

“We want to make the company independent financially—being profitable, having a return on investment. We want to do that with a focus on efficiency.”

Rimac characterised the evolution as natural, saying he will not “artificially separate” Bugatti and Rimac as individual brands within the new company should they blend together beyond recognition over the next few years.

“It might need to converge,” he said.


US car buyers unwilling to pay for automatic safety systems, study shows

                DETROIT: US car buyers are not willing to pay for a new generation of automatic safety devices without an extra push from legislators, regulators, manufacturers, dealers and insurers, according to a new study.

The survey, released last month, covered a range of new safety features, from automatic parking, typically a US$395 option, to infrared night vision (US$2,260).

"These technologies are not inexpensive," said Steve Handschuh, chief executive officer of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association.

The Boston Consulting Group, which conducted the survey for the association, estimated the cost of seven automated safety systems at US$8,240 but said consumers were willing to pay only 25 percent to 70 percent of that.

US car buyers are more willing to spend money on convenience ahead of safety, said Xavier Mosquet, who heads Boston Consulting's North American automotive practice. Advanced safety systems such as adaptive cruise control, that are partially automated but relieve some of the tedium of driving, are therefore more attractive, he said.

Because many advanced driver assistance features are still so expensive, their adoption in the United States continues to grow slowly, at an annual rate of 2 percent to 5 percent, Boston Consulting said.

"Motivation is obviously needed" to boost those rates, which in turn could dramatically reduce costs, Handschuh said.

Without such motivation, from lower insurance rates to new government regulations, it will take 20 to 25 years for widespread adoption, he said.

Boston Consulting said automated driver assistance systems could help US drivers avert 28 percent of vehicle crashes and save 9,900 lives each year.

Suppliers of advanced driver assistance systems include Robert Bosch GmbH, Autoliv Inc, Continental AG , Delphi Automotive PLC, Valeo SA and Denso Corp.


ADVERTORIAL: Volvo XC90 is eco-friendliness at its peak

                The Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine recently won the “Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) of the Year” award at the inaugural CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards.

Judges for the awards were bowled over by the Swedish sport utility vehicle’s (SUV) mile-long list of premium safety features, powerful and fuel efficient Twin Engine plug-in hybrid technology and top-notch cabin comforts.

The flagship Volvo XC90 is assembled in Shah Alam, and also has the distinction of being the first CKD (completely knocked down) PHEV in Asean.

It is priced at RM403,888 on the road without insurance, and is sold with a 5-year, unlimited mileage warranty as well as 5-year Volvo On Call road assist.

With the XC90, the driver can switch to pure electric power where the range can be more than 40km.

A full charge for the lithium-ion battery in the XC90, using a household power socket, takes three and a half hours.

With a charging station, this can be reduced by an hour.

German-produced Hager Witty charging stations from Light and Energy Solution are priced at RM9,540 (indoor and outdoor use) and RM8,480 (indoor use only).

The XC90 has a distinctive road presence, especially with Volvo Cars’ iconic arrow elegantly aligned with the diagonal slash across the grille and T-shaped “Thor’s Hammer” DRLs (daytime running lights).

Motoring joy and comfort is courtesy of its four-corner electronic air suspension, all-wheel drive, huge 20-inch wheels
with 275/45 series tyres, and a sophisticated turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-litre engine that produces 320hp and 400Nm of torque.

Fitted with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the XC90 plug-in hybrid’s driveline has a maximum power of 407hp and 640Nm of torque.

Rated with a combined fuel consumption of 2.1 litres per 100km, the XC90 T8 Twin Engine goes from zero to 100kph in only 5.6 seconds.

The interior of the XC90 has a luxurious blend of high-end materials such as wood, crystal and metal.

Infotainment interface is via the Sensus tablet-like touchscreen display, which controls car functions, navigation, connected services and in-car entertainment applications.

The interior gets four-zone climate controls, CleanZone air purification system, Nappa leather seats, powered front seats with memory, panoramic roof, hand-crafted wood accents, crystal glass gear lever from Swedish glassmaker Orrefors as well as diamond-cut controls for the start/stop button and volume control.

The XC90 also stays true to Volvo Cars’ passion for road safety and its vision is that no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by 2020.

The standard safety package for the XC90 T8 Twin Engine includes two world-first safety technologies: a run-off road protection package and auto brake at intersection capability.

In a run-off road scenario, the all-new Volvo XC90 detects what is happening and the front safety belts are tightened to keep the occupants in position.

To help prevent spine injuries, energy-absorbing functionality between the seat and seat frame cushions the vertical forces that can arise when the car encounters a hard landing in the terrain.

The XC90 is the first car in the world with technology that features automatic braking if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car.

This is a common scenario at busy city crossings as well as on highways, where the speed limits are higher.

City Safety becomes the umbrella name for all of Volvo Cars’ auto brake functions, which are standard equipment in the XC90.

It now covers vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in front of the car, day and night.

Also, its Adaptive Cruise Control with Pilot Assist enables semi-autonomous driving by automatically following the vehicle ahead in stop-and-go traffic.

Acceleration, braking and steering are controlled automatically.

To make sure that the driver remains in full control when manoeuvring and reversing in tight spaces, the XC90 features a 360-degree Surround view.

The Park Assist Pilot also offers automatic reversing into a parking bay.


Infiniti Project Black S prototype features F1 tech

                PARIS: Infiniti will reveal a new Project Black S prototype in Paris, showcasing how Formula One dual-hybrid electric powertrain technology can be deployed in a road car.

The prototype is based on the Q60 S sports coupe and has been developed together with the Renault Sport Formula One Team.

This is part of the company's plan to electrify its portfolio from 2021 onwards.

Firstly, it will fuse its high-performance dual-hybrid technology with the Japanese carmaker's VR30 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine, where the unique ‘energy recovery system’ (ERS) will help contribute more power and torque than the engine alone.

The dual-hybrid powertrain prototype generates 563hp, compared to the conventional VR30 engine's 400hp and that puts the power to weight ratio to around 235Watts per kilo - allowing for a 0-100kph sprint in under 4.0 seconds.

The ‘Black S’ designation represents the highest level of performance, dynamic capability, effective aerodynamics and intelligent energy management offered by Infiniti.

Engineered in collaboration between Infiniti and the Renault Sport Formula One Team, and under development specifically for road use, the Project Black S prototype features a world-first dual-hybrid powertrain technology and represents the latest development initiative by Infiniti to electrify its cars.

The prototype’s powertrain employs three motor generator units (MGU). A single MGU-K (‘K’ stands for ‘kinetic’) unit harvests kinetic energy from braking.

Uniquely, the engine’s twin electric turbochargers are fitted with two MGU-H (‘H’ for ‘heat’) units, to harvest heat energy from exhaust gases.

This enables the powertrain to generate electrical power under both braking and acceleration.

The Q60 sports coupe will basically get better aerodynamic efficiency and downforce with a functional motorsport-inspired performance aesthetics thanks to the expertise of Renault Sport Formula One Team.

This expertise is no more evident than in the high-tech design of the rear wing, validated by Renault Sport Formula One Team’s aerodynamicists and finished in carbon fibre.

The wing has a similar aerodynamic profile to the Renault Sport Formula One Team’s ‘Monza’ wing, which provides a relatively low level of downforce for a Formula One car around one of the faster circuits in the sport’s calendar.

The digital modelling technology allowed for subtle changes to the shape and proportions of the wing, which now offers a fine-tuned compromise between maximum straight-line stability and high-traction under cornering.


Volvo Car USA base near NY made its Americas hub for EV training and charging

                NEW YORK: Volvo Cars is expanding its footprint in New Jersey to prepare for a future selling only electric vehicles by building a new technical and training facility, and installing 50 EV chargers, at the company’s headquarters in Mahwah.

Executives, employees and local dignitaries gathered last week to break ground at the future site of the Volvo Car Americas Technical and Training Center, located 55km north of New York City.

The new facility will enable the company to better support its network of retailers and their service technicians in the US, Canada, Mexico and South America. It is scheduled to open in March 2023.

Representative Josh Gottheimer (NJ 5th District), Mahwah mayor James Wysocki and Anders Gustafsson, Senior Vice President Americas and President and CEO, Volvo Car USA, spoke to attendees gathered at the site to mark the occasion.

The Volvo Car Americas Technical and Training Center will house a multi-vehicle workshop and classrooms where service technicians will learn the latest diagnostic and service techniques for all Volvo cars, including plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles.

In alignment with the company’s sustainability focus, the building is designed to be LEED Gold certified. It will feature a 15-kW solar panel system, high efficiency HVAC, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program used worldwide. It provides a framework for healthy, efficient, carbon- and cost-saving green buildings. The Volvo Cars Americas headquarters building, located within the same campus, is also LEED Gold certified.

In addition, Volvo Cars is installing 50 electric vehicle charging stations on the 20-acre property. This will serve the increasing number of employees and visitors driving plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles.

The company’s goal is to eventually make the chargers available to the public, in line with its electrification ambitions.


Honda City V versus Toyota Vios G - which is the winner?

                With the launch of the 2017 revised Honda City, it is inevitable that interested buyers would compare it against the 2016 improved Toyota Vios.

So how do both cars stack up against each other? Which is the better buy?

To answer that, we compare the high or top-grade variants of the City and Vios.

 Vios GX grade has smoked halogen projector headlights, dark chrome grille, and bumper spoilers, side skirts.

The top-grade City V is priced at RM92,000 on-the-road while the Vios G is priced at RM89,800.

In terms of price, there is only a RM2,200 difference with the Vios G being the lower priced option.

Both 1.5-litre cars have a 5-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

 Vios GX grade.

As for performance, the City has more power with its 120ps/145Nm single overhead camshaft (SOHC) i-VTEC engine compared with the Vios' 107ps/140Nm double overhead camshaft (DOHC) dual VVT-i engine.

Still, the City's maximum power output is achieved at higher engine speeds.

Also, it is worth noting that the Vios' all-aluminium engine uses iridium spark plugs which would help to provide a smoother drive and good fuel economy.

Both cars use a CVT (continuously variable transmission).

The City V has bigger 185/55 R16 tyres compared with the 185/60 R15 rubber on the Vios.

 Bigger 16-inch rims on the City V.

As for fuel economy, Honda claims 5.7 litres per 100km for the City while Toyota did not provide fuel consumption figures for the Vios.

In tight spaces or when making U-turns, the Vios would be better with its 5.1-metre minimum turning radius compared with the City's 5.6 metres.

Meanwhile, in terms of interior space, the City should have the advantage here with its slightly longer wheelbase of 2,600mm (Vios has a 2,550mm wheelbase) and its “D-segment space in a B-segment size” cabin design.

Both cars have deep boot space, but the City wins with a 536-litre boot (compared with the 506-litre boot in the Vios).

 Vios has 506-litre boot. City has best-in-class 536-litre boot.

As for stopping power, the Vios has all-round disc brakes while the City has front disc brakes and rear drums.

In terms of safety kit, the City V is clearly the winner with its 6 airbags, and extra features like Hill Start Assist (HSA).

The City has a Asean NCAP maximum 5-star rating for adult occupant protection, and 4-star rating for child occupant protection.

The 2016 improved Vios has not been tested by Asean NCAP.

The City V also gets more premium road illumination with light-emitting diode (LED) headlights, fog and tail lights while the Vios G has projector halogen headlights.

 City V gets premium LED head, fog and tail lights.

The City's steering wheel is tilt and telescopic for the driver to better adjust the driving position, while the Vios' steering wheel is only tilt adjustable.

The City V also wins with extra comfort features like touch-panel automatic air-conditioning, rear air-conditioning vents and 8 cup holders.

 City V has tilt and telescopic steering, and automatic air-conditioning.

Both cars have a 6.8-inch touchscreen and reverse cameras, a USB port, and Bluetooth but their in-car infotainment systems are slightly different.

The Vios G offers a 2-DIN head unit with DVD playback and voice recognition, while the City V has a HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port for smartphones, and 3 accessory ports.

 Vios G offers DVD playback and voice recognition.

The City V also has a 8-speaker audio system compared with 6 speakers on the Vios.

Still, do note that the Vios G comes with Toyota Premium Security and Solar film, which includes a security layer to delay grass breakage - this is an important buying consideration as high quality window tint film doesn't come cheap.

In summary, the City V is a couple of notches ahead in terms of safety and comfort kit, and storage spaces although the Vios G is the cheaper option, and is also very well-equipped.

 City V has rear air-conditioning vents.
READ MORE:
2016 Toyota Vios comes standard with Dual VVT-i engine & VSC
Honda City facelift launched, more kit same price, from RM78,300


Proton raising funds

                PETALING JAYA: As Proton gears up to launch the long awaited Perdana flagship model, it is busy raising capital in a move to shore up its battered finances.

DRB-Hicom said yesterday that the Government had agreed to subscribe to 1.25 billion redeemable convertible cumulative preference shares (RCCPS) issued by Proton via GOVCO Holdings Bhd by way of RM1.25bil cash payment.

As part of the deal, Proton is required to come out with a restructuring/turnaround plan that includes the relocation of its Shah Alam plant to the Tanjung Malim plant and a strategic plan for the expansion of its business.

The company is also given one year to seek and identify a strategic and renowned partner who will assist in research and development to become a competitive player in automotive industry at the international level.

Proton is a 100%-owned unit of DRB-Hicom.

“The proposed redeemable convertible cumulative preference shares (RCCPS) issuance will enable Proton to regularise its cashflow and settle the long outstanding balance payable to various local and international creditors/vendors/suppliers,” DRB-Hicom said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia.

“This will also help rebuild the vendors/suppliers’ confidence in Proton,” it added.

To recap, the Cabinet had in April approved a conditional soft loan amounting to RM1.5bil to Proton in which a bulk of that money would be used to pay its vendors.

“Proton group has been experiencing flagging vehicle sales in the recent years and this has affected its cashflow position. Proton group plays a crucial role in the national automotive industry where there are about 12,000 workers directly under it, while about 50,000 are employed under the various vendor companies.

“In cognisance of this, the Government of Malaysia agreed to subscribe to Proton’s RCCPS to provide financial support to the group,” DRB-Hicom said.

Assuming that the RCCPS is exercised into shares, the Government will end up with 79% stake in Proton. DRB-Hicom’s shareholdings in Proton then will be diluted from 100% to about 21%.

In giving the fresh funding, the Government also announced that a taskforce led by Datuk Seri Idris Jala will be set up to ensure that Proton’s transformation plan is successful. The task force will consist of six people, three each from the private and public sectors.

The public representatives of the task force will come from the Finance Ministry, International Trade and Industry Ministry and the Economic Planning Unit. This taskforce will also examine Proton’s past business model to identify the weaknesses within the company and ways to overcome it.

Proton had earlier said the Government’s soft loan would catalyse the company’s turnaround plan, which included the rolling out of three new models this year starting with the Perdana.


Honda dealers to visit affected customers and tell them to change faulty airbags pronto

                PETALING JAYA:  Honda Malaysia todaysaid all its 84 authorised Honda service dealers nationwide will mobilise their workers to go door to door and approach affected customers at their premises from now until Dec 31.

The exercise is to increase further awareness and emphasis on the importance of replacing the affected Takata driver front airbag inflator to help expedite the free-of-charge replacement activity.

This latest activity is in addition to the Honda Service Central Hubs, Mobile Hubs which are stationed at selected shopping malls, and Honda’s on-ground events such as the Honda Family Road Trip.

Customers are encouraged to urgently replace their affected Takata front airbag inflators as the affected (driver/passenger) front airbag inflators manufactured by Takata may deploy with excessive internal pressure when activated.

The airbag inflator casing might rupture, which may result in injury or fatality of the driver and passenger.

The door-to-door mobile teams from Authorized Honda Service dealers associates will be in Honda uniforms (please refer to image on the team look) together with an authorisation letter for customers’ convenience in recognizing the team.

Customers may contact the Honda Toll Free number 1-800-88-2020 or Authorized Honda Service dealers for further confirmation when approached by the team.

The door-to-door mobile teams will also make arrangements for replacement activities on-site where necessary for customers who are genuinely unable to go to any nearest dealers or temporary hubs.

At the same time, Honda Malaysia strongly encourages affected customers to make an appointment at any Authorised Honda Service dealers and Honda Service Central Hubs for the replacement.

Affected customers can also walk-in to the Honda Service Central Hubs to replace their Takata driver front airbag inflator.

Replacement activities at the Mobile Hubs and Honda Family Road Trip do not require advance appointment.

For further enquiry on the Takata driver front airbag inflator replacement appointment, affected customers may contact Honda Toll Free number 1-800-88-2020.

As of Dec 8, 2016 Honda Malaysia has completed 68% replacement of Takata driver front airbag inflators and would like to further improve the completion ratio by providing more replacing convenience to affected customers.

Honda Malaysia remains in its commitment to ensure the safety of customers and would like to also encourage affected customers to make an appointment at either the Honda Service Central Hubs or Authorized Honda Service dealers to urgently replace their affected Takata driver front airbag inflators.

In addition, Honda Malaysia is working closely with the Road Transport Department/Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) to approach current owners of affected Honda vehicles based on JPJ data.

For more information on this activity, customers can either call Honda Toll Free number 1-800-88-2020 or check their vehicles recall status by logging on to www.honda.com.my or www.productrecall.honda.com.my.


2019 Geneva Motor Show: Nissan's eccentric concept crossover

                GENEVA: Nissan is introducing the world to the IMQ crossover, a heavily-styled hybrid concept outfitted in tomorrow's intelligent technology.

On Monday, Nissan unveiled their vision of the future through the IMQ concept which pays tribute to the brand's Japanese heritage while incorporating the latest "human-centric" technology.

Powering the model is the brand's e-Power motor drive system and a 1.5-litre turbocharged gasoline engine that work together to generate 250 kW and 700Nm of torque. Housing the powertrain is a futuristically-designed exterior with sharp contours giving the IMQ an origami aesthetic. In fact, Nissan describes these ridges, which span all sides of the exterior, as "evocative of Japanese traditional design."

The body stands on a set of intelligent tyres that can provide the driver with tyre health information — like temperature, pressure, grip level, and wear — on the graphical user interface. Based on this data, the IMQ calibrates its in-car control systems accordingly.

The interior features sculpted seats finished in a 3D design reminiscent of Japanese kumiko woodwork, a pattern that can be found through the cabin spanning to the rear.

As for the vehicle's smarts, the IMQ features a prototype of the company's ProPilot driving assistance system — a technology that signals Nissan's commitment to a future of autonomously driving vehicles — and Nissan's Invisible-to-Visible technology, "a 3-D interface where the "real world" converges with the virtual world" allowing drivers to see what would otherwise be out of sight.


Toyota supplier cyberattack shows big vulnerability that small firms bring

                TOKYO: The cyberattack on a Toyota Motor Corp supplier that brought the automaker's domestic production to a halt shows how more vulnerable small firms can pose a big threat that Japan needs to do more to address, cybersecurity specialists said.

No information was available about who was behind the attack at supplier Kojima Industries Corp nor the motive, but it came just after Japan joined Western allies in clamping down on Russia after it invaded Ukraine.

It was unclear if the attack was related.

Meanwhile, Toyota said it will restart domestic production from Wednesday.

Toyota's production lines will be switched back on at its 14 factories across the country then, it said in a statement. Tuesday's suspension hit output of around 13,000 vehicles.

The cyberattack on Kojima exposed the fragility of smaller companies that may have less sophisticated technical systems, said Takamichi Saito, a professor and Director of the Cybersecurity Laboratory at Tokyo's Meiji University.

"The big companies are pretty advanced with their measures, but a lot of their sub-companies and sub-sub companies aren't.

"Put that together with Japan's shift to manufacturing, and there just aren't enough technical people to keep up - and within companies, the IT sections don't have clout."

Cybersecurity has emerged as a key area of concern in Japan, where government critics say responses to hacking threats have been hampered by a fractured approach.

At smaller companies in particular, computer systems have been often adopted piecemeal by individual firms, and have taken longer to replace.

"Basically you can't get at any of the larger companies directly, so you aim for one of the suppliers at their edges, and attacks have been increasing lately," said Yoshihito Takata, a manager at cybersecurity provider BroadBand Security Inc.

"These sorts of attacks don't just take place from 9 to 5 on weekdays, it's 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, from all around the world. So there's limits to what one company alone can do."

Toyota declined to comment on whether it had detected early signs of a potential cyberattack.

Smaller companies need to have a better grasp of what is needed for security, and that's where Japan most lags behind its overseas peers, said Toshio Nawa, senior analyst at the Cyber Defense Institute, a private cybersecurity firm.

"The larger companies and outside observers need to go in and give pinpoint advice on where they're vulnerable," he said.

Both guidance and financial support are needed from the central government, Nawa and others said. Some regions already provide this, but it needs to be more comprehensive.

"What Japan's furthest behind in is this situational awareness, due to a lot of thinking still left over from the past, companies sticking to what worked well before," Nawa said.


Japan's automakers have a made-in-China sales crisis

People walking past Honda's booth at Auto Shanghai  last month. — Reuters

TOKYO: Japan's automakers are facing a sales crisis in China, data shows, as a rapid shift to electric vehicles (EVs) has upended the world's largest auto market and led to a plunge in purchases of gasoline-powered cars.

Total sales of Japanese auto brands in China were down 32% year-on-year in the first quarter, more than double the pace of the overall market contraction, industry data analysed by Reuters showed.

While other automakers like Volkswagen AG have also been caught out by the sharp shift in China, Japanese automakers stand out because of their limited showing in the fast-growing category of electric and plug-in hybrid sales.

Production and margins will come under pressure in China as automakers cut output and prices of gasoline-powered cars to keep inventories in check, analysts say, in a worrying sign of the competition Japanese automakers could increasingly face outside their home market.

"Especially Japanese automakers face a little bit more inventory of new cars," in China, Yasushi Matsui, chief financial officer at parts supplier Denso Corp, said last week. "They are making adjustments."

Mitsubishi Motors Corp, said last week it had suspended production of its Outlander SUV in China for three months and would take a charge of US$77 million for slowing sales at its joint venture with state-owned GAC Group.

Mitsubishi, like some other Japanese automakers, does not break out China sales figures. Industry data analysed by Reuters showed its first-quarter sales in China fell by 58% from a year earlier.

In another shift, Nissan's Sylphy, a sedan that had been China's top-selling vehicle for three years, was edged out last year by the BYD Song, a plug-in hybrid made by BYD, China's top automaker.

In emailed comments, Nissan said it had sold over 5 million Sylphys in China over the years, adding that an electric-drive hybrid version was eligible for incentives in Guangzhou.

The company said it was working with other cities on similar support. The e-Power electric-drive hybrid version of the sedan would be central to Nissan's brand transformation in China, it said.

'Japan is the biggest loser'

Toyota Motor Corp has said its go-slow approach to all-electric cars protects consumer choice, but the strategy is costing sales in China, analysts say.

"Japan is the biggest loser of the price war so far," said Bill Russo, founder and CEO of Automobility, a Shanghai-based consultancy.

"As EVs get more affordable, they become more attractive to the core buyers who have been resisting so far, the buyers of foreign brands. So, you can see the writing is on the wall."

Japan's share of car sales in China slumped to 18.5% in the first quarter, down from 24% in 2020, industry data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers analysed by Reuters showed.

Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus posted a 14.5% drop in first-quarter sales, company data showed.

"We need to increase our speed and efforts to firmly meet the customer expectations in the Chinese market," Toyota CEO Koji Sato said in an interview last month.

Nissan Motor Co Ltd posted a 45.8% drop in China sales and Mazda Motor Corp sales were down 66.5% in the first quarter. Honda Motor Co Ltd had a 38.2% drop, industry data showed.

Honda chief executive Toshihiro Mibe acknowledged the automaker lagged Chinese rivals in some software technologies.

China's automakers are "further ahead of us than we expected," Mibe told reporters at a presentation here focused on Honda's efforts in autonomous driving and services like gaming.

Japanese automakers built their reputation on factors like durability, but the shift in China shows the draw of lower-priced electric cars and new offerings based on software, said Masatoshi Nishimoto, principal research analyst at S&P Global Mobility here.

"Japanese automakers could face a similar struggle in the United States as in China," he said.


Briggs' Mono supercar on sale in Malaysia and Singapore

                SINGAPORE: Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) has expanded to Singapore and Malaysia with the announcement of a new sales division for the two countries via a partnership with specialist dealership NB Auto.

A Mono R supercar will be on permanent display, and guests can enjoy the full Mono experience at NB Auto, located in central Singapore, following the official launch of BAC Singapore.

The official BAC Singapore launch event was hosted by Briggs Automotive Company co-founder Neill Briggs alongside Douglas Ng of NB Auto.

Briggs was joined by BAC’s head of global sales Chris Lockhart and BAC designer Daniel Youd, and the evening was attended by VIP guests and members of the press who witnessed the unveiling of a Mono R commissioned especially for BAC Singapore.

To emphasise the bespoke nature of Mono, Youd hosted a number of 1:1 client design consultations at the launch to show the levels of personalisation offered when specifying a new Mono.

BAC said Mono is now exported to over 47 territories around the globe, has broken numerous performance records and is the new reference for supercars.

Despite global success, the Mono is a very British supercar, said BAC. Of 1,250 bespoke components used to build Mono, 95% are sourced in the UK, 50% of which are supplied by local companies in Liverpool city and the Northwest regions.


Bugatti extends Veyron and Chiron warranty with Passeport Tranquillité

                MOLSHEIM (France): Like any car, the Bugatti Veyron and Chiron will need regular service and maintenance to stay at peak performance.

Bugatti has introduced the Passeport Tranquillité service programme,designed to cover vehicle life after the end of the Bugatti-provided standard warranty period.

This means Customers can be assured that they will continue to have access to the services that will keep their 1,000hp+ Veyron and Chiron models well maintained and in peak condition.

It includes one service per year with an official Bugatti service partner. Additional planned elements will be the premium roadside recovery service and a Bugatti-branded car care kit featuring a wide range of cleaning and detailing materials.

The Passeport Tranquillité is assigned to the Bugatti vehicle, rather than the customer, so the plan will pass onto the new driver if ever the hyper sports car is sold. This can potentially add to the value of the model while also giving the buying customer extra peace of mind that official Bugatti technicians have maintained their Veyron or Chiron.

All Bugatti models joining the Passeport Tranquillité plan must first pass a thorough 85-point inspection by a Bugatti service partner.

Although the previous Veyron Loyalty Maintenance Programme is no longer available for purchase, existing contracts will remain valid until the original service contract period expires or all applicable services are used.

The Passeport Tranquillité Veyron service programme can be split over a two- or four-year plan to best suit the customer and their own unique requirements. Both options include one service per year performed by officially trained Bugatti technicians, covering the requirement for the Veyron to undergo a biennial service, estimated at around 14 hours, and a service taking around 32 hours to complete in alternating years.

What is more, the Veyron customers’ plan provides the choice of "Active" or "Collector" plans, with the programme tailored to meet the needs of their driving habits.

Bugatti said the highly designed, era-defining Veyron model might now form part of a collection, rather than being driven regularly. But even hyper sports cars that record a minimal distance every year require servicing, in order to deliver that incredible Bugatti performance whenever required.

The "Collector" option provides high quality service and maintenance for Veyron models that do not exceed 200km a year, a plan tailored for reduced activity, while the "Active" profile caters to frequent drivers. Both options ensure Bugatti drivers can turn the key and enjoy their prized Veyron at any time.

The Passeport Tranquillité Chiron programme is set for four years, designed to reflect the Chiron’s specific service intervals. The Chiron plan includes a service every year, taking into account the requirement for an annual "Low" service, taking up to 14 hours of workshop time, then a "Major" service every four years, completed in around 72 hours by highly skilled and officially trained Bugatti technicians.

Owners of multiple Bugatti models can tailor a Passeport Tranquillité package to meet their needs.

Customers are not fixed to a specific Bugatti Service Partner for the life of the Passeport Tranquillité plan. The new service plan has launched at all official Bugatti Service Partners in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with a planned roll-out to cover North America in the summer of 2021.

“This exclusive new programme provides our customers with a complete sense of ‘peace of mind’ when it comes to the care and maintenance of their prized Bugatti Veyron or Chiron," said Bugatti Automobiles global aftersales business manager Trevor Hodgson-Phillips.

"We are tailoring the programme with the flexibility of plans and additional valued components, such as roadside recovery, providing the customer with the certainty of service and maintenance and in doing so providing the utmost peace of mind and tranquillité.”


Nissan Z-prototype's rear teased ahead of unveiling

                TOKYO: An interesting sketch has been floating about on the Internet that's supposedly released by a high-ranking Nissan employee. The subject matter is the upcoming Nissan Z sports car.

The sketch, released by Nissan global design senior vice president Alfonso Albaisa, is reminiscent of a 300ZX's rear light clusters but the lines heading towards the front of the vehicle seem to  be "inline" with what the future Z-prototype will be.

The Z car, which will be the successor to the 370Z, will be unveiled at a later date. What will be shown on Sept 16 will instead be a prototype for Nissan engineers to realise in the near future.

What's expected so far is that the exterior will bring back some "retro" design cues while the interior is set for a more modern look.

Many are hopeful that the new Z-prototype will be a close-to-production version.

There's also talk about a potent 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine finding its way under the hood to provide some 400hp of performance - allowing it to wear the "400Z" moniker.

To manage power delivery, most likely to the rear, a manual transmission could be in the mix to be offered alongside an automatic or simply one or the either.

The next big question is where Nissan will be sourcing the 400Z's chassis from.

Most likely, the Japanese automaker will tap Infiniti's architecture and if they do, that would mean the Q60 would be the most likely of candidates.

Right now, Nissan is in no position to "burn" cash  in order to develop a vehicle from the ground up. But if they go with the Infiniti-route, it's most probably that we'll be able to see the Q60 400Z sooner than later. Fingers crossed for 2021.


Uber makes first two-wheeler foray with Bangkok motorcycles

                BANGKOK: Uber offered its first motorcycle taxi service on Wednesday, launching a pilot scheme here, which could spread across Asia as it takes on chief regional rival Grab Taxi.

Motorbikes have long been a popular commuting option in the Thai capital, which has horrendous traffic jams due to increased car ownership and poor city planning.

Ubiquitous motorbike taxi drivers, found at stands across the city wearing bright orange jackets, weave in and out of stalled traffic with both skill and knuckle-whitening speed.

An Uber motorbike which collects passengers from their office or home could prove popular with commuters.

But Uber will be up against both Singapore-based Grab Taxi, which began offering a Bangkok motorbike service alongside its cabs last year, and the tens of thousands of regular motorbike taxi drivers who jealously guard their patches.

"I'm really excited to say Thailand is the first country to launch a two-wheeled motorcycle product in all of our cities," Douglas Ma, Uber's head of Asia expansion, told reporters.

The US company has become one of the world's most valuable startups, worth an estimated $50 billion and with a presence in 68 countries.

But it has faced regulatory hurdles and protests from established taxi operators in most locations where it has launched.

Both Uber and Grab Taxi have shaken up the taxi industry in Bangkok, providing an alternative to the capital's often mercurial cabbies who routinely decline fares or refuse to use their meters.

The company will initially roll out the bikes in three commercial districts and says the fares should be cheaper than regular motorbike taxis.

Uber will focus on Thailand but does not rule out launching similar services in other traffic-clogged Asian megacities like Jakarta and Manila.

"This is the first time we're doing it in any market in the world, so our hope is to develop it and innovate it," Ma told AFP.

"If it makes sense, absolutely we want to look at other markets."

Ma declined to say how many motorbike drivers the company had already signed up but said it was in the thousands.

At a stand in the commercial district of Chidlom, motorbike taxi driver Winai Bunprueng said he was unlikely to join up.

"If I joined the app and I refused to go, they would reprimand or sack me -- but for me now, if I can't agree with passengers on the prices, I won't go," the 37-year-old told AFP.

Chalerm Changthongmadan, head of the Association of Taxi Motorcyclists of Thailand, said he was concerned by the arrival of start-up competitors.

"I think it will bring conflict among people who do these jobs," he said.


Lucid scores a sorely needed win with Aston Martin EV order

                LONDON: For two companies struggling to stem losses and sort out operational issues, Aston Martin Lagonda Holdings Plc and Lucid Group Inc. are awfully boastful about their plans to join forces.

“I should be knighted for what I’ve done,” Aston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll told reporters Monday, hours after his carmaker said it would pay about US$232 million (RM1.08bil) to access electric vehicle components from Lucid.

Combine that amount with the US$225 million minimum that Aston Martin agreed to spend on Lucid parts, and it’s not far off the £408 million (RM2.5bil) cash balance the UK company ended last quarter with.

Lucid chief executive officer Peter Rawlinson described the tie-up as validation — the company labouring through the production ramp up of its debut model, the Air sedan, won out over Aston Martin’s longtime partner, Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

“Aston Martin is showing both on the road and track an uncanny ability to choose the right partners for powering both race cars and road cars,” Rawlinson said, stroking the ego of his counterpart whose Formula 1 team is having a breakout year. “Thank you for your wisdom of choosing us, sir.”

In reality, this alliance — struck just before electric-truck maker Lordstown Motors Corp. filed for bankruptcy — was only the latest indication of how difficult the switch to batteries from combustion will be.

Both the petrol heads at Aston Martin’s headquarters in Gaydon, England, and Lucid’s engineering whizzes in Silicon Valley have had a rough go.

Stroll has steadied Aston Martin, to a degree.

But the Canadian who made his fortune in the fashion industry acknowledged he didn’t have any idea what he was getting into when he threw the company a lifeline in early 2020.

Its targets for roughly five years from now for £2.5 billion revenue and £800 million in adjusted earnings are well short of what Ferrari NV already brings in annually.

Aston Martin’s new relationship with Lucid is one of necessity. It will continue to operate on a shoestring budget over the next half decade, budgeting just £1.8 billion of capital expenditures during that span. The company will pay for Lucid’s technology in part with newly issued shares, handing over a 3.7% stake.

Rawlinson, who was chief engineer of the Model S at Tesla Inc., knew before the Air went into production that Lucid would be in for a long haul.

Years before the company merged with a special purpose acquisition company to go public, his plan was to supplement the carmaking business with revenue from supplying tech to other manufacturers.

Lucid still ended up underestimating how difficult manufacturing the Air would be, making just 7,180 last year, a fraction of its original target for as many as 20,000 cars.

This year, it’s expecting to produce at least 10,000 sedans, and analysts are expecting free cash flow to be roughly in line with last year’s $3.3 billion outflow.

Whereas Lordstown’s best hope for a rescue fell through — iPhone maker Foxconn Technology Group pulled out of a production partnership — Aston Martin and Lucid share a deep-pocketed white knight in Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

Five months after saying Aston Martin had plenty of cash, Stroll announced in July of last year that it was raising money by selling a stake to the Saudi government-controlled Public Investment Fund. The PIF now owns about 18% of the company.

The fund took an even greater interest in Lucid last month by anchoring a US$3 billion stock offering, increasing its stake to more than 60%.

Stroll downplayed PIF’s role in Aston Martin and Lucid coming together, saying that while the fund suggested that the two should talk, the companies had been having discussions the last 2 ½ years.

“This required an industrial solution,” Stroll said of his Aston Martin turnaround effort. “An industrial solution in the best of times could take anywhere from five, to seven, to 10 years. I’m very happy to say that industrially, we’ve turned this place around in three years.”

Whether that declaration of victory is premature or not — Aston Martin expects to generate cash from 2024 onward — Rawlinson will look to make a similar case soon, in part by building on this first win for Lucid’s tech-sharing division.

“Just as we started up with a high-end product with Lucid Air, and we're going to go more mainstream,” Rawlinson said, the Aston Martin deal will herald “more widespread adoption and applications of our technology in the future.”


Toyota Raize compact SUV debuts in Japan

                TOKYO: Toyota has introduced a new compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) called Raize in Japan.

The carmaker said the Raize would provide car buyers with a vehicle that's both practical, compact and easy to drive.

Produced by Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd. at its Shiga (Ryuo) plant, the Raize is 3,995mm-long, 1,695mm-wide and 1,620mm-tall. It's wheelbase 2,525mm and it features a 369-litre boot.

Customers can choose from eight colour options - including a new Turquoise Blue Mica Metallic hue that can be paired with a Black Mica Metallic roof for a wide variety of clour schemes.

It will come equipped with thin LED headlights and sequential turn lights that appear to flow from the inside to the outside of the car.

Power comes from a 1.0-litre three-cylinder 1KR-VET turbocharged engine mated to a Direct-shift Continuously Variable Transmission (D-CVT) or just a CVT (depending on variant) to manage an output of 98hp at 6,000rpm and 140Nm of torque from 2,400 to 4,000rpm.

Fuel economy for the front-wheel driven SUV has been rated at 18.6km per litre while the 4WD variant can achieve 17.4km per litre at best and can split torque delivery between the front and rear axles to improve traction.

As standard, the Raize will be suspended by Macpherson struts at the front while the rear gets fitted with a torsion beam and depending on the variant, it will roll on either 16 or 17-inch wheels.

Toyota also added the Raize's suspension has been redeveloped from scratch, with optimized part shapes, reduced weight, and updated part positions and angles for a stable ride, minimal roll and noise, vibrations and harshness performance.

Inside, the driver-centric cabin features a highly visible instrument cluster along with redesigned front seats for better support while plating and red accents provide contrast and colour.

There's also an LED digital speedometer and a 7.0-inch TFT colour LCD display with four display styles of Advanced, Exciting, Simple, and Analog.

A 9.0-inch audio display has been infused with SmartDeviceLink (Android) and Apple CarPlay for connectivity.

In terms of technology, the Raize will feature advanced safety technologies such as Adaptive Cruise Control with All Speed Tracking and a Smart Panorama Parking Assist system that features voice and image guidance as well as steering assistance.

Also included is the Collision Warning Function and Crash Avoidance Braking Function which are capable of detecting both pedestrians and vehicles.

The Erroneous Start Prevention Function with braking control (forward and backward) will help to mitigate damages should the accelerator is mistakenly engaged instead of the brakes during parking.

The Raize starts selling in Japan today.


Over 130,000 Nissan cars in Malaysia under recall

                KUALA LUMPUR: Over 130,000 Nissan vehicles are to be recalled in Malaysia over the infamous Takata airbag defects and flaws with the backdoor stay.

Local Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd said 110,945 cars are being recalled over the airbag issue, while the back door stay problem affects 22,173 cars.

While the airbag defect is well publicised, the back door stay problem is obscure. According to an Edaran Tan Chong Motor statement, the paint coating applied to the back door stay may not comply with design requirements for anti-rust treatment. As a result, the cylinder tube of the door stay may gradually corrode causing the gas in the cylinder to leak out.

Over an extended period of time, the back door stay may weaken thus disabling the hold-up function of the back door. Replacement of defective back door stay will be conducted once improved parts are available in September.

All affected Nissan customers will be notified directly and by letter through Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis Centre. Customers receiving this letter are advised to call the nearest outlet for an appointment.

Customers may also call the Nissan Customer Care Centre at the 1800-88-3838 for further clarification or visit Nissan Malaysia site to find out if their vehicle is involved in the recall campaign.

All labour and replacement parts to resolve the issues will be borne by Nissan.

     Cars affected by back door stay issue


Toyota RAV4: Hello again!

                Toyota created an entirely new market in 1984 with the introduction of the RAV4 compact sports utility vehicle (SUV). It  sold more than two million units globally.

Today, the fifth-generation RAV4 is back in Malaysia after a 13-year hiatus with bigger offerings that are bundled with a bolder, more chiselled look.

The last RAV4 sold in Malaysia was in 2006;  the third and fourth-generation RAV4 never made it to our shores from 2007.

Recently launched, the new RAV4 comes in two variants — equipped with a 2.0 and 2.5-litre engines — which are priced at RM196,436 and RM215,665 (on-the-road without insurance) respectively.

These are prices after the 50% reduction in sales tax from June 15 until Dec 31.

Both variants sit on Toyota's highly touted Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform that boasts of being modular that can accommodate front, rear and all-wheel-drive applications while being rigid.

We were treated to a first hand —  albeit brief — look and feel of the 2.5-litre mid-sized SUV that aims to take on the Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail, Peugeot 3008, Subaru Forester and Volkswagen Tiguan.

At first glance, the side-profile of the new RAV4 is reminiscent of a Lexus', Toyota's luxury sub-brand.

But the front end says otherwise with a very wide upper grille that takes up about 80% of this SUV's width.

This leaves little room for the automatic LED headlights and fog lamps while the brand's large logo sits prominently in the centre with a front camera below it.

The front end is "flat" to the wind, unlike the rear section, which gets a play of angles that gives it a greater sense of sophistication. It's also convenient that the tailgate can open hands-free.

There's also black cladding  all around its lower sections including the wheel arches to add an element of ruggedness.

Indeed the RAV4 has become "beefier" unlike the second-generation RAV4 that last showed up here.

That RAV4 had a much cuter demeanour with its large headlights, compact proportions and higher ride height, making it a hit with the younger ladies.

Although not all will agree, the new RAV4 has emerged with a good combination of maturity and sportiness that's been wrapped up in a veneer of sophistication.

The interior is inviting with the the lower half of the cabin in black including the leather-upholstered seats and a milky beige colour for the upper half of the pillars and headliner.

The effect of the two-tone setup is that occupants get a sense of spaciousness, and it helps to "brighten-up" the interior.

There's good all-round visibility and comfort levels are high with supportive leather seats that are also ventilated.

The rear bench is premium stuff with a good amount of shoulder room for three average-sized adults who will enjoy plenty of leg-room.

Rear passengers get access to two 2.1-amp USB charging ports to keep their smart devices amply charged and connected on long journeys. A centre armrest with integrated cup holders comes in handy in situations where there are only two persons sitting here.

However, forward visibility from the rear is hampered by the tall and wide headrests on the front seats.

The centre console keeps things simple with all the controls clearly marked and highly legible. A wireless charger forward of the gear lever is a thoughtful gesture.

The more complex stuff are concentrated on the nicely girthed steering wheel with paddle shifters which provides access to the audio system, voice control and some advance driver aids systems such as adaptive cruise control.

On the move, the RAV4 has a responsive throttle and a nicely boosted steering feel when puttering about slowly.

There's enough grunt from the naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre engine, which produces 207PS and 247Nm. The stubby gear knob shifts crisply, and the eight-speed automatic transmission is a smooth and quick all-rounder.

In Eco mode, performance is toned down to conserve fuel while Sport mode urges the engine to go hyper with a simple nudge.

Normal mode provides a blend of both modes and is fine for everyday driving.

The RAV4 reveals more when shoved around.

Tight corners will have its rear end following intently and the front end is eager to stick to the driver's inputs while the steering wheel gives a nicely weighted sporty feel.

What was more evident was how well the RAV4 handled uneven roads and potholes with the suspension system soaking up much of the judders before they reach the occupants.

Overall, the RAV4 2.5 is a competent SUV.  Looks aside, it provides plenty of bells and whistles in a spacious package.

We think the RAV4 is appropriately priced for what it is. You pay for what you get in the latest Toyota model.

SPECIFICATIONS:Toyota RAV4 2.0
Engine: 1,987cc 16V DOHC with VVT-iE and VVT-i
Maximum power: 173PS at 6,600rpm
Maximum torque: 207Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission, front-wheel drive
Price: RM196.436 (OTR without insurance)

Toyota RAV4 2.5
Engine: 2,487cc 16V DOHC with VVT-iE and VVT-i
Maximum power: 207PS at 6,600rpm
Maximum torque: 247Nm at 5,000rpm
Transmission: Direct Shift 8-speed automatic with sequential shift, front-wheel-drive
Price: RM215,665 (OTR without insurance)

Brakes: Ventilated (front) and solid (rear) discs
Steering: Electric power steering
Wheels and tyres: 18-inch alloys with 225/60 series tyres and 17-inch steel wheel with 165/60 tyre (spare)
Fuel tank: 55-litres,

Features (2.0 and 2.5): seven airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, traction control with trailer sway control, hill-start assist, emergency stop signal, blind-spot monitoring system, Toyota Safety Sense - pre-collision system, lane departure alert with steering assist and lane tracing assist, adaptive cruise control (all speeds) and automatic high beam, front and rear parking sensors, automatic levelling LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, front and rear fog lamps, automatic wipers, roof rails, power-adjustable external mirrors with integrated turn signals, powered tailgate with hands-free operation, keyless entry with push-start button, Drive modes (Eco, Normal and Sport), semi-digital 7.0-inch Optitron colour TFT multi-information display dual-zone automatic climate controls, front seat ventilation (driver and front passenger), tri-spoke multi-function leather steering wheel with paddle shifters, auto up/down with anti-pinch function powered windows, electric parking brake with automatic hold, six-speaker sound system with 7.0-inch full-colour touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity and DVD player, eight-way powered driver's seat with lumbar support and memory function, manually adjustable front passenger seat, 60:40 rear folding seat, electrochromic mirror, wireless charger, USB charging ports, 360-degree camera view, front and rear digital video recorder, tonneau cover, dual-level adjustable floor with reversible cargo floor board for 580-litre boot and rear Isofix anchor points.


Honda 3S centre opens in Cheras

                KUALA LUMPUR: Honda Malaysia has opened the latest Honda 3S (sales, service and spare parts) centre within Kuala Lumpur.

Operated by MJN Motors, the new facility is located at Lot 58274, Jalan Sayang 1, Taman Rasa Sayang, 43200, Cheras, Selangor and will help to serve customers in areas such as Cheras, Kajang and Seri Kembangan and can be contacted at 03-9081 6088 (sales and service).

Costing RM6mil, the 11,000 square-foot building is touted to offer the latest facilities and equipment.

For the comfort and convenience of customers, the new centre features a customer lounge, executive lounge, children's play area, café counter and a surau.

Also, the centre offers other services such as road tax renewal, insurance coverage and courtesy car.

Honda Malaysia reported that during the first half of the year, the company managed to sell 51,354 units and are currently on track to achieve its 109,000 sales units target for the end of the year.

The company also recorded the highest number of bookings in its history in June at 20,000 units and has helped maintain its No.1 position in the non-National segment and No.2 overall in the Total Industry Volume (TIV) for the first half of 2018.

To date, there are 96 dealerships and 20 Body and Paint Centres available nationwide.

From the total dealership, there are 37 dealerships available in the Central region.

“The role of our dealers is very important. The opening of MJN Motors Honda 3S Centre will provide greater convenience to our increasing customer base, towards attaining better customer satisfaction,” said Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Toichi Ishiyama.

Of the total sales for the first half of the year, the Central region stood out as the highest contributor with more than 24,400 units or 47%.

In terms of sales breakdown by state, Selangor contributed 67% in Central region sales, with the City being the most sought-after model.

In tandem with the increased sales, the total after-sales service intakes in the first half of 2018 have risen close to 612,000 units or an increase of 11% over the same period last year.

In the Central region, the records showed that it received more than 296,300 after-sales service intakes, accounting for 48% of the total service intakes - marking a 10% rise against the first half of 2017.